Exams for state civil services officers for promotion to IAS

State civil services officers will now have to face a Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) test and interview for their promotion to the three All India Services.
Till now, the selection of state services officers into the three All India Services (IAS, IPS and IFoS) was being done on the basis of review of their seniority and Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs).
The Ministry of Personnel recently changed the rules for promotion from state services. The move was opposed by some states including Tamil Nadu.
The selection to IAS, IPS and IFoS from states' services will be made through a 1000 marks four-stage process including a written exam and interview.

As per new norms, a state civil service officer will have to face the written examination comprising two papers-- Paper I on aptitude test and Paper II on General Studies and state specific questions.
In addition, there will be an interview and assessment of ACR by a board for such officers.
"A final merit list shall be prepared taking into account all the marks obtained in four components i.E., 'written examination', 'length of service', 'assessment of ACR' and 'interview' by all the candidates in the zone of consideration," the new rules said.
There will be a third written paper on essay, comprehension and precis type only for non state civil services officers in addition to two papers, they said.