10 things to do to become the youngest IAS officer in India

Every year, approximately a thousand candidates are selected for various posts of the Civil Services Exam, which is considered to be one of the most challenging examinations of the country. 

You have a better chance of becoming a chief secretary of a state or the cabinet secretary of India if you join the services early. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was one of the youngest persons to clear the civil services examination; he cleared the ICS exam in London at the age of 23!

List of Youngest IAS Toppers

Here is a list of the youngest UPSC toppers so far:

Being an officer of the Indian Administrative Service is one of the most respectable positions in our society. In this article, you can get handy tips to become an IAS officer at a young age.

10 Things to do to Become the Youngest IAS Officer

Starting the Preparation Early: 

• If you want to become an IAS officer early in your life, you need to start early. You need to know anything and everything about this coveted examination. Read from as many sources and get to know as much as you can about the IAS Exam.

Choosing  the Optional Subject: 

• The optional paper carries 500 marks in the Civil Services Mains Examination. It could decide your rank in the final list. So, make sure you decide on an optional that you are comfortable with and give a good chunk of your time for optional subject preparation.

Click here to learn more about How to Choose Optional Subject for UPSC.

Spending Free Time/Vacation Sensibly: 

• Once you’ve graduated from High School/Junior College (HSC Examination), instead of spending the entire vacation with your friends and family blowing off steam, you can start paying attention to your UPSC Preparation. You need to remember that taking a couple of days or a week to relax is okay, rather necessary to give the brain some break. This time utilised for UPSC preparation will help you choose your bachelors degree based on your choice of optional. It is also a good time to start gathering books and getting a headstart on UPSC-related knowledge.

Obtaining the Bachelor’s Degree: 

• According to the UPSC, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational qualification required to apply for the Civil Services Exam. Hence, obtain a degree in any discipline from a university recognized by the University Grants Commission. The aspirants can apply for the exam even if they are in their final year if they meet the age criteria. 

Know the Syllabus Thoroughly: 

• It is a known fact that the UPSC Syllabus is extremely vast, and some say it’s never-ending. But using the right strategy has brought down the mightiest kingdoms. Replicating that in your preparation will do the same. Divide the UPSC Syllabus and cover them one by one in a given time. Always remember the fact that knowing the syllabus and working accordingly is half the battle.    

Use the Internet: 

• Using the internet can do wonders in your preparation. If used wisely, you can exploit the information available on the internet. Some websites you can refer to on the internet are listed below:
  • Press Information Bureau (PIB)
  • Other government websites for authentic information
  • Online bookstores for UPSC Books (Download NCERT Books free for UPSC from this link)
  • Join a forum for discussion on various topics
  • Google Maps (for Geography)
  • Websites that provide UPSC Coaching online 
• You must keep in mind that using the internet is only for the desired goal. Numerous distractions can lead to wastage of time and valuable resources. 

Read Interviews/Books Written by Successful Candidates: 

• Inspirational books can act as a boon to your UPSC Preparation. You can refer to the books written by successful IAS candidates or their interviews. Reading these books and interviews will give you a clear idea of how your approach should be. 

Read IAS Success Stories and get inspired.

Solve Previous Years’ Papers: 

• Solving previous years’ papers will help you spot your weak areas in the early stages of your preparation. Also, you get an idea of the time limitations in the exam. And yes, most importantly you understand the pattern of the questions being asked in the examination.

Click here to get all the information on UPSC Previous Year’ Question Papers.

Keeping Up with Current Affairs: 

• The newspaper is the life and blood of UPSC preparation. Its importance cannot be emphasized enough. Pick up a newspaper of your choice and read it thoroughly. Relate the current happenings to the static syllabus to get a link between the concepts and the Current Affairs. Also, make short notes out of the articles. This will surely come handy at the time of revision.

Want it Enough!: 

• As the saying goes, more often than not, if you want it enough you will get it! Always remember – “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

Wish you all the very best!