The Indian civil service or the Indian administrative service (IAS) is the backbone of the Indian government machinery and is made up of all the departments which run the state administration. It is a highly competitive and challenging yet powerful and prestigious field to be in. This is because although the respective State Governments have control over them, they can’t censure or take disciplinary action against IAS and other All India Services officers without consulting the Union Government and the UPSC Anyone thinking of taking up civil service should know that it is a very difficult profession to get into. So once you decide to appear for the civil service exam, be prepared to slog endlessly and burn the proverbial midnight oil.

Career Prospects

Except for the post of Union Cabinet Secretary, the Government of India hierarchy is common to all services. The different scales are:

Junior Scale: Officers at this level have to go through a two-year probationary period which is spent partly in training after which they may be posted at the state secretariat; as field officers; or at a district magistrate's office. Junior scale officers in the position of a sub-magistrate are mostly given regulatory duties like law and order, enforcement of rules and general administration.

Senior scale: This scale starts at the under secretary level and includes district magistrates, directors of public enterprises and directors of government departments. 

Super Time Scale: The Joint Secretary post is the highest among the government of India administrative posts. In the Central Services this scale is sometimes known as the senior administrative grade.

Additional Secretary: The position s similar to that of a secretary except that the level of responsibility is lesser.

Secretary: Someone at this position usually heads various government departments and is concerned with planning in that particular area. But some departments like the finance and planning department are considered more prestigious than the others and are therefore at par with the post of additional chief secretary. Someone at this level is also known as principal secretary.

Chief Secretary: This is the highest position at the state level. The chief secretary is responsible for everything that happens in the state as far as duties assigned to state governments are concerned.

Cabinet Secretary: This is the highest position at the central level.


Payoff


Civil servants have fixed salary grades decided by the government of India. An approximate range of the salaries is given below: 

1. Junior Officers: Rs. 8000-13,500 
2. Senior Officers: Rs. 10,550-15,000 
3. Junior Administrative Grade: Rs. 12,750-16,500 
4. Selection Grade: Rs. 15,100-18,300 
5. Additional Secretary: Rs. 22400-24500
6. Secretary/Cabinet Secretary: Rs. 26,000-30,000 

 Apart from this, civil servants also receive various allowances such as dearness allowance, city compensatory allowance, leave travel allowance, medical and subsidised housing. Unlike the private sector jobs, this profession comes with job security.However these figures have considerably risen after the 6th pay commission was implemented.

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