CIVIL SERVICES

Tell me, who does not like power and authority?? Security for a lifetime?? Very few people find it easy to resist!!  If you are 'not' one of them, this career is ideal for you. Imagine yourself as a District Magistrate handling all administrative matters relating to a district, or as the First Secretary appointed to a foreign land and responsible for developing international relations with it on behalf of India! Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, you can reach those heights - by joining the Civil Services.

The Civil Services are the backbone of the Indian government machinery as it constitutes of all the departments which runs the state administration. The constitutional machinery of India works on the gears of the civil services. It has been an integral part of the Indian Governance system for almost a century now. The British set up this system to aid them in governing this vast country (hence the similarity with the British governance system). Young men (and women though they made their appearance in this area at a much later stage!), vied to be a part of this service. Post-independence too, the Civil Services remained one of the most coveted areas for work.

The popularity of the Civil Services will not die even though careers with jobs in finance, management and multinationals take the front seat. The personnel of these services eventually occupy important positions in the bureaucracy (this is incentive enough, as these examinations draw nearly 1,50,000 candidates on an average every year!).

The Civil Service examinations are conducted in 2 phases: Preliminary Examinations ('prelims') and Main Examinations ('mains'). Personality test and viva-voce follow, but your aim is to clear the written tests before you can even think about these. If you are an Indian, 21-28 years old, and a graduate from a recognised Indian university with 55% marks, you are eligible to appear for the exams (only 3 tries allowed).

Prelims
Here, you have to deal with 2 objective type multiple choice question papers (450 marks)
1st paper (150 marks)  - General Studies
2nd paper (300 marks) - You are required to choose any one subject from a large list (yes! you can sigh with relief - there is ample choice for everyone!! )
The papers are set in both English and Hindi and are of 2 hrs. duration. However, these serve only as a screening test and do not determine the final order of your merit.

Mains
The number of candidates admitted for the mains is about 12-13 times the total number of estimated vacancies. The written exam consists of 8 papers of conventional subjective (essay) type questions, each carrying 300 marks.

Interviews
The number of interviewees is approximately twice the number of vacancies (fat chance!). Here, you will have to be a champion with national and international affairs, trends, currents of thought, new discoveries, and of course, do not let go of the firm grasp on the subjects of academic study.

As one can see, it is an extremely competitive area and entry is very tough. Patience should be your forte as this process is very elongated and it requires you to be determined and diligent (which means working 6-8 hrs. a day!!). Absorb knowledge from all around you, read competitive magazines and journals, develop a general awareness and interest in national and international affairs. Furthermore, do not lose track of your academic syllabus as it plays a very important role in the entrance exams.

If you are one of the fortunate few who have cleared the process (amazing!), you can be appointed to the various services under the Civil Service fold depending on the aggregate marks obtained in the mains. Services are allotted keeping in mind the rank and expressed preferences.

• The Civil Services are broadly divided into - The All India Services and the Central Services .

• Under the All India Services come the famous Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFtS).

Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
IAS officers handle government affairs. They deal with all the policy making of a particular area (in consultation with the Minister). They also represent the government in other countries and in International forums. They are even authorised to sign agreements on behalf of the government.

Indian Police Service (IPS)
Internal security, public safety, law and order are just few of the functions of the IPS officers. They take charge as an Assistant Superintendent of Police of a sub-division, after a probation of 2 years. IPS officers work with the Intelligence Bureau and also get placed in the Cabinet Secretariat or other protective services like the BSF, CRPF etc.

Indian Forest Services (IFtS)
The main aim of this service is better and integrated forest management. It has a separate selection test of its own.  This is a challenging career as you will be responsible for the conservation and management of forest resources.

Now it is time to look at the Central Services, where the officers are posted in bigger towns or at the centre with the Government of India.

Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Probationers are attached to the Ministry of External Affairs and then in turn to a particular country - Spain, China, Pakistan etc. Here, you are expected to learn the language of the country and spend most of your time that country. The second year of the probation will see you posted in that country as Third Secretaries in the Indian Embassy. Next comes the promotion to the rank of Second Secretary and after

that, a home posting for 2 years where you work for the Ministry of External affairs. It is, however, the First Secretary's job to help in the development of international understanding. The final level that an IAS officer reaches is that of an Ambassador. This job entitles you to perks galore when you are posted abroad - free furnished house, education, outfit and liberal medical allowances etc.

Indian Railway Services (IRS)
There are many areas of employment in the IRS (not to be confused with the infamous IRS of the USA). There are many areas of employment in the IRS (not to be confused with the infamous IRS of the USA).

• Indian Railway Traffic Services(IRTS)
• Indian Railway Accounts Service(IRAS)
• Railway Police Service(RPS)
• Indian Railway Service of Engineers(IRSE)
• Indian Railway Personnel Service

Indian Postal Service
Officers work with field officers to get a hang of the functioning of the service. After training they are appointed Senior Superintendent of Post Offices or Railway Mail in large district towns and Divisional Headquarters.

Some of the other Services under the Central Services are listed below:

• Indian Audit and Accounts Service(IA&AS)
• Indian Civil Accounts Services
• Indian Revenue Service(Customs and Central Excise)
• Indian Revenue Service(Income tax) 
• Indian Ordinance Factories Services(IOFs)
• Indian Information Services
• Central Trade Services etc.

And many others...

Gaining an entry in the Civil Services indicates that you have the determination, the intelligence and the extra something to be a success. It is also necessary for you to possess good logical reasoning, excellent verbal expression, quick responses and the ability to argue. More than anything, meticulousness and an eye for detail are important.  Your job will involve interaction with all classes of the society, - and this calls for highly developed social skills and an understanding of human relationships. Nothing is possible if you have no physical stamina and resilience.

Once you are in, the sky is the limit. The government is generous with the salary and allowances - transport, housing, medical, travel, leave etc. - everything is provided for. Apart from all these physical benefits, there is no form of respect and prestige that comes even near to the satisfaction that a civil servant basks in. Everything you get is not free (you must have figured that out by now!) - your precious sweat is what you have to let flow. Keep one thing in mind - and see where it takes you....

A bureaucrat is a leader, who is loyal and sincere, and who is above all - a human being!!