IAS Full Form
The IAS Full Form is Indian Administrative Services that is one of the 3 All-India services along with IPS & IFS. Every year, UPSC conducts the civil services examination for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) post & other Group “A” & Group “B” services. Most civil services aspirants dream of becoming an IAS officer due to its lucrative job profile and opportunity to influence the growth of the nation. Before starting preparation to become an IAS officer, one should go through the complete information about IAS - IAS full form, IAS Salary, IAS Eligibility, IAS Educational Qualification, and IAS Function & Responsibilities.
| IAS Full Form | |
|---|---|
| IAS Full Form in English | Indian Administrative Service |
| IAS Full Form in Hindi | भारतीय प्रशासनिक सेवा |
| Role of IAS Officer | Revenue Collection, Law & Order Maintenance, Function as an executive magistrate, Supervision of Implementation of Policies |
| Recruitment Process | 1. UPSC Civil Services exam 2. Promotion of State Civil Services Officers to IAS 3. Selection of Non-SCS Officers to IAS. |
IAS full form is Indian Administrative Services. IAS officers are All-India ranking civil servants that handle public administration and implement government policies. The career of IAS officers begins with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or District Magistrate (DM). With experience, an IAS officer may reach higher positions such as Secretary to the Government and even the cabinet secretary. An IAS officer is generally responsible for implementing government policies at different administrative levels that ensure their reach to the planned beneficiaries.
Entering into the Indian Administrative Services is a prestigious yet challenging process but a highly rewarding career. By understanding the UPSC exam pattern and the demands of UPSC, candidates can achieve the goal of becoming an IAS officer. Before applying, candidates should ensure that they fulfill the eligibility criteria for UPSC.
As of 2024, there are 3 modes of recruitment to Indian Administrative Services (IAS):
Joining the Indian Administrative Services, required to clear UPSC civil services examination with good rank. Candidate should match the required eligibility criteria-
| Nationality | Must be a citizen of India. |
| Educational Qualification | A bachelor's degree from a recognized University. |
| Age Limit | General : 21-32 years OBC : 21-35 years SC/ST : 21-37 years PwD : 21-42 years |
| Attempts | General : 6 OBC : 9 SC/ST : Unlimited Pwd (OBC & General) : 9 |
| Preliminary Stage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type: | Objective (MCQs) | |
| No. of Papers | Paper 1- GS ;Paper 2- CSAT | |
| Marks | 200 Marks (Each) | |
| Note- The Paper 2 is qualifying in nature and only Paper 1 marks are calculated for the merit. | ||
| Mains Stage | ||
| Type: | Written (Subjective) | |
| No. of Papers | 9 Papers - Language(2), Essay(1), GS(4), Optional(2) | |
| Marks | Total- 1750 Marks | |
| Note- The 2 language papers are qualifying in nature. | ||
| Interview Stage | ||
| Marks | 225 Marks | |
| Note- The marks of mains and interview are calculated for the final merit list | ||
Both direct recruits IAS Officers, as well as promotee IAS officers, are imparted probationary training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). After completion of successful probation, they are confirmed. Also, there is a provision for mandatory mid-career training of IAS officers spread across the entire service span.
The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie is a training institution that conducts a common foundation course for qualified civil servants. LBSNAA also provides in-service and Mid-Career Training Programmes (MCTPs) to the officers of Indian Administrative Services and officers promoted to IAS from state civil services. The foundation course is planned in a way to develop objectives like - Orient Officer Trainees to the administrative, social, economic, and political environment of the country, Generating awareness of the challenges and opportunities within the Civil Services, Promoting overall development of personality traits of the Officer Trainees: intellectual, moral, physical and aesthetic, Foster greater coordination among the members of different Civil Services by building esprit de corps.
Co-curricular activities include in Foundation Courses - Short weekend treks, High Altitude Trek, Village Visit, Fete, India Day, Athletics meet, AK Sinha Memorial One Act Play, Homi Bhabha Science Debate, Extra-Curricular Module, Activities by Clubs and Societies, and Literary Festival.
IAS Training after Foundation Course (sandwich pattern) : After completing the foundation course, the IAS Officer Trainees graduate to Phase-1 training (22 Weeks). After Phase-1 training, the IAS Officer Trainees undergo a 1-year district training in their allotted State cadres. Phase-2 (6 Weeks) is designed to share the experiences gathered across the country by the Officer Trainees on returning to the Academy.
