If you want to become an IAS or IPS officer after completing your 12th in PCMC ,  focus on graduation because the UPSC Civil Services exam requires you to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. You can choose any graduation stream, but many students prefer degrees like Political Science, Public Administration, History, or Sociology because these subjects help build a strong foundation for the UPSC syllabus. it’s not mandatory to pick these; you can also pursue Science, Commerce, or Arts as long as you complete your graduation. Along with your degree,  start preparing for the UPSC exam early by reading newspapers, improving your general knowledge, and practicing answer writing. So, after 12th, pick a degree you are comfortable with, and plan your UPSC preparation alongside

Hello there,

That's a great goal! To become an IAS or IPS officer , you need to clear the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) after completing any bachelor’s degree . But some degrees are more helpful for UPSC preparation than others.

Best Degree Options After 12th (PCMC) for IAS/IPS:

Since you're from PCMC (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Computer Science) , here are the most suitable degree paths:

1. B.A. in Humanities (Highly Recommended)

• Why: Most UPSC subjects (like History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Sociology, etc.) come from humanities.
  
  

• Popular combinations:

  • B.A. (History + Polity + Geography)

  • B.A. (Economics + Public Administration)
    
    

• Good Colleges: DU (Delhi University), JNU, BHU, Osmania University, etc.
  
  2. B.A. (Hons) in Political Science / Economics / History / Sociology

• Why: These are direct UPSC optional subjects with good overlap with General Studies (GS) papers.
  
  3. B.Sc. or B.Tech (if you are strong in science and want backup options)

• You can do B.Tech in CS or Civil Engineering and prepare for UPSC alongside.

• But science degrees do not help much in UPSC syllabus.
  
  4. B.A. + Coaching (Best Combo)

• Choose B.A. in any top UPSC subjects .

• Join UPSC foundation coaching in college (like Vision IAS, Vajiram, or online platforms).
  
  Final Suggestion:

If IAS/IPS is your only and main goal:

• Choose B.A. with UPSC-related subjects.
  
  

• Start reading NCERTs and newspapers (like The Hindu / Indian Express) from 1st year of degree.

If you still want to keep technical fields open as backup:

• Choose B.Tech or B.Sc. , and plan UPSC prep seriously after 2nd year.

I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

Dear Candidate,
To become an IAS or IPS officer , you need to clear the UPSC Civil Service Examination after completing graduation ( any degree).
Suggestion - Choose BA in Political Science , History , or Public Administration after 12th for best preparation for IAS/IPS . It matches UPSC syllabus and helps in early prep.