| Since the days the British ruled our country,
the civil service has held an esteemed position symbolizing power
and status. Though this power and status has reduced considerably,
this is one career which still offers complete job security, an enviable
status, power (specially to help people), and a comfortable life style.
The disadvantages are that the bureaucracy is steadily getting overshadowed
by the politicians who wield the real power, and the tremendous amount
of red tape prevents well
intentioned officers from taking the best decision at times. The higher the entry level in the civil service, the better are the promotional prospects and the neater is the job. Civil services can be broadly divided into the all-India category and the state category, the former obviously being far superior to the latter. ENTRY: At the all-India level, the
top officials are selected through an annual examination held by the Union
Public Service Commission. There is a preliminary test, a final exam
for those who have passed the prelims, and an interview. An all India
merit made out based on which the candidate is given the opportunity to
select the service he will be joining. The services most in demand
are Indian Foreign Service (IFS), IAS, IPS, and the Indian Revenue Service
(IRS) which has the income tax, customs and central excise officers.
Lower down are various departmental and central secretariat services.
Slightly different exams are held for specialized services like the Indian
Engineering Service, Indian Economic
For lowern is done by the Staff Selection Commission, following a similar procedure. This is for entry at the clerical, technicians, or section officers levels. The jobs at the state level are through each state's Public Service Commission, again through an annual exam. In Karnataka, the most sought after is the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) wherein a successful candidate starts as a Tahsildar or equivalent. APTITUDE: To be a good civil
servant, a person needs to be able to handle people well, fit into different
situations, willingness to travel and work in new places, self confidence
to be able to handle authority, and an ability to read with concentration
and understand detailed documents. One
THE FUTURE: This is perhaps
the only career in which the future is clearly defined as soon as the candidate
is selected. For example, a person entering the IAS starts as a Deputy
Collector/ Asst. Commissioner, is promoted within five years to Deputy
Commissioner or Deputy Secretary,
Salaries in the civil service are not high compared to the private sector, but it is more than made up by the perks, status and the fact that doors are opened everywhere that an officer goes. SOME ADDRESSES: Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi 110011 Staff Selection Commission, Bangalore Office, 1st floor, E Wing,
Kendriya Sadan, 2nd Block,
Karnataka State Public Service Commission, Park House, R P Road, Bangalore 560001 |
