Introduction
First and foremost, an IAS officer is a leader. The officer deployed to various government establishments such as constitutional bodies, staff & line agencies, auxiliary bodies, public sector units, regulatory bodies, statutory bodies and autonomous bodies. In that regard, an IAS officer a part of the permanent bureaucracy of the nation and is an inseparable part of the executive of the Government of India. As such, the bureaucracy remains politically neutral and guarantees administrative continuity to the ruling party or coalition. Officers lead by example. An officer must be willing to personally undertake any task that is assigned to his department.
Over the years, three words have become the hallmark of what it is to be an IAS Officer. Those words are Duty, Honor and Country. No matter what their specific duties are, or where they serve, these three words embody what it is to be an IAS officer.
Full form of IAS
The full form of IAS is Indian Administrative Service and is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. The Union Public Service Commission conducts the IAS exam every year to choose and furthermore recruit eligible candidates to the posts offered by Government of India.
What does an IAS officer do?
An IAS officer is required to consult various departments and elect representatives. An IAS officer is responsible for supervising the implementation of government schemes and policies. An IAS officer is responsible for responding to natural calamities, riots, and major accidents in their jurisdiction.
What is the IAS Exam?
The prestigious IAS Exam was founded in the year 1858 as the Imperial Civil Service. In the year 1950, it was established as the Indian Administrative Service or the IAS. Among all the other Indian administrative posts, the IAS assumes the highest rank both in terms of power and prestige. The Union Public Service Commission or the UPSC is concerned with conducting the IAS exam each year. The candidates qualified may be appointed by the Union/State government directly or may be assigned posts in the district level.
The IAS is a part of the executive branch of the Government of India and is regarded as the permanent bureaucracy. Lakhs of aspiring candidates belonging to different strata and categories of society, attempt the exam each year.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the premier central recruitment agency of the Government of India. The UPSC exam is conducted in three phases: a preliminary examination comprising two objective-type papers (General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II), a main examination consisting of nine essay-type papers, of which two are qualifying and marks from seven are accounted for, and an interview. The preliminary exam is held in May each year, with the main exam and interview held in December. The total duration of the exam is approximately 32 hours. Successful examinees are assigned to Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and other positions, based on their scores.
IAS Salary: IAS Officer Salary Structure
Are you interested in pursuing a career in the Indian Administrative Service? It comes with attractive salary and benefits, including a basic monthly salary starting at Rs.56,100 (TA, DA, and HRA are extra) and can go up to Rs.2,50,000 for a Cabinet Secretary.
IAS Officer Salary & Allowances
The IAS salary 2022 includes several allowances and components on top of the basic salary. The House Rent Allowance, as per the 7th Pay Commission norms, is 24%, 16%, and 8% based on the city you are posted to. Class X cities, such as Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune, entitle officers to 24% allowance, whereas Class Y towns with a population of more than 5 lakhs are eligible for 16%. Lastly, rural areas are entitled to 8%. Additionally, the 7th Pay Commission states that HRA will increase when Dearness Allowance crosses 50% and 100%. However, there is no increase in Transport Allowance in the IAS officer salary structure, with the Dearness Allowance of 125% being merged with the Transport Allowance.
IAS Post List with Salary
The salary of IAS officers begins at ₹ 56,100 without allowances such as HRA, DA, and TA. The maximum salary per month is the Cabinet Secretary Salary of ₹250,000 INR. IAS officers’ salaries increase with tenure and promotions. The table below outlines the IAS salary in India according to years of experience and grade pay. Upon completion of the recruitment process, candidates receive salaries as per the following table.
| IAS Rank Wise Post |
IAS Basic Pay |
IAS Pay Level |
Total Years of Service |
| SDM, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary |
₹56100 |
10 |
1-4 years |
| ADM, Deputy Secretary, Undersecretary |
₹67,700 |
11 |
5-8 years |
| District Magistrate, Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary |
₹78,800 |
12 |
9-12 years |
| District Magistrate, Deputy Secretary, Director |
₹1,18,500 |
13 |
13-16 years |
| Divisional Commissioner, Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Joint Secretary |
₹1,44,200 |
14 |
16-24 years |
| Divisional Commissioner, Principal Secretary, Additional Secretary |
₹1,82,200 |
15 |
25-30 years |
| Additional Chief Secretary |
₹2,05,400 |
16 |
30-33 years |
| Chief Secretary and Secretary |
₹2,25,000 |
17 |
34-36 years |
| Cabinet Secretary of India |
₹2,50,000 |
18 |
37+ years |
Work Of IAS Officer
As an IAS Officer, one is expected to carry out various duties, such as maintaining law and order, administrative work, document review, personnel management, and responding to natural calamities. These responsibilities have a considerable impact on the lifestyle of IAS Officers, and working diligently can lead to beneficial outcomes for the district.
IAS Officers are entrusted with numerous tasks and responsibilities in order to ensure the welfare of the nation. Amongst these are Sub-Divisional Functions, such as maintaining law and order and addressing administrative and development matters, as well as District-Level Functions as a District Level Magistrate. Additionally, several IAS officers are assigned to Public Sectors Undertakings cadres.
Powers of an IAS officer
The Indian Administrative Service provides a unique opportunity to take a direct role in the development of the country. An IAS officer is given the charge of the administration of an entire district/state/department/ministry and has the power to bring about positive changes in the lives of people through influencing policies on social initiatives, education, health, and economy. This power to serve the people and the country, combined with the salary and facilities of an IAS officer, make this an incredibly rewarding position.
The IAS Officers hold the administrative charge for an entire district or state, and many people rely on them for their grievance redressal. They have the authority to bring about meaningful changes to society through the Indian Penal Code’s Criminal Procedure section, 107, 108, 109, 110, 144, and 176, as well as the Arms, Drug Licensing, and Essential Commodities Act. Furthermore, the Collector is responsible for handling law of tenancy regarding revenue power.
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