18 October 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Why IFS Lost Out To IAS As First Choice of UPSC Toppers

More and more successful UPSC CSE toppers have been opting for the IAS. The IFS, so far considered as the elite service, has been related to the third spot. In this video interview, Indian Masterminds tried to find out the reasons for the change
Indian Masterminds Stories

Ever since the beginning, the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) used to be the first choice of the toppers in the UPSC Civil Services Exam. It was considered an elite service and only cream de la cream used to opt for it. IAS and IPS used to be taken by those who couldn’t get into the IFS. 

Times have changed. There apparently is a paradigm shift in the structure of civil services because of which successful candidates’ choices too have changed. Now, IFS is no more the natural first choice of the toppers. Most of the toppers have increasingly been opting for the IAS. The IPS is emerging as the second choice and IFS has been relegated to third place.

Indian Masterminds tried to fathom the reason for the changes by speaking to experts. Please watch the video to find out.


Indian Masterminds Stories
Join our WhatsApp Channel
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Google-Adani Vizag Data Centre
Why The ₹17,700 Crore Google-Adani Vizag Data Centre Is Facing NGT Scrutiny
IAF GSAT-7C Satellite Deal
IAF GSAT-7C Satellite Deal: 5 Ways It Could Strengthen the Indian Air Force
Karnataka Illegal Immigration
Karnataka Illegal Immigration: Karnataka High Court Gives State 3 Months To Act
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan
Why Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan Withdrew From 7 Delhi Protest Cases in Supreme Court
Aditya L1
How Aditya-L1 and Proba-3 Are Helping Scientists Understand Solar Storms
India norway
India-EFTA Summit 2026: $100 Billion Investment Target Explained
Project Seabird Phase IIA
Project Seabird Phase IIA: Indian Navy Expands Karwar Base with 300 Homes, 409-Bed Hospital
Indian Navy Seychelles Visit
Indian Navy Seychelles Visit: INS Tir And Other Ships Complete Mission
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Saket Badola IFS
Beyond Tigers and Safaris: How Corbett Literature Festival Wants to Change the Conservation Conversation
PK Jena
Why Technology Cannot Replace Human Connection in Governance: P.K. Jena
PK Jena
The IAS Officer Who Put People Before Paperwork: How PK Jena Challenged Corruption and Reformed Governance
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Umar Janj UPSC CAPF
15+ Failures Couldn’t Stop Him: Umar Janj Secures AIR 160 in UPSC CAPF 2025
After multiple SSB setbacks, a CAPF interview miss by 12 marks and more than 15 failures, Umar Janj secured...
Aayush Sharma
Three CDS Attempts, Five AFCAT Qualifications & Medical Setback: How Aayush Sharma Secured CAPF AIR 135
After three unsuccessful SSB attempts, five AFCAT qualifications and a medical setback, Aayush Sharma...
Tushar Chaudhary IRMS
He Left Intel, Built COPAL-19, Spent Months at AIIMS, Ran Half Marathons, and Returned to UPSC—Tushar Chaudhary’s Journey to IRMS
UPSC ESE AIR 4 Tushar Chaudhary left a ₹25 LPA Intel job, built COPAL-19, spent months at AIIMS, ran...
CSR NEWS
NBCC India CSR Award 2026
NBCC India Wins Award for Excellence in CSR at 4th Fortune Leadership Awards 2026
The recognition honours NBCC’s community welfare initiatives and efforts to improve healthcare accessibility...
HURL ALIMCO
HURL Signs MoU with ALIMCO to Support Divyangjans and Senior Citizens in Gorakhpur, Barauni and Sindri
Under its CSR initiative, HURL will support PMD-VK Gorakhpur and facilitate the distribution of need-based...
MDL CSR Support to Divyasha Vayoshri Kendra
MDL Extends ₹3.79 Crore CSR Support to Divyasha Vayoshri Kendra in Mumbai
The initiative will strengthen access to assistive devices, prosthetics and rehabilitation services for...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Google-Adani Vizag Data Centre
Why The ₹17,700 Crore Google-Adani Vizag Data Centre Is Facing NGT Scrutiny
IAF GSAT-7C Satellite Deal
IAF GSAT-7C Satellite Deal: 5 Ways It Could Strengthen the Indian Air Force
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Saket Badola IFS
PK Jena
PK Jena
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT