Do RAW Officers Receive more Benefits and Facilities than IAS/IPS/IFS?

Research & Analysis Wing is an intelligence agency which works under the order and according to the Indian Government. It is an independent and secret agency, and the Prime Minister’s office has jurisdiction over it. RAW contributes intelligence support to multiple special operations in foreign countries since their origin. RAW also oversees the security of nuclear programs managed by India.

Being a RAW agent is a job which involves high risk, and suitably the agents get highly rewarded as well. Officers need to reside in foreign countries to gather intelligence which carries a lot of dangers. In this blog, we will tell you about the different facilities and perks offered by the Research & Analysis Wing as compared to other civil services.

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How to Get Recruited in RAW?

There is no clear or definite recruitment process which RAW follows. Random recruitment of personnel can be done after an explicit background check. The field officers are recruited from the Army, Air Force or the Navy. They also recruit individuals who are specialists in linguistics, economics and finance. RAW also looks out for candidates who have served in the CAPF or other government bodies. RAW also conducts a program known as the RAS to assess better candidates.

Clearing all the Civil Services Exam Phases can also help in getting a RAW agent’s job. If you get a good rank, become an IPS or IAS, serve in your allocated cadres, and then apply to IB or wait for a call from RAW, who will contact you after doing their due diligence.

Qualities of an Ideal RAW Agent

RAW looks for some ideal qualities in an agent:

The individual should be able to work for long hours
Should have logical and radical thinking skills
Should be quick on their feet
Should be able to travel long distances
The applicant must have good physical abilities and fitness.
The individual should have a keen observation and should be ready to work in adverse conditions
The applicant should be highly secretive

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Benefits of Being a RAW Officer

There are unparalleled perks and benefits that a RAW officer enjoys. A RAW agent is told to work in different countries and perform multiple operations. An individual has to clear all the Civil Service Exam stages, and the best of them are only allowed to attempt the RAS. Applicants should have an experience of at least 20 years of service in any government body.

The RAW Agent’s salary is somewhat between INR 80,000 to INR 1.3 lakhs per month. The officials also get two months of extra pay each financial year. They also get a special security allowance and foreign service allowance which changes from assignment to assignment. RAW agents are also given more additional perks other than these pecuniary benefits.

RAW agents also get themselves assigned to European Countries or America to ensure a better education for their children. You can apply for senior positions in various state departments after retiring. You can also act as a guidance counsellor for aspiring students and applicants wishing to join RAW.

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Do RAW Officers Receive more Benefits and Facilities Than IAS?

IAS officers are members of the administrative arm of the government. They oversee the implementation of various policies as directed by the state and central government, maintain law and order, and oversee the expenditure of public funds. There are multiple benefits an IAS officer enjoys which is not enjoyed by a RAW officer:

Benefits of an IAS Officer

IAS officers are provided with houses as residences with extremely low rent or no rent at all. They are also provided with external help.
They are allotted vehicle with chauffeur services for official purposes
They get free or highly subsidised, water, gas and electricity bills.
IAS officers can avail the facilities of government guest houses or accommodations when on official and unofficial trips.
IAS officers also get the provision to apply for study leave of up to 2 years. They can undertake a course in any foreign university, fully sponsored by the government. Only individuals who have served more than 7 years can apply for this facility. They will have to serve the government for a given number of years after their return.
IAS officers have job security. It is not easy to fire an IAS officer, and the process is lengthy and requires extensive investigation.
IAS Officers and spouses enjoy lifetime pension and other benefits after retirement.

Do RAW Officers Receive More Benefits and Facilities than IPS?

IPS officers are members of the Indian Police Service. Their primary job is to maintain peace among and safeguard the public. They give importance to law and order, detect and prevent crime and traffic control. There are multiple benefits an IPS officer enjoys which is not enjoyed by a RAW officer.

Benefits of an IPS Officer

IPS officers are provided with houses as residences with extremely low rent or no rent at all. They are also provided with external help.
They are allotted vehicle with chauffeur services for official purposes
They get free or highly subsidised, water, gas and electricity bills.
IPS officers can avail the facilities of government guest houses or accommodations when on official and unofficial trips.
IPS officers also get the provision to apply for study leave of up to 2 years. They can undertake a course in any foreign university, fully sponsored by the government. Only individuals who have served more than 7 years can apply for this facility. They will have to serve the government for a given number of years after their return.
IPS officers have job security. It is not easy to fire an IAS officer, and the process is lengthy and requires extensive investigation.
IPS Officers and spouses enjoy lifetime pension and other benefits after retirement.
IPS officers are also given high security due to their job profile
IPS officers are given a handsome salary

Do RAW Officers Receive more Benefits and Facilities than IFS?

