The Indian Civil Services: A Premier Career Path

The number of aspirants enrolling in UPSC Coaching centres increases each year exponentially. Why? Because each year, more and more candidates want to clear the IAS exam and become a civil servant. It is safe to say that passing the Indian civil services is a dream of millions. After all, over ten lakh students have been taking the exam annually since 2016. This writeup explores the reasons why civil services is a dream career and what are the paths a student can take within it.

Clearing the UPSC conducted exam paves the route to becoming an officer of:

• IAS
• IPS
• IFS

Each of these officers is an individual who develops governmental policies and then implements them. Furthermore, they keep law and order of the nation and act as the conduit between governmental authorities and the citizens. The biggest reason people opt for civil services as a career is the power that comes with it. Even the lowest rung of the civil servant has immense respect of the masses.

Why So Many Choose To Walk The Path Of Civil Services?

IAS officers are highly paid. They are offered homes, caretakes, and every other amenity possible. It is one of the significant factors that push young people to join the civil services. Add to it the complete job security and the career become lucrative. If selected, a civil servant cannot be removed from their job quickly. The retirement age is 60, and that too can be extended. Here – you check out the reasons to choosing civil service as your career path.

The one thing a life of an IAS officer lacked was the compensation when compared to the corporate sector. The new pay commission by the government has changed that too. The salaries civil servants receive is similar to their counterparts in multinationals and private businesses. Combined the compensation and amenities make the life of a civil servant extremely comfortable, which lures in more and more IAS aspirants each year.

While the financial side of the job is enticing, it is the actual role that attracts candidates. A civil servant is intricately involved in the decision-making process of the nation. The top cream of IAS officers represents India in multiple international forums. Others work for the upliftment of marginalised communities, disaster management, empowerment of people, and developing the country as a whole.

When seen all together, there are a million reasons why civil services are the dream career of so many aspirants. Not that they are clear, we move on to understanding the actual responsibilities of the many branches of IAS.

The Roles And Responsibilities Of Civil Servants

There are three all India services:

1. The Indian Administrative Service
2. The Indian Police Service
3. The Indian Foreign Service

There are the most popular parts of civil services. Two other central services, i.e., under the control of the central government, are:

1. The Indian Revenue Service
2. The Indian Information Service

Just like the central services, each state in India has its own:

• Administrative service
• Forest service
• Police service

To enter the central civil services, an aspirant takes the UPSC exam. For state services, each state conducts separate examinations.

• The major roles under the Indian Administrative Service are:

1. District Magistrate, aka, collector
2. Principal Secretary
3. Chief Secretary

• The major roles under the Indian Foreign Service are:

1. Diplomat
2. Foreign Secretary
3. High Commissioner

• The major posts under the Indian Police Service are:

1. Border Security Force
2. Department of Home Guards
3. Central Bureau of Investigation

The responsibilities of IAS officers include:

• advisors to the ministers
• smooth functioning of departments

The responsibilities of IFS officers include:

• framing foreign policies
• maintaining the Indian embassies around the world

The responsibilities of IPS officers include:

• preserve law and order
• overall development and well-being of the district

Given above is a gist of the burden civil servants bear. While there is prestige attached to the career path, it also comes with incredible responsibility and should be chosen with careful consideration.