Government jobs in India – Find out why civil services still hold the prestigious tag in the minds of the youth and the elder generation. Know the possible opportunities you have as a civil servant
Remember the famous saying of childhood days: “Padh Lih kar collector banna hai kya”?
A land where even villagers want their children to become a ‘sarkari babu’, you might want to know if civil services still hold the same value in the minds of the young and the old alike.
If you are ambitious, talented and ready to accept and face challenges in your career, the Indian civil services can be a good career choice for you. The pride and prestige associated with the government job still provokes the aspiring youth to crack one of the toughest competitive exams.
The civil services being the backbone of Indian Government Machinery, clearing the examinations held by the UPSC board can pave the way for National, Central and State Services wherein you can serve as the IAS, IPS or IFS Officer. While IT and management careers lure with their handsome pay packages, the civil services do not lag behind as it is one of the premier services that provides for an opportunity for trips abroad and job satisfaction, apart from being a stable career with a decent salary. Let alone the power and authority that you can get to exercise over officials of different ranks and fields.
With a success rate of 0.1 % in the exams, the selection process is time-consuming as it takes almost a year to decide the fate of thousands of aspirants. Even the examination procedure is divided into three phases: the preliminary exams are held in May, the main in the month of October-November and interview in March-April. The preparation for such examination requires perseverance, hard work, time management and the right coaching, but can be rewarding in the end as you can fulfil your personal ambitions along with looking after the welfare of the society. The nation’s major decisions and policies directly related to the government and its developmental plans rests in the hands of the civil servants.
Varied fields require the attention of civil servants, be it developmental works in different parts of the country, making policies for disaster management and maintaining law and order, administration or uplifting and empowering women and minorities.
The sixth pay commission has also provided for better pay cheques for the civil servants, making it equal to the salary of corporates. With a secured job and brighter future prospects, the civil servants can work till the age of 60 and maybe some more if s/he gets an extension. Not only do they enjoy the modern amenities and better facilities, being the most respected lot of the country, but they have the scope and the power to bring about social and economic changes and national development by taking part in the decision-making process of the country.
IAS: As IAS officers, you can work as district magistrates/collectors and principal secretaries to the PM or state ministers and have the authority to sign treaties on the government’s behalf on works related to development, law and order, disaster management et al.
IPS: You will be responsible for public safety and security, preventing and investigating crimes, traffic control and executing constitutional laws in the country as the Superintendent of Police. Some central police and military forces may recruit you as well such as CBI, CRPF or BSF.
IFS: Taking India abroad is the basic idea behind the work of an IFS officer who caters to the external affairs of the nation. They can work as diplomats and try to establish cultural and business relations with foreign countries or make and execute foreign policies and can make their presence felt on a global platform by taking the role of an Ambassador. Not only do such careers ensure stability of job, but also your own security as you will be working in embassies, guarded by several bodyguards.
Some other facets of the civil services can include Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Forest Service, Customs and Excise duties, Postal services, Audit and Accounts (IAAS), Indian Railways or working with the Information and Broadcast department.
The ranks you secure in the examinations will be the deciding factor for your recruitment in any of the above services. An average pay of a civil servant ranges from 50,000 INR to INR 2,00,000, (an indicative, approximate figure) depending on their qualification, rank in the exam and work experience. Though you have to go through rigorous trainings and tedious examination procedures throughout the year, the civil services can certainly prove to be a dream career with the social reverence and the job security, not to forget how you can positively impact your countrymen’s lives and the fate of the nation.
The metros (Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai) and even Bangalore’s Achievers IAS Classes provide for some of the reputed coaching institutes in India for a proper guidance before appearing in the civil examinations.
So, if you want to land the dream job for yourself, start studying as there are a maximum of 4 attempts for General and 7 attempts for Other Backward Classes (OBC’s) permitted.
Only a handful is chosen for IAS (0.002%) and IPS (0.007%).
Can you make it?
