UPSC Indian Economic Service (IES) Examination — Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Indian Economic Service (IES) Examination for recruitment to the IES, a specialized Group 'A' Central Service. Officers in the IES are instrumental in economic policy-making and analysis across various ministries and government bodies. Unlike many other civil services exams, the IES is highly specialized, requiring a strong foundation in economics. The selection process consists of a rigorous Written Examination with descriptive papers, followed by a Viva-voce (Interview) to assess the candidate's subject knowledge and suitability for the service.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to permanently settle here.
Age Limit
A candidate must be between 21 and 30 years of age as of August 1st of the examination year. Age relaxation is available for certain categories (OBC, SC/ST, PwBD) as per government rules.
Educational Qualification
A candidate must have obtained a Post-Graduate Degree (Master's degree) in one of the following fields from a recognized Indian university:
- Economics
- Applied Economics
- Business Economics
- Econometrics
Candidates who have appeared or are yet to appear in their final year of the Post-Graduate degree examination are also eligible to apply.
✍️ Exam Syllabus & Pattern
Part I — Written Examination (Total 1000 Marks)
The written exam consists of six descriptive papers. There is no preliminary objective-type stage.
| Paper | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | General Studies | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | General Economics - I | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV | General Economics - II | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper V | General Economics - III | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper VI | Indian Economics | 200 | 3 hours |
Syllabus for Written Exam
- General English: Essay writing, précis writing, comprehension, and other questions to test the candidate's ability to express themselves in English.
- General Studies: General knowledge including Indian Polity, History of India, and Geography.
- General Economics - I: Theory of Consumer Demand, Theory of Production, Theory of Value (pricing in different markets), Theory of Distribution, and Welfare Economics.
- General Economics - II: Quantitative Methods in Economics, Macroeconomics, Financial and Capital Markets, and International Trade theories.
- General Economics - III: Public Finance, Environmental Economics, Industrial Economics, and State, Market & Planning.
- Indian Economics: History of Indian economic planning, poverty and inequality, agriculture, industry and labour, banking and finance, fiscal policy, and foreign trade in the Indian context.
Part II — Viva-voce (Personality Test)
| Total Marks | 200 |
|---|---|
| Evaluation Areas | The board assesses the candidate's suitability for the service, focusing on their intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, grasp of economic concepts, social traits, and potential for leadership. |
👉 Note
- The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Written Examination and the Viva-voce (Interview).
- For full official syllabus & eligibility, refer to UPSC official notification.
☞ Tip for Aspirants: Always refer to the latest official notification for syllabus and eligibility details as they may change year to year.