Why IAS

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the premier All India Service of Government of India. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) forms the steel framework of governance in India. No job other than the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) offers a great variety of diversity both on field and off field. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) gives a great scope for an individual to make, implement, redefine, experiment and innovate with policies.

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers are bestowed with adequate powers and constitutional protection to bring changes in lives of people and country at large.

Job profile of an IAS officer

IAS officer is responsible for maintenance of law and order, revenue administration and general administration in the area under him. His functions broadly include:
(i) Collection of revenue and function as Courts in revenue matters;
(ii) Maintenance of law and order;
(iii) Function as Executive Magistrate;
(iv) Function as Chief Development Officer (CDO)/District Development Commissioner;
(v) Supervision of implementation of policies of State Government and Central Government;
(vi) To travel to places to oversee implementation of policies;
(vii) Supervision of expenditure of public funds as per norms of financial propriety;
(viii) In the process of policy formulation and decision making, IAS officers at various levels like Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary etc. make their contributions and the give final shape to policies;
(ix) To handle the daily affairs of the government, including framing and implementation of policy in consultation with the minister-in-charge of the concerned Ministry;

Designations held by IAS officers during field posting

(i) SDO/SDM/Joint Collector/ Chief Development Officer (CDO)
(ii) District Magistrate/District Collector/Deputy Commissioner
(iii) Divisional Commissioner
(iv) Member Board of Revenue
(v) Chairman Board of Revenue

Designations held by IAS officers during off-field posting

(i) Under Secretary
(ii) Deputy Secretary
(iii) Director
(iv) Joint Secretary
(v) Additional Secretary
(vi) Secretary/ Chief Secretary
(vii) Chief Secretary

Constitutional Posts held by IAS (Usually)

(i) Chief Election Commissioner
(ii) Election Commissioner
(iii) Chief Information Commissioner
(iv) Information Commissioner 

Recruitment

At present there are three modes of recruitment to IAS viz
(i) Through Civil Services Examination conducted by UPSC every year;
(ii) Through promotion of State Civil Service officers to IAS; and
(iii) Through selection of non – State Civil Service officers.
Roughly 66(1/3%) posts are meant for Direct Recruitment and 33 (1/3%) posts are meant for promotion quota.

Post Author: NITHI IAS