Civil Service is the dream of many aspirants because of different reasons. Patriotism,
job security, additional benefits, respect in the society are few of the reasons.
There are several positions in the civil services that cover top high ranks to junior
officer grade services. The civil servants are responsible for the development and
empowerment of the country.
Services that come under civil services:
The civil services are divided into All India Services, Group A Services and Group
B Services. These cover Group services cover Central and State services.
Indian Administrative Service (IAS), India Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police
Service (IPS) -are the services that come under All India Services.
IAS – District Collectors, District Magistrate, Deputy Secretary, Joint Secretary,
Secretary, Principal Secretary, Cabinet Secretary are few of the positions the IAS
officers work as.
IPS – These officers are appointed in the central police organizations like CBI,
BSF, CRPF etc.
IFS – These officers work in embassies of the country in abroad and Ministry of
External affairs in the country.
Revenue, Audit and Accounts, Defence Accounts, P&T accounts and Finance, Ordnance
Factories, Postal, Civil Accounts, Railway Traffic, Railway Accounts, Railway Personnel,
Defence Estates, Information etc are the Services of India that come under Group
A.
Administrative and Police services of Union Territories, Central Secretariat and
Defence Secretariat Services come under Group B.
Mode of selection
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the examination for the recruitment.
The mode of the selection is through Preliminary Exam, Main Exam and Interview.
Those who clear the preliminary are eligible for the mains and those who clear the
main examination are eligible for the interview. The recruitment of the candidate
depends upon the scored rank.
Eligibility:
A degree from a recognized university is the academic eligibility for the UPSC civil
service examination. The candidates those who are awaiting the results also can
appear the examination. The minimum age limit is 21 years. Though the maximum age
limit is 30, there are proposals to decrease it to 26 or 28. The maximum number
of attempts to the examination is 4 to 7. The notification gives details of the
categorized relaxations.
One should be good with Current affairs of national and international, history of
nation, Geography of the nation and the world, General issues on Economic and social
development and on environment, and General science. Apart from the above logical
reasoning, comprehension, interpersonal and communication skills, mental ability,
decision making and problem solving, and language skills are also tested in the
examination.
Payments and facilities:
The starting Basic payment to a junior officer is Rs.8000/- per month. Additional
Secretary’s basic pay starts from Rs. 22,400/- per month and the Secretary or Cabinet
Secretary get the remuneration of Rs. 26,000/- to 30,000/- per month at the time
of joining. The Basic pay will be added with Dearness Allowance, Grade Pay, House
Rent Allowance, City Compensatory Allowance etc. Apart from the salary, the civil
servants enjoy special facilities like subsidized accommodation, medical, telephone,
transport, leave travel concession etc. Few of the benefits can be enjoyed even
after the retirement. There is good scope of promotions which are time bound.
Thus, the civil services offer ambitious career and welcome the talented to prove
themselves in serving the country.