Which is more tough, a CA course or IAS - pravinnath/upscpreparationguide GitHub Wiki

It’s like comparing Apples to Oranges. Both these exams are difficult in their own ways. They are entirely different in their scope and objectives. While the CA exam is an ‘Specialist’ exam IAS exam is a ‘Generalist’ exam. I have a fair idea about both the exams as I have many friends who are CAs and I prepared for IAS myself.

In my opinion, IAS is tougher due to the simple reason that there are no consolation prizes in this exam. That means even if you reached interview and failed to make it to the final list, you have to start from scratch. And it might happen that you might fail in Pre itself. Whereas in CA once you clear a level or a group of subject you don’t have to attempt it again.

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Also what makes IAS tougher is the time frame required to clear it. You get one year for a shot at IAS. If you fail, you have to try again. From the beginning. There is a lot of flexibility in CA exam. You can attempt based on your preparation level and readiness. If you are not ready you can skip the attempt and take it next year.

Also in IAS you get a designated no of attempts only which is not the case with CA (I am not sure if it has changed recently, if it has someone can point that out).

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Also statistically IAS has to be tougher. Out of 5 lakh students who appear in IAS exam only 1000 get selected in the final list, whereas in CA around 15k CAs pass every year.

As far as the depth of syllabus and time required to clear I think both are difficult in their own ways. One requires you to go deeper the other required you to go wider. Still I believe a generalist exam is more difficult than an specialist exam, but that is just my opinion.