Three qualities needed to Clear Indian Administrative Services

Getting through Civil Services Examination is the most cherished and coveted dream of thousands of aspirants. A candidate gets into the Indian Administrative Services gets exposure in diverse roles such as commissioner, chief secretary, collector, cabinet secretary and head of public sector units among many others. Unparallel power and prestige associated with job along with the opportunity to bring about positive changes in the lives of millions draw aspirants’ attention.

It is therefore no surprise that close to 4.5 lakh students appear for the UPSC examination each year. However, only a few hundred candidates manage to crack the exam. So it becomes imperative to understand what are those qualities that set those few apart from the rest?Self-Discipline A strong sense of self-discipline is essentially required and key to success in achieving any goal.

IAS preparation may involve 9-12 months of intensive study and this cannot be achieved without having a set routine. Good management and optimal utilization of the time are the essential components of self-discipline. There are many parts of General Studies that are important in clearing the CSE, however, a deep understanding of Sociology is important if you’re looking to clear IAS.

Self-discipline does not imply studying the prescribed course books every day. Aspirants should have burning desire to know what’s happening in the world around them and keep themselves abreast with the news on magazines, television and newspapers. Needless to say, a keen interest in reading is also a great quality to have for IAS aspirants.

Leadership Through all the three stages of examination, UPSC primarily checks a candidate’s leadership quality. Coherent and organic approach to preparation will get candidates through the Preliminary (Stage I) and Main (Stage II) but the Interview will observe the candidate’s personality.

IAS officers should be endowed with an ability to articulate their point of view to their superiors and peers conclusively besides having a high emotional intelligence. They are goal-oriented and able to influence others to devote themselves to the same goal.

This is what makes the dynamic and effective leaders in their unique field of work. To exhibit traits of a good leader, aspirants should have good interpersonal as well as communication skills. Strong resolveEven before starting their preparation, candidates start scoping their chances of getting through the examination, which proves to be a deterring factor for most of the aspirants.

Hence, it’s pertinent to stamp out this mental block before preparation. An aspiring IAS candidate should have strong resolve to become an Officer and influence the lives of his/her countrymen. It would also be futile to engage yourself in preparation due to peer pressure or your parent’s insistence.

Writer is director of Chanakya IAS Academy