What is IAS?
Indian Administrative Services is one of the most prestigious and sought-after services in India. It has the legacy of the British era, and its exam is considered one of the toughest due to its vast syllabus and the competition it offers. The Civil Services Exam is one of the ten All India Services and has been the crucial administrative alliance of the Indian Government. IAS officers are responsible for maintaining the proper functioning of government affairs and the implementation of framed policies. The journey of an IAS officer begins with a probationary role as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, after completion of which they are promoted to senior administrative roles such as a Divisional Magistrate. IAS officers have a highly classified and dignified role in representing the Nation. Achieving such a position requires determination and constant motivation to leap through the hurdles.
Millions of aspirants appear for the IAS examination every year, and out of these, only around 180 candidates get the reward of being an IAS officer. For this, Every UPSC Aspirant has to go through a 3 -phased selection procedure. The three phases sequentially are Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test. Only those who make it to the top 0.01 percent of total applicants get a place on the final merit list. Selected candidates are then trained at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, before their probation into the service.
What is IAS Ranking Structure?
Indian Administrative Services forms one of the three pillars on which lies the implementation of the Indian Constitution. (The three pillars are Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.) Therefore, on-ground implementation of any government policy, law, order, etc. relies on the proper functioning of the complete executive machinery, the framework of which is formed by the Indian Administrative Services.
IAS officers are directly appointed by the President of India and are an inseparable branch of the Indian Government. IAS Rank structure allows proper functioning and management of key strategic positions responsible for the proper functioning of the Government.
What is life like of an IAS officer?
Posts like Indian Administrative Services have been one of the most demanded jobs from the British Era. Being in the most influential and respected professions, an IAS officer’s life is filled with challenges. They have the work to serve the Nation and make a difference in society regularly. Every UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination, where from the mass number of aspirants, only a few crack the examination, embarking on an exhausting journey of years of preparation.
IAS aspirants cover a vast syllabus throughout the preparation journey and appear for grilling exam sessions that consistently test the candidates’ perseverance. Beginning from the objective-based Prelims Examination to detailed answer-based solutions, students evolve their strategy and preparation to adopt and gain success in their purpose.
Living an IAS life is filled with enough peaks and troughs that cascade down to an enthralling life journey. After the final selection process, the recruits undergo training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy (LBSNAA), where the officers get the training and experience of a lifetime.
What is IAS Officer Salary Structure?
Millions of dreams are willing to give up every part of their life to pursue just one set goal in their lives: becoming an IAS Officer and serving their Nation. Every aspiring IAS works day and night to reap benefits and achieve the ultimate goal of having those few prestigious positions. However, when aspirants realize their dreams and all their efforts pay off, those few chosen ones get reward. With an impressive salary and with exciting career opportunities becoming an IAS has its charm.
Still, several people have questions on their minds about the salary of IAS per month and the IAS Salary Structure.
The IAS officer’s salary starts at Rs. 56100/- and from successive promotions, the IAS officer’s salary can move up to Rs. 2,50,000/- at the position of Cabinet Secretary. According to the 7th Pay Commission, these details have been portrayed, and there’s a proper grade-wise payment structure. Below is the detailed IAS Salary Structure, including all the allowances and varying with their levels:
| Pay (Rs.) | Pay Level (Years of Service) | Posts |
| 56100 | 10 (1-4 years) | The sub-divisional magistrate in District Administration Undersecretary in State SecretariatUndersecretary in State SecretariatAssistant Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 67,700 | 11 (5-8 years) | Additional district magistrate in District AdministrationDeputy Secretary in State SecretariatDeputy Secretary in State SecretariatUnder-Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 78,800 | 12 (9-12 years) | District magistrate in District AdministrationJoint Secretary in State SecretariatDeputy Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 1,18,500 | 13 (13-16 years) | District magistrate in District AdministrationSpecial secretary cum director in State SecretariatDirector in Central Secretariat |
| 1,44,200 | 14 (16-24 years) | Divisional commissioner in District AdministrationSecretary-cum-commissioner in State SecretariatJoint Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 1,82,200 | 15 (25-30 years) | Divisional commissioner in District AdministrationPrincipal Secretary in State SecretariatAdditional secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 2,05,400 | 16 (30-33 years) | Additional Chief Secretary in State Secretariat |
| 2,25,000 | 17 (34-36 years) | Chief Secretary in State SecretariatSecretary in Central Secretariat |
| 2,50,000 | 18 (37+ years) | Cabinet Secretary of India |
What are IAS Officer Facilities?
The dreams and aspirations of a candidate to reach one of the prime jobs come with added benefits. Since the IAS officers represent our Nation, their role is a prestigious one. These are some of the privileged facilities and IAS perks:
- Residence: IAS officers are allotted houses in a civilized society with proper amenities.
- Transport: IAS officers have their allotted vehicles and drivers that can be used for official travel purposes.
- Security: Being an IAS officer is a highly classified job and requires dealing with crooks sometimes. Therefore, proper security officials are deployed for them.
- Job Security: The life of an IAS officer is desirable as they are not easy to get retrenched. The process of removal requires a long procedure.
- Lifetime Pension: After a certain work period, IAS officers will get pension and retirement benefits.
- Bills: IAS officers have the privilege to avail themselves of subsidized house amenities and outside trips while visiting State Bhavans.
IAS officers during their end of the working period would have gained exceptional experience while dealing with different people, traveling, and managing Nation’s Policy. These qualities make them skilled and attractive to various private firms who wish to appoint business heads. All the facilities and amenities differ by the level of posts and designation. The hard work and dedication that an aspirant devotes during their preparation period all pay off during their extended tenure period. Along with the facilities, IAS officers have unmatched powers that only officials like them can exercise. They are the classified personnel who have a direct impact on the progress of a nation. IAS officers throughout their life learn loads of skills beginning from their training at LBSNAA and the application of the entire process that they underwent during their exhaustive preparation period. There are several benefits for IAS officers that they have earned to receive those.
FAQ about What is IAS?
1. What is IAS?
A: IAS stands for Indian Administrative Service, which is one of the prestigious civil services in India. It is a part of the All India Services and is considered a key pillar of the country’s administrative machinery.
2. How is an IAS Officer Selected?
A: IAS officers are selected through the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The examination consists of three stages: the Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, and the Interview (Personality Test).
3. What are the Roles and Responsibilities of an IAS Officer?
A: IAS officers play a crucial role in the administration of the country. Their responsibilities include policy formulation and implementation, decision-making, and management of government affairs at various levels. They can work in diverse areas such as finance, revenue, law and order, and development projects.
4. How is the Career Progression for an IAS Officer?
A: The career progression of an IAS officer is marked by various ranks and postings. After clearing the probationary period, an officer can rise through the ranks from Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to District Magistrate (DM) and even higher positions like Commissioner or Secretary in different government departments.
5. Can Foreign Nationals Apply for the IAS Exam?
A: No, only Indian citizens are eligible to apply for the IAS exam. However, there are certain relaxations for candidates belonging to specific categories like the Indian-origin diaspora (PIO and OCI cardholders). The eligibility criteria are specified by the UPSC, and candidates need to fulfill these criteria to apply for the examination.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
