Civil Servant (IAS/PCS)

Start your preparation for being an IAS officer from the class 10 stage following these steps:
After passing the 10th, select a stream that appeals to you. Arts is a good choice as it deals with History, Political Science, and Geography, all of which are part of the UPSC syllabus.
Focus on NCERT Books. Start reading NCERT for classes 11 and 12 to build the base. Of course, NCERT has a significant importance in UPSC preparation.
This also enhances general knowledge -reading of newspapers and magazines -for being updated on what's going around in the world-also a part of IAS.
Graduate: After your 12th, take a graduate degree in any discipline since it is an eligibility condition for appearing in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Know the UPSC Exam Pattern: Understand that there are three stages of exams: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
Start Early Preparation: Maintain regular studies and join coaching or use online resources for guidance
Following these steps will assist you in preparing well toward your goal of becoming an IAS officer.

Political Science and International Relations with regard to the syllabus for the examination conducted by the *Combined Defence Services (CDS)* and that for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) touch on one another but with a distinction in perspectives and scope. 

1. *Common Topics*: Some similar topics included in the syllabus of these two examinations are:
- Political theory (basic concepts, ideologies)
- Indian polity (Constitution, political system, governance)
- International relations, organizations

2. Differences:
- *CDS*: It confines itself more to the Introductory Political Science especially from its imperatives concerning the military and national security since from the study of political systems an introductory orientation will find itself relevant in understanding the world of international relations.
- *IAS*: This has a frightfully comprehensive syllabus with exposure to things such as Indian governance, policy, comparative politics, political thinkers, and increasingly narrower topics and aspects on international relations. The *IAS syllabus* also covers *ethics* and *public administration* in its general studies papers, but the CDS syllabus has more defensively related topics and extensive political knowledge under the universality of study tion as there is overlap in subjects on political theory and Indian polity, while the broader and detailed IAS exam syllabus becomes CDS, which takes a more introductory orientation on politics and international relations relevance to defense.

To become an IAS officer, you must have Graduate Degree from a recognised University/Institute! But, you can apply for the CSE exam conducted by the UPSC while in your final year of graduation. Preparation for the IAS exam must ideally begin during your undergraduate course. For this, once you get admission, start your preparation for the UPSC CSE exam by making a long-term plan. To be eligible for the UPSC CSE, you must have a bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Therefore, focus on selecting the right undergraduate course soon after clearing the board exam. Try to opt for a degree that aligns with your interests and the UPSC Mains optional subject. Some of the top courses include Political Science, History, and Economics, which can be particularly helpful for the UPSC syllabus. Maintain good grades throughout your college years, as a strong academic record is beneficial in a UPSC interview.