New Delhi: Here is some news that would give cheers to thousands of candidates appearing for Indian Civil Services Examinations this year. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has increased the approximate annual intake from 500 to a whooping 671 for civil services.

For the past few years, out of the total 500 positions available for Civil services, around 65 were meant for IAS posts. The rest of vacancies were for Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service and a range of Group A and Group B allied jobs.

As per the recent notification by the UPSC, a total of 110 IAS posts are on offer. The figure is likely to go up in the years to come.

As per UPSC sources, the vacancies were created marginally due to attrition mostly from the revenue-related services. The other reasons, behind the increase in intake, are the fact that a number of officers retiring every year, besides a "general expansion" in the government's role as a "facilitator and regulator" in a liberalizing economy.

The UPSC yesterday announced the date of Civil Services Examination, 2008. The Preliminary Examination of the Civil Services Examination for recruitment to the Services and posts will be held on the 18th May, 2008 and the applications for the main examination will be called sometime in the month of July/August, 2008.

Every year, over 3 lakh candidates apply for Civil services Exam with an ambition to become an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer. The entrance test is considered as one of the toughest in the world. The recent notification would certainly add to the hopes of the aspirants.