INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE (IAS)

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) was formed in the year of 1946 and its cadre controlling authority is Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension, Department of Personnel & Training. The cadre size is 5159 posts and the source of recruitment in terms of percentage is: by direct recruitment – 66-2/3%; by promotion 33-1/3%; and there is no lateral entry recruitment.

Service hierarchy

Grade	Pay scales	Field designations	Designations in State Government	Designations in Government of India
Junior time scale	8000-275-13500	Sub-divisional magistrate	Under secretary
Senior time scale	10650-325-15850	Additional district magistrate/CSO Zilla parishad / ADC etc	Deputy secretary	Under secretary
Junior administrative grade	12750-375-16500	District magistrate / collector	Joint secretary	Deputy secretary
Selection grade	15100-400-18300		Additional secretary	Director
Super-time scale	18400-500-22400	Divisional commissioner	Secretary	Joint secretary
Above super-time scale	22400-525-24500	Financial/special commissioner(some States)	Principal secretary	Additional secretary
	26000 (fixed)		Chief secretary	Secretary
	30000 (Fixed)			Cabinet secretary

 

Brief write up on the service outlining the main functions etc. including areas where interaction and coordination with other services is essential:

The IAS was constituted in 1946 as a successor to the Indian Civil Service (ICS). It extends the role of its precursor, the Indian Civil Service, which was once called “the steel frame” of the British Empire. After Independence, it was felt that through the ICS was a legacy of the imperial period there was need for the All India Services for maintaining the unity, integrity and stability of the nation. Accordingly provision was made in Article 312 of the Constitution for creation of one or more All India Services common to the Union and the States.

Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service (IPS) are deemed to be constituted by the Parliament in terms of Article 312 of the Constitution. After the promulgation of the Constitution, a new All India Service, namely, Indian Forest Service, was created in 1966. The All India Services Act 1951 and Rules and Regulations framed there under regulate the recruitment and conditions of service in respect of the All India Services. The relevant Rules and Regulations provide that 67% are directly recruited by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) through the Civil Services Examination and 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 UPSC. A common unique feature of the All India Services is that the members of these services are recruited by the Centre but their services are placed under various State cadres and they have the liability to serve both under the State and under the Centre. Officers are assigned, after selection, to a State cadre, but not necessarily to their home State. This aspect of the All India Services strengthens the unitary character of the Indian federation.

The IAS handles affairs of government. This involves the framing and implementation of policy. The work definition of an IAS officer would encompass framing, modifying and interpreting policy matters in consultation with the concerned Minister. Implementation of policies calls for supervision and also traveling to the places where the decisions taken are being implemented. Implementation entails disbursement of funds, which calls for personal supervision. The officers are answerable to the Parliament and State Legislatures for any irregularities that may occur. Hence, an IAS officer should be very well informed about all facets of the project that he or she is involved in. The post of an IAS officer carries a lot of responsibility.

All the beginning of their career IAS officers join the state administration at the sub-divisional level, as a sub-divisional magistrate, and look after law and order, general administration and development work in the area under their charge. The post of the District Officer variously known as District Magistrate, district Collector or Deputy Commissioner is the most prestigious an identifiable post held by the members of the service. At the district level, these officers are mainly concerned with district affairs, including implementation of developmental programmes. During the normal course of a career, the officers also serve in the State Secretariat or as Heads of Departments or in Public Sector Undertakings. Officers may move from positions at the State, under deputation, to the Centre and back again. At the top of the hierarchy of IAS officers at the Centre is the Cabinet Secretary followed by Secretary/Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Director, Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary. These posts are filled according to seniority.

The main work of IAS officers at the Centre, involves formulation and implementation of policies pertaining to a particular area e.g., finance, commerce, etc. In the process of policy formulation and decision making, officers at various levels like joint secretary, deputy secretary make their contributions and the final shape to the policy is given or a final decision is taken with the concurrence of the minister concerned or the cabinet depending upon the gravity the issue.