Civil Services as a Career Avenue in India

Civil Services
Looking for a Career Option in the Field of Civil Services ? This section features Civil Services as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.


The Civil Services are among India's largest employers. They offer opportunities to graduates from all career fields and disciplines. The Civil Services have always conjured up visions of fantasy and glory for many a youth and numerous parents who keeping entertaining ambitions and dreams of their children blossoming into I.A.S and I.P.S. officers. The Civil Services considered as one of the premier services, offer an attractive and challenging career to the ambitious, the aspiring and the talented, with a wide variety of jobs having relatively greater sphere of authority and power than any other services in India.

Higher Civil Services under the Central Government are classified into All India services and Central Services. The All India Services comprise the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police service and the Indian Forest service. These Services are named so because they are common to both central as well as the state Governments. The Central Services constitute those services which work for the Central Government and comprise services like the Indian foreign Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Customs & central Excise Service, Indian Railway services, Indian postal Service, Indian Information Service etc.


Personality Traits


Intellectual capability, mental alertness, capacity to grasp all the issues involved in a problem, the ability to weigh up facts, and conflicting opinions and advice, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion, ability to hold and delegate authority, the art of inspiring loyalty and stimulating and channelising enthusiasm, tact for dealing with politicians, staff and outside enthusiasm, tact for dealing with politicians, staff and outside parties, intellectual and moral integrity and enjoyment of responsibility help in garnering success in this profession.


Modes Of Entry


The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) carries out the process of selection for entry into the civil services. The actual procedure is set in motion six months prior to the conducting of the preliminary examination, when the date and syllabus of the examination process are announced in the Employment News Weekly/Rozgar Samachar.

Graduates between 21 and 30 years of age are allowed to make a maximum of four attempts at the civil service examination. The UPSC grants relaxation in age and number of attempts to candidates belonging to SC/ST (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes) if they are otherwise eligible. OBC candidates are allowed a maximum of seven attempts while there is no restriction on the number of attempts for SC/ST candidates.

The preliminary examination is an objective type with multiple choice questions in 2 papers - general studies and an optional subject. The preliminary is meant to serve as a screening test and about 12 to 13 times the total approx. number of vacancies to be filled in the year are declared qualified to be admitted to the main examination. The main examination consists of a written examination and an interview test.

Complete details of the examination are available in the section of The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).


Placements And Prospects


Through the civil services examination the UPSC recruits personnel to services such as IAS, IPS, IFS and the many services falling under Central Allied group "A" and group "B". Candidates are allotted to various sections keeping in view their rank in the examination and the preferences expressed by them.

Initially after the appointment, candidates are sent for a certain period for training to the academic staff colleges linked to their allotted service. Thereafter they are placed in the various departments in the actual work environment.

The civil services constitute the mainframe of our nation and offer prestige and executive power. Promotions are time-bound with automatic increase in privileges. Service facilities are good and there are very good social welfare facilities extended to the civil servant after retirement from services.

In the civil service the pay structure is good and there is job security. Civil servants are entitled to subsidized accommodation, telephone and transport facilities. They enjoy unparalleled social status.


For more information go to
www.upsc.gov.in