Career in civil service

Civil Services constitute all non-military departments of the government machinery, which run State Administration. The Central and the State Civil Servants ensure that the constitutional guarantees and entitlements are brought within the reach of every citizen. In the present era of market economy Civil Services has lost some of its sparkle, nonetheless it still ranks high as a career option among young students. The power and social status along with job security that a civil servant enjoys is unimaginable anywhere else. Besides the lure for power and perks the service provides enough scope for a dynamic person with zeal and desire to bring qualitative changes in the functioning of the government and even opportunities which could ameliorate the lives of millions of Indians.

The present day civil service is a legacy of the British. ICS officers during the British Raj were bestowed with immense administrative powers and their main tasks were preservation of law and order, dispensation of justice and collection of taxes. However today civil servants operate within the framework of a democratic welfare state, with focus on development and progress. Therefore, unlike many other occupations civil service is more of a vocation than a job.

The Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selects candidates for various central services, including for the most coveted cadres of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).IAS and IPS are All India Services created under article 312 of the constitution. The creation of such services provides safeguards fornational unity and ensures uniformity of the administrative system throughout the country to maintain the minimum common administrative standards. Candidates selected for these two services are appointed to different state cadres and as and when required they also move to Central Government jobs on deputation. The remaining services are categorised in two Central Services, Group A, and Group B.

The Group B Services for which recruitment is made through civil services are the following:
v Central Secretariat Service, (Section Officer Grade)
v Railway Board Secretariat Service (Section Officer Grade)
v Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service Group B (Assistant Civilian Staff Officer Grade)
v Customs Appraisers’ Service Group B.
v The Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service Group B.
v The Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service Group B.
v Pondicherry Civil Service Group B.