The Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit statisticians in Group A of the Central Civil Services. It requires rigorous preparation, and the syllabus is structured to test a candidate's knowledge in various subjects related to statistics.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have a Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics, Mathematical Statistics, or Applied Statistics as one of the subjects or a Master’s degree in Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics.

Exam Structure

The ISS exam consists of two parts: a written exam and a viva-voce. The written exam includes six papers, with a total of 1000 marks. The viva-voce is for 200 marks.

Detailed Syllabus

Below is the detailed syllabus for each paper of the ISS exam.

General English

The General English paper is designed to test candidates' ability to understand and write English correctly. It includes essay writing, précis, and comprehension passages.

Statistics I & II

These papers cover Probability, Statistical Methods, and various aspects of Estimation and Sampling. Topics include hypothesis testing, distributions, and data analysis.

Statistics III & IV

These papers focus on applied statistics, with topics such as Econometrics, Time Series Analysis, and Multivariate Analysis. Candidates are also tested on sample surveys and official statistics.

Viva-Voce

Candidates who qualify for the written part of the ISS examination are called for a viva-voce, which carries 200 marks. The viva-voce is conducted to test the candidate's general awareness and understanding of statistical concepts.