About Indian Civil Service
Historical Background
Indianisation of the superior Civil Services became one of the
major demands of the political movement compelling the British
Indian Government to consider setting up of a Commission for
recruitment to its services in the territory. The first Public
Service Commission was set up on October 1st, 1926. However, its
limited advisory functions failed to satisfy the people’s
aspirations and the continued stress on this aspect by the
leaders of our freedom movement resulted in the setting up of
the Federal Public Service Commission under the Government of
India Act 1935. Under this Act, for the first time, provision
was also made for the formation of Public Service Commissions at
the provincial level.
The Constituent Assembly, after independence, saw the need for
giving a secure and autonomous status to Public Service
Commissions both at Federal and Provincial levels for ensuring
unbiased recruitment to Civil Services as also for protection of
service interests. With the promulgation of the new Constitution
for independent India on 26th January, 1950, the Federal Public
Service Commission was accorded a constitutional status as an
autonomous entity and given the title – Union Public Service
Commission Constitutional Provisions.
The Union Public Service Commission has been established under
Article 315 of the Constitution of India. The Commission
consists of a Chairman and nine Members.
The terms and conditions of service of Chairman and Members of
the Commission are governed by the Union Public Service
Commission (Members) Regulations, 1969.
The Commission is serviced by a Secretariat headed by a
Secretary with two Additional Secretaries, a number of Joint
Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and other supporting staff.
The Union Public Service Commission have been entrusted with the
following duties and role under the Constitution:
Recruitment to services & posts under the Union through conduct
of competitive examinations;
Recruitment to services & posts under the Central Government by
Selection through Interviews;
Advising on the suitability of officers for appointment on
promotion as well as transfer-on-deputation;
Advising the Government on all matters relating to methods of
Recruitment to various services and posts;
Disciplinary cases relating to different civil services; and
Miscellaneous matters relating to grant of extra ordinary
pensions, reimbursement of legal expenses etc.
The major role played by the Commission is to select persons to
man the various Central Civil Services and Posts and the
Services common to the Union and States (viz. All-India
Services).
RECRUITMENT TO VARIOUS SERVICES AND POSTS
To Duties & Role of the Commission
Under Article 320 of the Constitution of India, the Commission
are, inter-alia, required to be consulted on all matters
relating to recruitment to civil services and posts.
Recruitment is made by one of the following three methods:
-
Direct Recruitment;
-
Promotion
-
Transfer
Direct Recruitment is conducted broadly under the following two
methods:
Recruitment by competitive examination.
Under the Constitution one of the functions of the Commission is
to conduct examinations for appointment to Civil Services/Posts
of the Union. In addition, competitive examinations are also
held by the Commission under arrangements with the Ministry of
Defence for entry to certain Defence Services, through the
National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Naval
Academy, Air Force Academy and the Officers Training Academy.
The Commission usually conducts over a dozen examinations every
year on an all India basis. These include Examinations for
recruitment to services/posts in various fields, such as Civil
Services, Engineering, Medical and Forest Service, etc.
For an overview of examinations regularly held by the
Commission. See "Overview of Examination" under this Chapter.
At present the Union Public Service Commission conduct their
examinations at numerous venues spread over 42 regular centers
throughout the country.
Recruitment by selection Recruitment by Selection is made by the following methods:
By Interview Only
Where the number of applicants is very large, it is not
practicable to call for Interview all the applicants who fulfill
the minimum eligibility conditions prescribed. The Commission,
therefore, shortlist the candidates to be called for the
interview on the basis of certain pre-determined criteria
related to the job. A large number of recruitment cases is
handled by the Commission by the method (1) above.
By Recruitment Test Followed By Interview
In this category, there are two types of procedure followed:
An objective-type written and/or practical test to test the
skill of the candidates followed by Interview, the final
selection being decided by Interview, aided by the performance
of the candidates in the written test and/or practical test.
An objective-type written and/or practical test to screen
candidates to be called for interview, the final selection being
decided by Interview only.
Appointment By Promotion And Transfer On Deputation/Transfer
In accordance with the procedure decided by the Government, in
consultation with the Commission, Chairman or a Member of the
Commission presides over the Departmental Promotion Committee
Meetings to consider promotions from Group B to Group A and from
one grade to another within group A, where promotion is to be
made by Selection.
