Life of an IAS Officer, Appointment, Role, Duties, Salary and Retirement

Life of an IAS Officer

The Life of an IAS Officer is one of the most recognized and coveted professions in India is that of an officer in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). This is because an IAS officer has the power to influence communities, individuals, and society for the better. A career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the most coveted and regarded in the nation today. An IAS official faces many difficulties throughout their career. However, the chance to improve the lives of the populace should not be dismissed..

Life of an IAS Officer and Selection Process

The UPSC Exam candidates are frequently very motivated by living the life of an IAS officer. One of the most prestigious and in-demand careers in the nation is working in the government. IAS is the most well-known position among the 24 Civil Service positions. The primary responsibilities of an IAS officer include managing the administration, keeping peace and order, controlling total spending, and overseeing government activities.

However, an IAS officer’s life is not simple; it is full of rigid schedules, daily obstacles, training, etc. Every citizen aspires to reach a point where they can make a significant difference in the lives of others and give their all to their country. One can truly work on these opportunities by remaining faithful to their vocation by becoming an Indian Administrative Service officer..

The prelims and main exams, as well as an interview, are held annually by the Union Public Service Commission to select IAS officials. In this post, we’ll talk about what it’s like to be an IAS officer, their responsibilities, authority, and obligations to the government, the people, and the country.

Life of an IAS Officer After Selection

Numerous duties for governing the nation’s administration are under the purview of the IAS Officer. Implementing legislation at the Central and State levels is one of an IAS officer’s main functions and responsibilities. In order to prepare them for their impending tasks and responsibilities, they continue their training at LBSNAA. An IAS officer’s life is thought to be exceedingly stressful.

The candidates’ interest in joining the Civil Services is further increased by the excellent compensation package and other incentives they receive. Candidates must pass the UPSC exam, one of the most difficult in the nation, in order to become IAS Officers. As many applicants take the exam in an effort to land their dream job, it creates a challenging competitive environment for the candidates. Before preparing for the exam, learn all there is to know about the IAS Officers and their way of life.

Life of an IAS Officer and Daily Work

A foundation course and training phases prior to the posting are part of an IAS Officer’s daily schedule. Every year, thousands of qualified candidates show up for the UPSC’s IAS exam, but only a select few are selected for the final merit list and are appointed IAS officers.

After being chosen, students enrol in the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) to begin their training, which they must complete by adhering to a stringent schedule of morning exercises and other activities every day at 6 AM. Their ability to handle their work, which has no set hours and can often extend to more hours, will have an impact on both their IAS lifestyle and their personal lives.

Life of an IAS Officer at LBSNAA

The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), which is located in Mussoorie, Uttrakhand, is required for the chosen applicants to enroll in order to receive the required training as an IAS officer. Here are further specifics about the LBSNAA IAS training time. It is here that they first encounter and communicate with their coworkers. This programme lasts for a total of two years and is broken up into many phases, including a foundation course, phase 1 training, Bharat darshan, and others.

Foundation Course

All services, including IAS, IPS, and IFS, take the same course. It is advised for everyone being hired as Grade A officers to enroll in a three-month foundation course at LBSNAA. After that, only IAS officials must remain and continue their training at LBSNAA; all other candidates for the various services are admitted to separate academies for training.

Phase 1

Candidates receive a Bharat Darshan tour during their 15 weeks of training during which they are exposed to India’s rich cultural variety. Policymaking, soft skills, land management, national security, e-governance, project management, etc. are all included in the training curriculum. For this tour, the entire batch of IAS Officers is divided into smaller groups.

District Training

The following stage is a year-long district-level training programme where IAS personnel join an administration in a particular district and learn about its policies, programmes, and administrative structure.

Phase 2

This features the officers talking to their coworkers about their experiences with phase 1 training. These discussion forums are set up so that IAS officers can express their ideas and disagreements, find common ground, and gain knowledge through intellectual exchange. Finally, discussions with subject-matter experts are held to benefit from their knowledge and expertise.

Assistant Secretaryship

Officers join their respective departments after the training term, where they serve under the joint secretary for a few months.

Power of an IAS Officer

The ability to create, carry out, and oversee government-controlled policies belongs to an IAS official. He/she is in charge of preserving law and order in the assigned district. In addition, laws like the Essential Commodities Act, Drug Licences Act, and Arms Act give IAS officers the authority to enforce regulations in a variety of circumstances.

• Sections 107–110, 133, 144, and 176 of the Indian Penal Code of Criminal Procedure (1973) list the authority granted to IAS Officers for upholding law and order.
• The National Disaster Management Act lists the powers of Chief Secretaries and Magistrates when managing disaster relief operations. The Arms Act, Drug Licences Act, Essential Commodities Act, etc. list the authority of IAS officers to enforce regulations in various circumstances.

