Career Path of IAS Officer - Training, Responsibilities, Salary

How to become an IAS Officer

Each year, around 800,000 candidates appear in the UPSC IAS examination. It is considered the most competitive examination. Candidates may only make six attempts in the UPSC examination. The maximum age limit is 32 years for appearing in the UPSC examination for the General category. Relaxation in the age limit and many attempts is provided to candidates in reserved categories. The minimum educational requirement to appear in the UPSC examination is the successful completion of any undergraduate-level degree. Understanding these details is important while pursuing a career path of IAS officer, or career as IPS officer or career as Indian forest service officer.

UPSC examinations are conducted in two phases: Prelims and Mains. Those who clear both rounds are invited to the interview round. Those who qualify for the interview are selected for the UPSC services and provided with the training. Top-rank holders are selected for IAS officers’ roles.

IAS Officer Training

After being selected, the journey begins from LBSNAA. LBSNAA stands for Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. It is located in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The training period for the IAS officer role is two years before joining the service, which makes it an important starting point for the career path for IAS officer.

Candidates for Grade A posts, including IAS, IPS, and IFS, are required to join a 3-month foundation course at LBSNAA, which is also helpful in exploring a career as an Indian foreign officer.

Phase 1: Phase 1 of the training period for selected candidates for the IAS officer role comes with the academic module. It includes policy making, land management, soft skills, project management, national security, e-governance, and others. Their day starts at 6 am in the morning with exercise drills. It is followed by lectures and cultural activities in the evening.

Bharat Darshan: IAS Probationers are divided into small groups for the Tour of India known as Bharat Darshan. In this, they experience the cultural heritage and diversity of India.

District Training: District Training is a year-long training programme. In this IAS, probationers get to study the administrative setup in a specific district by being a part of it.

Phase 2: Phase 2 of the IAS probationers' training involves sharing and discussing the experiences of their Phase 1 training. Officers get to articulate their thoughts on various developmental programmes and issues as well as the ways to resolve them, which is also helpful for those seeking a career as IRS officer in understanding administrative functioning.

Assistant Secretaryship: After successful completion of the induction training session, officers are allotted their respective deputation. They get to work under a joint secretary in the ministries for a few months.

Responsibilities of IAS Officer

IAS Officer duties include various functional roles based on the assignment. The type of assignments includes Field, State Secretariat or Public Sector Undertakings, and Central Secretariat. Field Assignments are considered the most challenging and are important in the career progression of IAS officer. We have listed here a few duties of IAS Officers.

• IAS officers are required to handle the affairs of the government. It includes framing, implementing, and reviewing policies.

• The role of IAS Officers includes consulting various departments and elected representatives for the above functions.

• IAS Officers' roles include managing and disbursing various funds of the central government allocated for different schemes.

• They supervise the implementation of various government schemes and policies.

• IAS Officers are required to respond to emergencies such as natural disasters, riots, and other major accidents in their jurisdiction and coordinate relief activities.

Perks of Being an IAS Officer

The important perk of following a career path of IAS officer is that they get subsidised government accommodation. At district-level postings, they get the best houses among any government service in India.

• IAS Officers are provided with household help such as gardeners, cooks, and others.

• They get government transportation in most district and state-level postings.

• Charges for mobile, internet and telephone are reimbursed.

• IAS Officers are provided with a 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.

IAS Officer Career Path

We have provided here the details of the career progression of IAS. Selected candidates first go through training before joining as IAS officers. The duration of the training period is two years. The senior role in the service of IAS officers is Cabinet Secretary. IAS officers must have an experience of 37 years or more in the service for the Cabinet Secretary role.

• Phase one trainee

• District Level Trainee

• Phase two trainee

• Assistant Secretaryship

• Joint Magistrate- SDM- Sub-Collector

• Municipal Commissioner

• Secretariat at the State Level of Joint Secretary level

• District Magistrate or Collector Post

• Deputation Post of the Central Government of India

• Principle in the State or Central Secretariat

• State Chief Secretary

• Cabinet Secretary

IAS officer Salary

We have provided here details of IAS Officer salary based on their role, experience, and pay scale. It is important to understand these pay scales while pursuing a career path of IAS officer.

Conclusion

IAS Officers are in charge of the administration of the entire district, state, department, or ministry. IAS Officers can influence the policies on health, the economy, social initiatives, and education. These responsibilities are an integral part of the career path of IAS officer. Being in administrative services, one gets the opportunity to serve the people of the country.