IAS exam consists of 3 stages::

1. Prelims- CSAT since 2011..- normally conducted during the second half of May.

2.Mains, conducted during the month of October/November. only those selected through mains appear.

3.Interview-Those who are selected in the main examination will be eligible to appear before the Interview Board at New Delhi.

CSAT-

Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours(GS kind of paper)

Paper II- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours(CAT like English,quant,DILR

MAINS::two optional subjects (two papers each carries 300 marks), one General Studies (two papers each carries 300 marks), one essay (carries 200 marks) - total 2000 marks. Other than this, there are two language papers one in Indian language and one in General English at the level of 10th standard

Language papers(1 and 2)) are of qualifying nature and wont be considered in ranking.

Paper-III -Essay 200 Marks

Papers IV & V General Studies (300 Marks for each paper= 600 Marks)

Papers VI, VII, VIII & IX Any two subjects (each having 2 papers) to be selected from the prescribed optional subjects (300 marks for each paper)

List of optionlas
List of Optional Subjects - IAS (Main)
- (Total 25)
Agriculture Management
Animal Husbandry & Vetinary Science Mathematics
Anthropology Mechanical Engineering
Botany Medical Science
Chemistry Philosophy
Civil Engineering Physics
Commerce & Accountancy
political Science & International Relations
Economics Psychology
Geography Sociology
Geology Statistics
Indian History Zoology
Four attempts for open, seven for OBCs and no limit for SCs/STs. If a person appears in the Preliminary Examination or even one paper is counted as an attempt.
See Previous Papers Or Model Papers