The civil service is considered a hallmark of governance in India. The Constitution provides that there shall be an All India service (Article 312) recruited on an All- India basis with common qualifications, with the uniform scale of pay and the members of which alone could be appointed to these strategic posts throughout the Union. The civil services, therefore, represent the steel frame of our nation – unity in diversity.
Promotion Stages Of An IAS Officer
The career path of an IAS officer starts after 2 years. Because these two years are spent on training and probation. The following is the career path that most IAS officers take. The career paths diverge after probation, depending on the allotted cadre. The IAS officers stages of promotion are:
- Phase I Training at LBSNAA
- Training at the district level in the allotted cadre
- Phase II Training at LBSNAA which includes a week-long foreign attachment with one of India’s diplomatic missions abroad
- Central Government attachment at the nominal position of an Assistant Secretary for three months
- Posting as SDM/Joint Magistrate/Sub Collector
- Posting as Municipal Commissioner, DDO/CDO
- Posting as DM/Collector
- Posting at State Secretariats at Director/Joint Secretary level.
- Deputation to the Central Government can be opted for during any stage of service after serving for a few years.
- Principal/Additional Secretary in the State Secretariat/Central Secretariat
- Chief Secretary of a state
- Cabinet Secretary
First Year Of Training
The newly recruited IAS trainees are called to LBSNAA (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration) for training. This is the beginning of the “100-day foundation course,” the first part of the two-year training. The foundation course is common for all civil servants from various disciplines. Soon after the completion of the Foundation Course, the IAS Officer Trainees graduate to Phase-I training.
This Course imparts rigorous training to the Officer Trainees of the Indian Administrative Service in a wide range of subjects to enable them to handle varied assignments that they would hold in the first ten years of their service. Emphasis is on understanding public systems and their management. Starting in December, it runs up to May of the next year and comprises Academic instruction (12 weeks); Winter Study Tour (7 weeks), and 1 week of Block Leave.
Also Read: Salary of an IAS Officer: How Much you can Earn per Month after Clearing the UPSC Exam
Second Year of Training and Probation
After training, the IAS officers are sent to their cadre regions on probation for a couple of years. IAS cadres are the regions where an officer is allocated. There are a total of 24 cadres, like AGMUT, West Bengal, UP, Rajasthan, etc. During the probation period, the officer will be attached to various government departments to learn how the government machinery works. The officer will have to keep a probationer’s diary to record what he/she has learned. The probation period ends with an examination.
IAS Officers Stages of Promotions and Roles
IAS officers’ functional roles depend on the type of assignment they get. There are three types of assignments given to them: Field, State Secretariat/Public Sector Undertakings, and Central Secretariat. The field assignments are considered the most challenging roles that an IAS officer may be called upon to fulfil. The following are the essential functions of Civil Services:
- Handling affairs of the government, including framing, implementing and reviewing policies.
- Consulting with various departments and elected representatives for the above functions.
- Management and disbursement of various funds of the central government allocated for different schemes.
- Supervising the implementation of various schemes and policies of the government.
- Responding to emergencies such as natural disasters, major accidents, and riots in their jurisdiction and coordinating relief activities.
Benefits that IAS Officers Enjoy for Their Services
- Subsidized government accommodation. District level postings get the best houses among any government service in India.
- Household help such as cooks, gardeners, etc. depending on the requirement.
- Security cover depending on the requirement.
- Government transportation is provided in most district and state-level postings. Central deputations have less vehicular facilities extended to IAS and only officers above a certain rank get government vehicles.
- Mobile, internet, and telephone charges are reimbursed.
- Free stay in government rest houses and bungalows during duty.
- IAS officers are also entitled to a monthly pension after retirement based on their rank and length of service.
Salary and Promotion Pay Scale of an IAS Officer
| Pay Level | Basic Pay(INR) | Number of years required in service | Post | ||
| District Administration | State Secretariat | Central Secretariat | |||
| 10 | 56100 | 1-4 | Sub-Divisional Magistrate | Undersecretary | Assistant Secretary |
| 11 | 67,700 | 5-8 | Additional District Magistrate | Deputy Secretary | Undersecretary |
| 12 | 78,800 | 9-12 | District Magistrate | Joint Secretary | Deputy Secretary |
| 13 | 1,18,500 | 13-16 | District Magistrate | Special Secretary-cum-Director | Director |
| 14 | 1,44,200 | 16-24 | Divisional Commissioner | Secretary-cum-Commissioner | Joint Secretary |
| 15 | 1,82,200 | 25-30 | Divisional Commissioner | Principal Secretary | Additional Secretary |
| 16 | 2,05,400 | 30-33 | No Equivalent Rank | Additional Chief Secretary | No Equivalent Rank |
| 17 | 2,25,000 | 34-36 | No Equivalent Rank | Chief Secretary | Secretary |
| 18 | 2,50,000 | 37+ years | No Equivalent Rank | No Equivalent Rank | Cabinet Secretary of India |
Also Read: 10 Must-Have Qualities To Become An IAS Officer
Conclusion
IAS officers usually have the charge of the administration of an entire district/ state/ department/ ministry. This is a huge responsibility and a lot of people depend on them to function effectively and efficiently. They can influence policies on social initiatives, education, health, and the economy. This power to serve the people and the country is unmatched. Only the Indian Administrative Service gives the opportunity to take a direct and active part in the progress of the country. The IAS officer salary and facilities combined with the power that he/she wields is quite overwhelming. It also presents an opportunity to serve the country by using one’s talents and abilities.
