We covered ‘Role of Civil Services in a Democracy‘ in our last post. Hope the overview is now clear. Civil Servants being permanent executives, they advise political executives. They also assist the ministers to formulate and execute policies. In this post, we shall see in particular the functions of an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
History of Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the premier services of Government of India. IAS was constituted in 1946. Prior to that Indian Imperial Service (1893-1946) was in force.
The basic pattern of the cadre system in the Civil Service was established following the recommendations of the Aitchison Commission. Provincial Civil Service constituted in the 1890s was also on the basis of the recommendations of the Aitchison Commission. In 1912 the Islington commission was appointed to study Civil Service reforms. By 1934, the system of administration in India came gradually to consist of seven All India Services and five Central Departments.
IAS posts are filled by direct recruits as well as by promotion /appointment of State Civil Services officers/ Non-State Civil Service officers.
All India Services
The Constitution provides that without depriving the States of their right to form their own Civil Services there shall be an All India service recruited on an All- India basis with common qualifications, with uniform scale of pay and the members of which alone could be appointed to these strategic posts throughout the Union. No wonder that Sardar Vallabhai Patel, one of the eminent leaders of the freedom struggle referred to the ICS as the steel frame of the country. The civil services, therefore, represents the essential spirit of our nation – unity in diversity.
Functions of an IAS officer
IAS officer is responsible for maintenance of law and order, revenue administration and general administration in the area under him. Functions of an IAS officer broadly include:
- Collection of revenue and function as Courts in revenue matters.
- Maintenance of law and order.
- Function as Executive Magistrate.
- Function as Chief Development Officer (CDO)/District Development Commissioner.
- Supervision of implementation of policies of State Government and Central Government.
- To travel to places to oversee implementation of policies.
- Supervision of expenditure of public funds as per norms of financial propriety.
- In the process of policy formulation and decision making, IAS officers at various levels like Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary etc. make their contributions and the give final shape to policies.
- To handle the daily affairs of the government, including framing and implementation of policy in consultation with the minister-in-charge of the concerned Ministry;
Designations held by IAS officers during field posting
- SDO/SDM/Joint Collector/ Chief Development Officer (CDO).
- District Magistrate/District Collector/Deputy Commissioner.
- Divisional Commissioner.
- Member Board of Revenue.
- Chairman Board of Revenue
Appointments to other Organizations / Bodies
Besides IAS officers can be appointed in autonomous organizations/sub ordinate organizations/PSUs/UN Organizations/international organizations like World Bank, Asian Development Banks etc in various capacities. They also serve as Personal Secretaries to Ministers in Central Government. There is provision for deputation of IAS officers to private organizations also for a fixed tenure.
Designations during Posting in Secretariat of State Government/ Central Government
- Under Secretary in Government of India.
- Deputy Secretary in Government of India.
- Director in Government of India.
- Joint Secretary to Government of India / Secretary in State Government.
- Additional Secretary to Government of India / Principal Secretary in State Government.
- Secretary to Government of India/ Chief Secretary.
- Cabinet Secretary.
Read : Salary of an IAS officer here.
Regulations Governing IAS
IAS officers are regulated through different All India Services Rules such as :
- AIS (Conduct) Rules, 1968,
- AIS (PAR) Rules, 2007,
- AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958,
- AIS (Cadre) Rules, 1954,
- AIS (Pay) Rules, 2007 etc.
PS: These rules are made under the powers conferred by the All India Services Act, 1951.
KAADAMBARI VERMA says
March 23, 2015 at 3:16 pmHello!
I am a 2nd year engineering student. I want to become an IAS officer. I am quite aware of the syllabus of UPSC.I want to start my preparations from now on but I am quite confused about from where to start? I have been reading competition magazines for some months but I am finding it very difficult to make notes.
Please guide me. I shall be very grateful to you for your selfless support.
manuj says
April 25, 2015 at 5:55 pmBefore completing syllabi of some subjects as such economics and polity it won’t be that easy for you to even understand some of the articles given in the magazines or newspaper.. so just one advice is that get some understanding of above mentioned subjects.. plus notes making at this stage will not be helpful as you are in just 2nd year of engineering.. develop understanding of contemporary issues and used wikipedia extensively..
Anaranya Biswas says
April 12, 2016 at 10:22 pmFirst start your preparation by basic NCERT BOOKS from class 6 to 12 all subjects. It’s helps you to build a solid base and then read any other reference books like laxmikanth, Specturm books etc. But NCERT BOOKS is must…
For current affairs you just focus on Hindu Newspaper and YOJANA MAGAZINE….
Not making is not needed, as you are persuing graduation..
Just 1 year collection of Current events before giving your 1st attempt would suffice…
You just start to build your habits of Hindu Newspaper reading
Vikrant singh says
April 2, 2019 at 11:42 amFirst download syllabus and last five year paper analysis it properly since you are persuing your graduation choose your optional paper wisely and go properly through the basic of gs paper last but not least develop the habit of reading newspaper at regular basis according to the syllabus demand
Best of luck
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muhammed fadhil says
February 4, 2016 at 9:12 pmHello!
i’am a school student. my dream is to be an IAS officer. i’am quite aware of the syllabus of UPSC. i want to start my preparations from now but i’am totally confused. from where to start.
please guide me.i shall be very grateful to you for your selfless support.
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ClearIAS.com says
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Please publish the function of IPS Officer and also Indian Foreign Service Officer.
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darsani selvaraj says
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Neha says
May 24, 2019 at 9:25 amWasn’t the Indian Administrative services known as ‘Imperial Civil Services ( ICS)’ prior to 1946? Unlike stated here as ‘Indian Imperial Services’.
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