The IAS full form is the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). IAS is the backbone of Governance in India. It is part of the permanent bureaucracy in India. Governments will keep changing as per the will of the people of India, but the IAS cadre ensures that the Governance is not interrupted in India. This article provides more information on the functions of various Civil Services in India.
Out of lakhs of students that appear in the Civil Services examination, only around a hundred aspirants get selected to the prestigious Indian Administrative Services. After getting selected as an IAS officer, i.e. by clearing the Civil Services examination, the candidates will be trained at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). IAS officers get the opportunity to change the lives of poor people by framing and implementing various reform policies. The powers of an IAS officer are given in laws such as National Disaster Management Act, Essential Commodities Act, Drug Licences Act, Arms Act, Code of Criminal Procedure, etc. The functions of the IAS officer keeps changing as they keep climbing up the ladder. The IAS officers are accountable to the State Legislature, Parliament; they are responsible for personal supervision of expenditure of public funds. One of the most well-known and popular designation of an IAS officer is the Deputy Commissioner, District Collector, District Magistrate. In different districts it is known by one of the three names mentioned above. IAS officers holding this designation will have complete charge of the District. They have to look after the law and order, implementation of various Government welfare schemes, development schemes in the various parts of the districts.
The other important Civil Services which are very popular among the aspiring candidates are Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Revenue Service, etc. The various designations of the Indian Foreign Service Officer posted at Indian Missions abroad are Third Secretary (Language Trainee), Second Secretary, First Secretary, Counsellor, Minister and Ambassador. At an Indian mission abroad, the Ambassador is the highest position held by the Indian Foreign Service Officer. At the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the various posts held by the Indian Foreign Service Officer are Attache, Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Director, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, and Secretary. The Highest post held by an Indian Foreign Service Officer is the Foreign Secretary.
Indian Police Service (IPS) is one among the very important Civil Services which plays a crucial role in the smooth functioning of the country. Soon after the training of IPS officers at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, their training will be continued at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad. The IPS officers are trained in indoor subjects and outdoor subjects. They are trained in various indoor subjects such as Information & Communication Technology, Ethics and Human Rights, Police Leadership & Management, Forensic Science, Special Laws, Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act etc. The various outdoor subjects are Yoga, unarmed combat, Drill, Swimming, Physical Fitness, First Aid, Map Reading, Field Craft Tactics.
One among the important Civil Services which plays a critical role in the functioning of Government is the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS plays a crucial role mainly in the implementation of the direct tax laws through the Income Tax Department. The largest Group ‘A’ Civil Service is the Indian Revenue Service. It is responsible for the collection of revenue in India. Almost every district in India has an Income Tax office. The Income Tax department is one of the largest Government departments in India. Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers are trained at the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) at Nagpur. During the 16 months training period, the Civil Services cadre belonging to the IRS are also sent abroad. They are sent to various field offices and organisations across India. They are trained on office procedures, fiscal policy, public finances, accounting, taxation and allied laws. Some of their important functions are tax administration, policy formulation, and fighting against black money. IRS officers also get an opportunity to serve in Ministries, various agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
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