The Indian foreign service or the IFS is a diplomatic division of the Indian Civil Services. They deal with the external affairs of India, they are also responsible for framing and implementing policies that govern India’s re; relationship with other countries. These individuals represent India at various high commissions and embassies. There are multiple benefits an IFS officer enjoys which is not enjoyed by a RAW officer.

Benefits of an IFS

IFS officers are provided with houses as residences with extremely low rent or no rent at all. They are also provided with external help.
They are allotted vehicle with chauffeur services for official purposes
They get free or highly subsidised, water, gas and electricity bills.
IFS officers can avail the facilities of government guest houses or accommodations when on official and unofficial trips. They can also stay at embassies while making international trips.
IFS officers also get the provision to apply for study leave of up to 2 years. They can undertake a course in any foreign university, fully sponsored by the government. Only individuals who have served more than 7 years can apply for this facility. They will have to serve the government for a given number of years after their return.
IFS officers have job security. It is not easy to fire an IAS officer, and the process is lengthy and requires extensive investigation.
IFS Officers and spouses enjoy lifetime pension and other benefits after retirement.
IFS officers are also given high security due to their job profile
IFS officers are given a handsome salary

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Is it Necessary to Prepare for UPSC Exams to get into RAW?

As mentioned before, RAW has no fixed procedure for selecting candidates. They select candidates as per their requirements and after doing a thorough background check. But over the past few years, they have been recruiting candidates either from the civil services or via the RAW allied services test.

That is the reason, it is recommended that you not only clear UPSC exams but also attain a top rank in them because RAW only selects the best of the candidates. If you have an excellent track record in any of the civil services then RAW might show interest in you.

What is the Pattern of UPSC Exam?

The UPSC prelims have two objective type papers general studies I and CSAT or general studies II for maximum marks of 400. Both the papers are held on the same day in the two sessions via pen and paper mode. The students need to clear the prelims examination if you want to attempt the UPSC mains exam and the personality test.

The pattern of the UPSC prelims exam is as follows:

Prelims Exam

General Studies I

General Studies II

No. of Questions

100

Duration

2 hours

Marking

Negative 0.66 marks for every incorrect answer

Negative 0.83 marks for every incorrect answer

Maximum marks

200

Language of Exam

Hindi / English

The IAS mains exam is of 9 papers, out of which 7 are compulsory and 2 are considered as optional subjects. The compulsory exams consist of 2 language papers (Papers A and Papers B). In paper A, the aspirant must choose from any Indian language and paper B will include questions from the English Language.

The questions for the UPSC mains exams are completely subjective. Each general studies paper has a maximum mark of 250, while the language papers which are qualifying are for 300 marks each. Both the optional subjects are for 250 marks each.

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How to Prepare for UPSC Exams?

Keep in mind the following points while preparing for UPSC Civil Service Exams:

Make a timetable: Make a well organised – daily routines and try to stick to it. Do not make a timetable which is impossible to follow, instead is streamlined. Making deadlines would help you complete your syllabus faster.
Prepare yourself: While preparing for the IAS mains exam make yourself familiar with the pattern and syllabus of the examination. Also, solve some sample papers and question papers of previous years.
Current Affairs: Read the newspaper daily and familiarise yourself with current affairs in India and throughout the world. The questions asked in the IAS mains exam are related to current affairs.
Optional subject: Choosing an optional subject is an important aspect while preparing for the UPSC Mains exam. The optional subject counts for 500 marks in the result, so always weigh the Pros and cons of the optional subject you decide to choose.

Limitations after Becoming a RAW Agent

There are a lot of constraints and limitations that an individual faces after joining RAW. You can’t share your identity with anyone, not even with your close friends or spouses as it’s an issue of national security. Sometimes you might face an economic or a moral crisis. Your government can discard you if you are arrested in enemy territory. You also should have a clean background. You should not be a drug addict, should have a grasp on a foreign language and should have graduated from a reputed university.

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Conclusion

Getting appointed a RAW agent, of course, is a huge honour as well a huge responsibility. When it comes to perks it depends on individual to individual what they would want to choose. RAW offers a lot of monetary benefits, but living conditions at times can be tough and everything might not go according to your plan. On the other hand, civil services also offer multiple perks. It depends on you and which job you want to prioritize. Irrespective of the choice you make you will still get the chance to serve your country.

Even if you want to become a RAW agent you will have to clear all levels of UPSC Civil Service Exams. You can prepare for these exams with the help of personal mentors and constant tutoring. This would help in your constant and regular improvement. The faculties which mentor at UPSC Pathshala have years of teaching experience. They solve your doubts and help you improve constantly. You can check the various courses offered by us at our website.