Every year, nearly five lakh aspirants appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, but only around 182 to 184 candidates ultimately secure selection to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Mussoorie: Qualifying the prestigious Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination is regarded as one of the country's most difficult academic accomplishments, yet clearing the exam does not automatically ensure a smooth path through IAS training.
A Right to Information (RTI) response accessed by The Times of India revealed that 24 IAS probationers did not pass one or more examinations during their training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, over the past five years. Significantly, 14 of these instances were recorded during 2025 and 2026 alone, pointing to an increase in examination backlogs among probationers.
Despite these setbacks, academy officials clarified that no IAS probationer has been dismissed from service or discharged from training, as every officer eventually cleared the required examinations within the permitted period.
Mandatory Two-Year IAS Training
Every year, nearly five lakh aspirants appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, but only around 182 to 184 candidates ultimately secure selection to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Following selection, IAS officers undergo a compulsory two-year foundation and professional training programme at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie before beginning their field assignments.
The programme combines classroom instruction, field exposure, district training, physical fitness activities and assessments across several subjects.
24 Probationers Did Not Clear One or More Papers
According to the RTI reply, 24 IAS probationers failed one or more academy examinations between 2021 and 2026, with 14 failures occurring during 2025 and 2026.
However, academy authorities emphasised that these failures were limited to individual subjects rather than the overall training programme.
The academy allows probationers to reappear for examinations, and nearly all officers clear their backlog papers within a short duration.
Language Test Among the Most Difficult Challenges
Several recently inducted IAS officers told The Times of India that the local language proficiency examination of their allotted cadre is among the toughest assessments during training.
One 2023-batch IAS officer from Bihar, allotted the Telangana cadre, recalled scoring only three marks out of 20 in the Telugu language examination during the first attempt.
“Since I opted for Telangana cadre, I had to take the Telugu test. I scored three out of 20 in my first attempt. I cleared it in the re-test,” the officer said.
The officer added that such experiences are fairly common among probationers allotted states with unfamiliar regional languages.
Why Do Probationers Fail?
According to a 2022-batch IAS officer, the reasons are not necessarily linked to academic capability.
He explained that many officers lose academic momentum after the intense preparation required for the UPSC examination.
“Soon after the UPSC exam and the hectic preparation that goes into it, many lose interest in academics for a brief while. That’s why they falter.”
The officer also noted that LBSNAA has considerably strengthened its curriculum and assessment standards during the last four to five years, making the examinations more rigorous than earlier.
Subjects Covered During Training
IAS probationers are evaluated across a broad range of disciplines designed to prepare them for governance and public administration.
The examinations include subjects such as:
Law
Basic Economic Principles
Indian Economy
Political Concepts
Constitution of India
Public Administration
Management
Behavioural Sciences
The minimum qualifying mark in each paper is 50 percent.
Four Years Available to Clear All Papers
LBSNAA officials clarified that there is no fixed cap on the number of attempts available to probationers for clearing academy examinations.
However, all officers are expected to complete the required examinations within four years of joining the service.
Deputy Director Gautam Thapliyal said the academy has maintained an excellent overall record despite individual subject failures.
“Marks obtained during the academy training are considered for the purpose of seniority of the batch. But despite individual failures in respective subjects, the overall pass percentage of IAS probationers between 2018 and 2026 has been 100%, and no probationer has been removed from service or discharged from training for failing to clear the academy examinations,” he said.
Disciplinary Action Against 14 Probationers
The RTI response also revealed that 14 IAS probationers faced disciplinary proceedings during the same period.
The data showed:
Six probationers from the 2022 batch faced disciplinary action.
Eight probationers from the 2025 batch were proceeded against.
The increase coincided with the academy’s stricter enforcement of disciplinary standards.
Reasons for Disciplinary Proceedings
According to the RTI data, disciplinary action was initiated for violations including:
Poor classroom attendance
Missing Physical Training (PT) sessions
Using electronic devices inside classrooms
Other violations of academy regulations
While LBSNAA did not disclose individual details, serving IAS officers said the disciplinary mechanism is intended to reinforce the standards of discipline and professionalism expected from future civil servants.
No Impact on Final Service Entry
Despite examination failures and disciplinary proceedings, academy officials reiterated that all IAS probationers successfully completed training, resulting in a 100 percent overall pass rate.
The academy emphasised that probationers are provided adequate opportunities to improve their performance through supplementary examinations while maintaining high academic and professional standards.