There are many services one can opt for, if successful in the examination. They are:

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Foreign Service
• Indian Police Service (IPS)

Group - A

• Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service
• Indian Audit and Accounts Service
• Indian Customs and Central Excise Service
• Indian Defense Accounts Service
• Indian Revenue Service
• Indian Ordnance Factories Service (Assistant Works Manager, non-technical)
• Indian Postal Service
• Indian Civil Accounts Service
• Indian Railway Traffic Service
• Indian Railway Accounts Service
• Indian Railway Personnel Service
• Posts of Assistant Security Officer in Railway Protection Force (RPF)
• Indian Defense Estates Service
• Indian Information Service (Junior Grade)

Group - B

• Railway Board Secretariat Service (Section Officer's Grade)
• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (Section Officer's Grade)
• Customs Appraisers' Service
• Delhi , Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service and Police Service
• Pondicherry Civil Service

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) :

The post of an IAS officer carries a lot of responsibility. At the top of the hierarchy of IAS officers is the Cabinet Secretary followed by Secretary/ Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Director, Under Secretary and then the Junior Scale Officers. These posts are filled according to seniority.

The Indian Police Service (IPS) :

The Indian Police Service is mainly for public safety and security. The Indian Police Service is divided into various departments like the Crime Branch, the Criminal Investigation Department, Home Guards and the Traffic Bureau. The area of functioning for the IPS can be broadly divided into: maintenance of law and order, crime prevention and detection, traffic control and accident prevention and management.

Eligibility for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination:

The minimum age for appearing for the Civil Service Preliminary examination is 21 years and the upper age limit is 30 years. The minimum qualification is graduation in any discipline from a recognised Indian University or an equivalent qualification. There is a relaxation for SC/ST candidates on the number of attempts, if they are otherwise eligible.

For entry to Civil Services, there is a multi-step examination process. The entire selection process takes the entire calendar year.

Preliminary Exam

Educational Qualification for Preliminary Exam

• Degree of a Recognised University or equivalent.
• Candidates appearing in the requisite Degree qualification are also eligible for appearing in the examination. However, they are supposed to submit proof of passing the requisite qualification along with Detailed Application Form for Civil Services (Main) Examination.

Scheme of CS (Preliminary) Examination

The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers of objective type (multiple-choice questions) carrying a maximum of 450 marks. The Question Papers (Test Booklets) are set in English & Hindi

• Paper-I : General Studies - 150 Marks
• Paper-II : One of the optional subjects to be selected from the prescribed optional subjects - 300 Marks

List of Optional Subjects for Preliminary Exam

• Agriculture
• Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Commerce
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Geography
• Geology
• Indian History
• Law
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Science
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology