The Indian Statistical Service Examination (ISSE) is all India exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit officers under group A of the Central Civil Services of the executive branch of the Government of India. After clearing the exam candidates get enrolled in Indian Statistical Service (ISS) as an ISS Officer. The minimum eligibility criterion is bachelor’s degree with Statistics or Mathematical Statistics or Applied Statistics as one of the subjects.
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WORK OF ISS:
Indian Statistical Service(ISS) officers are responsible for managing statistical data, administering reports, and ensuring data quality.
ISS officers are involved in designing and conducting surveys, including those with nationwide coverage, in various sectors.
They provide data-driven insights to support policy formulation and evaluation in areas like public health, education, and economic development.
They serve in various ministries and departments, including those of the Central Government, and may be posted on deputation to international organizations or state governments
Exam Pattern for the Indian Statistical Service exam(ISSE)
The exam pattern for the Indian Statistical Service exam(ISSE) involves two stages: stage I – written exam and stage II – Interview process.
Stage I: Written Exam for the Indian Statistical Service examination(ISSE)
Paper |
Subject |
Marks |
Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
General English |
Essay writing, comprehension, grammar |
100 |
3 hours |
General Studies |
Current affairs, Indian polity, economy, geography |
100 |
3 hours |
Statistics – I |
Probability and Statistical Methods |
200 |
2 hours |
Statistics – II |
Statistical Inference and Hypothesis Testing |
200 |
2 hours |
Statistics – III |
Linear Models and Economic Statistics |
200 |
3 hours |
Statistics – IV |
Applied Statistics, Demography, and Vital Statistics |
200 |
3 hours |
Total |
1000 |
||
Statistics I & II will be of Objective Type Questions (80 questions with maximum marks of 200 in each paper) to be attempted in 120 minutes.
Statistics III and IV will be of Descriptive Type having Short Answer/ Small Problems Questions (50%) and Long Answer and Comprehension problem questions (50%). At least one Short Answer and One Long Answer Question from each section is compulsory.
In Statistics-IV, equal number of questions i.e. 50% weightage from all the sub-sections below and candidates have to choose any two sub-sections and answer.
Stage II: Interview / Personality Test
Candidates who qualify the examination will be called for a personal interview. The total marks for Interview is 200. The interview assesses candidates’ subject knowledge, logical reasoning, leadership qualities and overall personality. Final selection is based on the combined marks of the written exam (1000 Marks) and the Interview (200 Marks).
Stages |
Marks |
|---|---|
Written Exam |
1000 |
Interview |
200 |
Total |
1200 |
Eligibility Criteria for the Indian Statistical Service examination(ISSE)
Category |
Details |
|---|---|
Nationality |
Indian |
Educational Qualification |
Qualification A Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics as one of the main subjects. |
Age Limit |
21-30 years (Relaxation as per norms) |
SYLLABUS
1. General English -Essay Writing Precise Writing Comprehension Passages Grammar & Sentence Correction
2. General Studies -Indian Polity & Constitution Indian History & National Movement Geography of India & World Current Affairs (National & International) General Science Environmental Issues Indian Economy & Planning
3. Statistics – I (Objective)- Probability Theory Probability Distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Normal) Numerical Analysis & Linear Algebra Statistical Methods & Sampling Theory
4. Statistics – II (Objective) -Estimation & Hypothesis Testing Regression Analysis & Time Series Analysis Statistical Quality Control Design of Experiments
5. Statistics – III (Descriptive) -Multivariate Analysis Operations Research & Optimization Techniques Econometrics & Statistical Inference Survey Methods & Demographic Statistics 4.
6. Statistics – IV (Descriptive) -Stochastic Processes & Reliability Theory Computational Statistics Applied Multivariate Analysis Official & Economics Statistics (Census, NSSO, CSO Reports)
HOW TO APPLY
The step by step application process is given below:
Steps |
Action |
|---|---|
1 |
Visit the official UPSC website: https://www.upsc.gov.in or https://upsconline.nic.in |
2 |
Click on “Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC” |
3 |
Select “Indian Economic Service / Indian Statistical Service Examination” |
4 |
Complete Part I Registration: |
5 |
Complete Part II Registration: |
6 |
Submit the form and take a printout of the application for reference |
Conclusion
The Indian Statistical Services officer is a rewarding career choice for those who have a strong foundation in statistics and desire to contribute to the nation’s policy- making and economic planning. Candidates can work in various ministries under statistical divisions and units such as health, agriculture, commerce, water resources, and more. Their tasks involve managing databases, monitoring and evaluating schemes, collecting and compiling diverse statistics and implementing them. The ISS is a respected service within the Indian government, offering a career that involves shaping national policies and program. The ISS offers a good salary range, with potential for growth and advancement within the service. Apart from Indian Statistical Service Examination (ISSE) UPSC civil service exam UPSC also conduct other exams like Engineering Service Examination(IES), UPSC Civil Services Examination(CSE) , Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE), Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination, etc.