24 IAS Probationers Failed LBSNAA Exams in Five Years, RTI Reveals; 14 Cases Reported in 2025-26 as Academy Tightens Standards
An RTI response reveals that 24 IAS probationers failed one or more examinations at LBSNAA between 2021 and 2026, with 14 cases reported in 2025-26. Despite the failures, all officers eventually cleared their papers, maintaining a 100 percent pass rate.
Mussoorie: Cracking the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination is widely regarded as one of the toughest academic achievements in India. Every year, close to five lakh aspirants compete for a place in the country’s premier civil services, yet only around 182 to 184 candidates ultimately make it into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Reaching that milestone is an extraordinary accomplishment, but it is not the end of the journey.
A recent Right to Information (RTI) response has now revealed that even after clearing the highly competitive UPSC examination, some IAS officers face academic challenges during their professional training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.
According to information obtained by The Times of India, 24 IAS probationers failed one or more examinations conducted during their academy training over the last five years. More strikingly, 14 of these cases were reported during 2025 and 2026, suggesting a noticeable increase in examination backlogs in recent batches.
Academy officials, however, clarified that these were individual paper failures rather than failures in the overall training programme. They also stressed that no IAS probationer has been discharged from service or removed from training, as every officer eventually cleared the required examinations within the prescribed time.
Clearing UPSC Is Only the Beginning
For most civil services aspirants, clearing the UPSC examination represents years of relentless preparation and determination.
Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for the Civil Services Examination, but only a small fraction finally secure a place in the IAS.
Once selected, probationers are required to undergo an intensive two-year training programme at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration before taking up independent field assignments.
The academy’s curriculum is designed to prepare future district administrators and senior government officials through a combination of classroom instruction, field exposure, physical training, district attachments, leadership development exercises and continuous academic evaluation.
Far from being a ceremonial orientation programme, the training is academically rigorous and professionally demanding.
RTI Reveals 24 Examination Failures
The RTI response indicates that between 2021 and 2026, a total of 24 IAS probationers failed one or more academy examinations.
Out of these, 14 failures occurred during the 2025-26 period, making it the highest concentration of such cases during the five-year period covered by the RTI.
Officials clarified that these failures were limited to specific subjects and did not imply that the probationers had failed the entire course.
The academy allows officers to reappear for examinations in subjects where they fall short of the qualifying marks, and nearly all probationers clear these backlog papers within a short period.
The data highlights that occasional academic setbacks remain a part of the demanding training process even for officers who have already succeeded in one of India’s most competitive examinations.
Local Language Tests Pose a Major Challenge
Among the various assessments conducted during IAS training, the regional language proficiency examination of the allotted cadre is often considered one of the most difficult.
Several recently inducted officers told The Times of India that learning an unfamiliar regional language within a limited period can be particularly challenging.
One officer from the 2023 IAS batch, originally from Bihar but allotted the Telangana cadre, shared his experience of taking the mandatory Telugu language examination.
According to the officer, he scored only three marks out of twenty in his first attempt.
“I had opted for the Telangana cadre, so I was required to take the Telugu language test. I managed just three marks in my first attempt but cleared it during the re-test,” he was quoted as saying.
Officers note that such situations are fairly common, especially for probationers posted to states where the local language differs significantly from their mother tongue.
Why Do Some IAS Probationers Fail?
Serving officers believe the reasons behind these examination failures are rarely linked to a lack of intellectual capability.
One IAS officer from the 2022 batch explained that many probationers experience a temporary loss of academic momentum after the prolonged and intense preparation required for the UPSC examination.
According to the officer, many candidates spend years immersed in continuous study before finally entering the service. Once they succeed, a brief period of reduced academic focus is not unusual.
The officer also pointed out that LBSNAA has substantially strengthened its curriculum and evaluation standards during the last four to five years, making examinations more demanding than they were in earlier batches.
As a result, probationers are expected to maintain high academic performance while simultaneously participating in physically demanding activities, field visits, administrative simulations and leadership exercises.
A Comprehensive and Rigorous Curriculum
Training at LBSNAA goes well beyond conventional classroom education.
Probationers are evaluated across multiple disciplines intended to equip them for complex administrative responsibilities throughout their careers.
The subjects assessed during training include:
Law
Basic Economic Principles
Indian Economy
Political Concepts
Constitution of India
Public Administration
Management
Behavioural Sciences
In addition to these academic subjects, officers participate in physical fitness programmes, trekking expeditions, village studies, district attachments, Bharat Darshan tours and various practical governance exercises.
The minimum qualifying mark prescribed for every academic paper is 50 percent.
Four Years to Complete All Academic Requirements
Officials at the academy clarified that probationers are not restricted to a fixed number of attempts for clearing examination papers.
Instead, officers are expected to successfully complete all required examinations within four years of joining the service.
This system provides probationers with adequate opportunities to improve their performance while ensuring that academic standards remain uncompromised.
Deputy Director Gautam Thapliyal emphasised that despite occasional failures in individual subjects, the academy has maintained an outstanding overall record.
According to him, the marks obtained during academy training also contribute to determining the seniority within an IAS batch, making academic performance an important component of an officer’s overall career profile.
He stated that despite individual failures in certain subjects, the overall pass percentage of IAS probationers between 2018 and 2026 has remained 100 percent, and no officer has been discharged from service for failing to clear academy examinations.
RTI Also Reveals Disciplinary Proceedings
Apart from examination performance, the RTI response also sheds light on disciplinary matters within the academy.
According to the information disclosed, 14 IAS probationers faced disciplinary proceedings during the same period.
The data shows:
Six probationers from the 2022 batch faced disciplinary action.
Eight probationers from the 2025 batch were proceeded against.
Officials suggest that the increase reflects stricter enforcement of academy rules rather than any broader decline in discipline among trainees.
Reasons Behind the Disciplinary Action
The RTI data indicates that disciplinary proceedings were initiated for violations such as:
Poor classroom attendance
Absence from mandatory Physical Training (PT) sessions
Use of electronic devices inside classrooms
Other violations of academy regulations
While the academy has not disclosed the identities of the probationers involved, serving IAS officers said such disciplinary mechanisms are intended to instil the values of discipline, punctuality and professionalism that are expected throughout an officer’s career.
Training at LBSNAA is designed not only to build administrative competence but also to cultivate the work ethic and institutional discipline required for senior leadership positions in government.
High Standards, Yet Complete Success
Despite the examination backlogs and disciplinary proceedings highlighted in the RTI response, academy officials maintain that the overall outcome remains highly encouraging.
Every probationer covered during the period ultimately completed the required training and successfully qualified for service.
Officials say the academy’s objective is not merely to test knowledge but to prepare officers capable of handling the complex realities of public administration.
The availability of supplementary examinations ensures that temporary academic setbacks do not permanently derail an officer’s career while still preserving rigorous academic standards.
The RTI findings also underscore another important aspect of civil service training – clearing the UPSC examination may open the doors to the IAS, but continuous learning, discipline and professional excellence remain essential long after the selection process is over.