Every year UPSC conducts the civil services examination to recruit for posts like IAS, IPS, etc. Recruitment to the IAS is done mainly through the UPSC's Civil Services Examination annually. Here’s an overview of the number of IAS officers selected in the last 10 years through civil services:
| Year | Total Vacancies | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 180 | 90 | No EWS | 51 | 26 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | 180 | 91 | No EWS | 49 | 27 | 13 | 0 |
| 2016 | 180 | 90 | No EWS | 49 | 27 | 14 | 0 |
| 2017 | 186 | 93 | No EWS | 46 | 28 | 13 | 6 |
| 2018 | 187 | 91 | No EWS | 48 | 27 | 14 | 7 |
| 2019 | 187 | 72 | 18 | 52 | 25 | 13 | 7 |
| 2020 | 187 | 72 | 18 | 49 | 28 | 13 | 7 |
| 2021 | 187 | 72 | 18 | 49 | 27 | 14 | 7 |
| 2022 | 188 | 75 | 18 | 45 | 29 | 13 | 8 |
| 2023 | 186 | 73 | 17 | 49 | 27 | 14 | 6 |
| Salary of IAS | |
|---|---|
| 1. Under Secretary | Rs. 56,100/- |
| 2. Deputy Secretary | Rs. 67,700/- |
| 3. Director | Rs. 78,800/- |
| 4. Joint Secretary(GOI) / Secretary in State Government | Rs. 1,44,200/- |
| 5. Additional Secretary(GOI) / Principal Secretary in State Government | Rs. 1,82,200/- |
| 6. Secretary (GOI) / Chief Secretary | Rs. 2,25,000/- |
| 7. Cabinet Secretary | Rs. 2,50,000/- |
From SDM to the Cabinet Secretary, It takes more than 30 years, and the best performance from IAS officers to reach the top stage-
| Promotions of IAS | |
|---|---|
| Assistance Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner | 3-5 Years |
| Deputy Commissioner to Joint Commissioner | 5-7 Years |
| Joint Commissioner to Commissioner | 7-10 Years |
| Commissioner to Secretary to Government | 10-15 Years |
| Secretary to Government to Additional Chief Secretary | 15-20 Years |
| Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Secretary | 20-25 Years |
| Chief Secretary to Cabinet Secretary | 25-30 Years |
IAS officers can also be appointed in autonomous organizations/Sub-Ordinate Organizations/PSUs/UN Organizations/International Organizations like World Bank, and Asia Development Bank in various capacities. They also serve as Personal Secretaries to Ministers in Central Government. There are provisions for the deputation of IAS officers to provide organizations also for a fixed tenure.
IAS Officers are responsible for maintaining law and order, revenue administration, and general administration in the area under them. Their functions broadly include:
The two most prestigious services in the Government of India are Indian Administrative Services and Indian Police Services which attract lakhs of applications yearly for the UPSC civil services examination. Both services play an important role in maintaining law & order, security, and governance in India, but there are some key differences between these two services.
| IAS | IPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Roles | Responsible for Implementing Government Policies, Overseeing the functioning of departments, and Holding positions such as District Magistrate, Secretary, etc. | Responsible for maintaining law& order, ensuring internal security, and Overseeing the functioning of police departments, Holding positions such as DIG, SP & DGP, etc. |
| Training | IAS Officers undergo training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. | IPS Officers undergo training at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad. |
| Progression | Sub-divisional magistrates (SDM), District Magistrates (DM), Divisional Commissioner, Principal Secretary, Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretary | Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Superintendent of Police (SP), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Inspector General (IG), Director-General of Police (DGP), Director at state or central agencies like CBI & RAW. |
| Powers and Authorities | Administrative powers - Implementing Policies and controlling Budgets. Managing powers - Managing resources. | Maintain Law & Order, Prevent crime, and Public Safety. Indian Penal Code (IPC) Law enforcement. |
| Perks | Accommodation, Government vehicles, security | Accommodation, Government vehicles |
Both services are important pillars of the Indian bureaucracy but there are differences in their responsibilities and work area. The IAS officers are required to focus on governance, administration, and implementation of policies, while IPS officers are required to focus on law& order, law enforcement, and public safety. Aspirants should choose the services after considering the job profiles of both services.
Both IAS & IPS posts are esteemed services of the Indian bureaucracy and complement each other. In their respective areas, both hold significant authority, while IAS officers hold administrative control and policy implementation powers, IPS officers are the ultimate authority in law enforcement and public safety. But comparatively, to IPS powers, IAS officers have powers in a broader aspect, while IPS officers are limited to law enforcement and public safety in a particular state, and IAS officer holds broader authority over the state departments. IAS officers oversee various government departments and law & order is one of them, IAS officers hold control over police departments with significant influence.
Preparing for the IAS examination, conducted by the UPSC, requires a well-structured strategy with the right approach and consistency.