About : Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

INFO : Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
  • The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) was formed in the year of 1946.
  • It is one of the three All India Services.(The other two are Indian Forest Services and Indian Police Services)
  • The cadre controlling authority is Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension, Department of Personnel & Training.
  • Cadre size: 5159 posts (direct recruitment – 66.67%, promotion 33.33%).
  • The selected candidates' training ground is at  Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.
Functions of IAS Officers:
  • The IAS handles affairs of government, which involves the framing and implementation of policy in consultation with the concerned Minister.
    • Implementation of policies calls for supervision and also traveling to the places where the decisions taken are being implemented.
  • Implementation entails disbursement of funds, which calls for personal supervision
    • The officers are answerable to the Parliament and State Legislatures for any irregularities that may occur.
    • The functions and responsibilities of an IAS officer change at different points of his/her career.
    • All the beginning of their career IAS officers join the state administration at the sub-divisional level, as a sub-divisional magistrate, and look after law and order, general administration and development work in the area under their charge.
    • The post of the District Officer variously known as District Magistrate, district Collector or Deputy Commissioner is the most prestigious an identifiable post held by the members of the service.

  • At the district level, these officers are mainly concerned with district affairs, including implementation of developmental programs.
  • During the normal course of a career, the officers also serve in the State Secretariat or as Heads of Departments or in Public Sector Undertakings.
  • Officers may move from positions at the State, under deputation, to the Centre and back again.
  • At the top of the hierarchy of IAS officers at the Centre is the Cabinet Secretary followed by Secretary/Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Director, Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary. These posts are filled according to seniority.

    • The main work of IAS officers at the Centre, involves formulation and implementation of policies pertaining to a particular area e.g., finance, commerce, etc.
    • In the process of policy formulation and decision making, officers at various levels like joint secretary, deputy secretary make their contributions and the final shape to the policy is given or a final decision is taken with the concurrence of the minister concerned or the cabinet depending upon the gravity the issue.

Service Hierarchy

Grade
Pay scales
Designation in field
Designation in
State Government
Designations in
Government of India

Junior time scale
8000-275-13500
Sub-divisional magistrate
Under secretary
---
Senior time scale
10650-325-15850
Additional district magistrate
CSO Zilla parishad
ADC etc
Deputy secretary
Under secretary
Junior administrative grade
12750-375-16500
Sr. Deputy accountant general
Joint secretary
Deputy secretary
Selection grade
15100-400-18300
District magistrate / collector
Additional secretary
Director
Super-time scale
18400-500-22400
Divisional commissioner
Secretary
Joint secretary
Above super-time scale
22400-525-24500
Financial/special commissioner
(some States)
Principal secretary
Additional secretary
26000 (fixed)
---
Chief secretary
Secretary
30000 (Fixed)
---
---
Cabinet secretary
IAS PRELIMS EXAM
IAS - INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Submitted by kranshuman on Sun, 2008-11-09 19:33.

Hi!
I am going to appear for the CIVIL SERVICES examination in 2010 and I have a doubt if you can sort it out.
I have met with an accident and broken my right hand when I was child which has caused a minor deformity in my hand. Will it cause any problem if I wish to go for IAS?
Plz reply.

Submitted by narendra_annapuram on Thu, 2008-11-13 11:44.

nothing happen u can go ahead

Submitted by amit_ips2009 on Sun, 2008-11-30 23:21.

Hello Friends,

I am Amit. IPS has been my childhood dream which I am prepared to pursue again. Currently I am working in an IT MNC and doing really good in my career, but without satisfaction. Money was the primary reason to join IT Industry, in my last 3 year career I have worked in India, UK and US, hence I have earned a good amount of money to full fill my family obligations and now I think I can again work to pursue my childhood dream.

I don't want to be among those who only complaints about the system but do not try to make it better by joining it. I am ready to dirty my hands by cleaning the shit around!

Currently I am in Los Angeles, USA working as a business analyst. Last month I wrote CAT and thought it's MBA where I am best fit which is not wrong, I am very confident of my analytical and reasoning capabilities. But recent Mumbai attacks have again given me a challenge to do something for the country, I always write articles to solve the common and prevailed problem of our Indian govt system and public administration. Most of my friends and person who know me well compliment that I must go for IAS/IPS; I don't think I have ever told them about my childhood dream. I have a clear cut plan to serve this country as an IPS officer with fearless attitude and for later part of career (not after the age of 40) I would like to join politics to ensure that all what I will learn as an IPS is shared among politicians. And finally I would like to run an school at my natives after retiring from politics too. Seems like a Plan, isn't it?

I have decided to go for Public Administration and Mathematics for my optional subjects. I need help in the following areas, please reply.
1: Should I take Public Ad for my prilim or Maths? I have 5 months to prepare and I believe I can do it if I have the list of things to accomplish. So please let me know which of these two subjects offer the well organized material available in the market to study?
2: Also please provide the list of list of papers, magazine and website to follow for the exam. (I can read online papers, magazines and sites; since i m not in India don't have access to physical material)
3: Please provide the list of books to be completed for Public Add and Mathematics.

Also, any other suggestions and guidance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Amit

Submitted by nitinkumar_001 on Mon, 2008-12-01 12:27.

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Submitted by vinodhspidey on Thu, 2008-12-11 08:27.

What are combinaions of subjects that I should not take for mains? Where is the informations available. Please do take some time to reply for this

Submitted by guru88 on Mon, 2009-06-22 08:41.
Is this following possible to do? Can an IAS officer who is posted in Assam or any state(at first posting) get transfer to any another state on his own wish? Because I have doubt that an officer appointed to state can be transferred to any other state?

Submitted by siva243009 on Thu, 2009-08-13 14:34.
i am from a cbse back ground.and i have done my engineering in electronics. iam not able to decide on what optionals to take. please anybody tell me some strategy so that i can select my optionals. i have studied history, geography, iam interested towards psychology i donot know anything abt public administration and political science.