Deputation
The Recruitment Rules for a number of posts provide for
appointment by Transfer on Deputation (including short term
contract) and Transfer. When the field of consideration consists
of Central Government as well as State Government officers,
prior consultation with the Commission is necessary for
selection of an officer. When the file for consideration is made
more broad-based and consists of not only Central/State
Government officers but also officers from Non-Government
Institutions, the selection has to be made in consultation with
the Union Public Service Commission.
All India Services
The All India Services Act, 1951 and Rules and Regulations
framed thereunder regulate the recruitment and conditions of
service in respect of the All India Services viz. Indian
Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest
Service.
As far as direct recruitment to the Indian Administrative
Service and Indian Police Service Examination are concerned, it
is done through the Civil Services Examination and for the
Indian Forest Service through the Indian Forest Service
Examination held by the Commission.
The relevant Rules and Regulations provide that 33% of the
vacancies in the IAS/IPS/IFS should be filled by promotion from
amongst the officers of the State Service in consultation with
the Commission. The Selection Committee presided over by
Chairman/Member of the Commission consists of senior Government
representatives of the Central Government and the State.
List of Civil Service
The different services to which recruitment is done every year through the Civil
Services Examination (CSE) are:
1. Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Assistant Civilian Staff
Officer's Grade)
2. Central Secretariat Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade)
3. Custom Appraisers’ Service, Group ‘B’
4. Delhi and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Civil Service, Group ‘B’
5. Delhi and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Police Service, Group ‘B’
6. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
7. Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
8. Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
9. Indian Customs and Central Excise Service Group ‘A’
10. Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
11. Indian Defence Estates Service Group ‘A’
12. Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
13. Indian Information Service (Junior Grade), Group ‘A’
14. Indian Ordinance Factories Service, Group ‘A’ (Assistant Manager,
Non-technical)
15. Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service, Group ‘A’
16. Indian Police Service (IPS)
17. Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’
18. Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group ‘A’
19. Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group ‘A’
20. Indian Revenue Service, Group ‘A’
21. Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Grade-III)
22. Pondicherry Civil Service, Group ‘B’
23. Posts of Assistant Commandant, Group ‘A’ in Central Indus-trial Security
Force
24. Posts of Assistant Security Officer, Group ‘A’ in Railway Protection Force
25. Posts of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Group ‘A’ in the Central Bureau of
Investigation
26. Railway Board Secretariat Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade
Job Prospects Depending upon his rank, a
candidate is recruited to services such as the Indian
Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS),
Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and other departments including
Finance, Post and Telegraph, Revenue, Secretariat and so on. The
appointment offers executive power. Promotions are time bound
and increase in privileges are automatic. Selected candidates
are first put through a training session for a short period. He
is usually sent to an academic staff college associated with the
service to which he is allocated. The greatest thing about civil
service is the job security. Special facilities include
subsidised accommodation, telephone and transport facilities,
medical benefits, leave travel concession, etc. After
retirement, there are very good social welfare facilities. Last
but not the least is the immense satisfaction one derives at
being able to participate in the development process of the
country.
Remuneration
The Government of India has fixed
salary grades for Civil Servants. Approximately the range of
salaries drawn at various levels is as follows:
Junior Officers: Rs. 8000-275-13500
Senior Officers: Rs. 10650-325-15200
Junior Administrative Grade: Rs. 12,750-375-16,500
Selection Grade: Rs. 15,100-400-18,300
Additional Secretary: Rs. 22400-525-24500
Secretary/Cabinet Secretary: Rs. 26,000/30,000
(The above scales only provide an idea of the pay scales.
Different branches of the service have different scales of pay.)
In addition to the salary civil servants receive various
allowances such as Dearness Allowance, City compensatory
Allowance, Leave Travel Allowance, Medical and subsidised
housing.
Fee: The fee for the exam is Rs 50, to be paid through
Central Recruitment Fee stamps available at post offices. The
post office must cancel the stamps so that the impression of the
cancellation stamp partially overflows on the application form.
Instruments such as postal orders, drafts and such are not
accepted and candidates should only send the fee through the
Recruitment Fee stamps. Candidates belonging to the scheduled
castes and physically handicapped persons are not required to
pay any fee.