Although there are nearly 300 laws that define IAS powers on a case-by-case basis, these are the primary laws that deal with IAS powers. The Department of Personnel and Training periodically updates the All India Service Manuals, which also include a condensed version of these guidelines. The IAS conduct guidelines are also listed in the service manuals. State and federal legislatures are the ultimate authority for all government officials.

Role and Responsibilities of an IAS Officer

There are many responsibilities one must fulfil after becoming an IAS official. For the efficient execution and supervision of work, including government schemes, new projects, and proposals in the designated district, as well as addressing natural calamities like floods, accidents, earthquakes, etc., she or he needs to maintain touch with many departments.

The IAS lifestyle is impacted and influenced by an IAS Officer’s work. Field assignments, State Secretariat/Public Sector Undertaking assignments, and Central Secretariat assignments are the three different types of duties that an IAS officer can have. Fieldwork assignments are said to be the most challenging duties of all.

Duties of an IAS Officer

Many young aspirants aspire of becoming IAS officers, but a post usually comes with duties and obligations. An IAS officer’s responsibilities are as follows:

• Upholding order and law in the district.
• Business Administration
• Documentation, which includes going over and verifying the policy documents’ accuracy.
• Managing the employees under her or him.

For the good of the country, IAS Officers must manage and handle a variety of activities and responsibilities. The following are some of the additional functions and responsibilities of IAS officers:

• Sub-Divisional Tasks: A Sub-Divisional Magistrate is responsible for upholding law and order as well as managing administrative and developmental tasks.
• District-Level Tasks: They must carry out SDM-like responsibilities while serving as a District Level Magistrate.
• Public Sector Undertakings: The committee also has a large number of IAS officers assigned to Public Sector Undertakings cadres.

Life of an IAS Officer Career Path

The hard work and planning put forth by IAS Officers pay off in the form of a great career. Their training at LBSNAA marks the beginning of the first stage of their careers. Many aspirants are drawn to and fascinated by the highly regarded job profile of an IAS Officer, which makes it the most competitive test. After passing the exam, an IAS officer’s life is filled with obligations and advancement into more responsible positions. Here, it is mentioned how an IAS Officer advances in their career:

• Phase I Training at LBSNAA
• District Level Training
• Phase 2 Training At LBSNAA
• Serving as Assistant Secretary for three years
• Joint Magistrate/ Sub Collector/ SDM
• Municipal Commissioner, DDO/ CDO
• Director at State Secretariats/ Joint Secretary
• Principal/ Additional Secretary at State Secretariat or Central Secretariat
• Chief Secretary
• Cabinet Secretary

Life of IAS Officer after Training

We already covered the training period’s timetable, which consists of a number of phases including the Pan India Study Tour, Phases 1 and 2, District Training, etc. It’s time to comprehend how the training affects an IAS officer’s life and what happens when the training is over. The IAS training aids in the development of IAS Officer attributes in the chosen applicants.

Every day at 6 AM, exercises and activities kick off the training at LBSNAA. The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration’s IAS Officer training program adheres to the established schedule:

• 6 AM: A 60-minute morning workout that includes horseback riding
• 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.: leisure time for morning pursuits
• 9:30 AM and later: 8–10 hours of academic activity, including lectures, sports, and extracurricular.

Trainees get free time to socialise and interact with others before and after dinner. After being posted, an IAS officer’s average day begins at 9 AM in the office. Going over the reports, evaluating field-level policies, overseeing numerous tasks, visiting people, holding meetings, etc. would all be part of the day.

These routine chores typically wrap up around nine o’clock, while this time can readily be extended in the event of emergencies, natural catastrophes, riots, significant accidents, etc. IAS Officers join their respective services under the joint secretary and begin performing their duties once their training is complete. The training phase shapes the IAS Officers and gets them ready for their prospective jobs.

Life of an IAS Officer Salary

The Officers’ extremely generous compensation package is another feather in their caps. It increases interest in the job description. The initial salary for IAS officers is a magnificent 56100. They are paid their regular wage, which is between 33,000 and 35,000 yen, during the training time. Their pay will increase in the future years. They are also eligible for a host of benefits and allowances, including security, study leaves, employment stability, post-retirement pension options, etc., in addition to their substantial wage package. The pay scale for IAS officers follows the recommendations of the 7th pay panel.

Life of an IAS Officer after Retirement

Being an IAS Officer necessitates thorough and successful UPSC preparation. The most competitive exam is challenging to pass, yet it is worthwhile because IAS Officers continue to enjoy several advantages after retirement. They are members of a lifetime pension program. The Government contributes 10% of the wages of IAS Officers and an additional 14%. As they are appointed by the government to various departments like tribunals, commissions, CAG, etc., retired IAS officers may join other departments of the government services.

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