Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. Indian Administrative Service officers hold key positions in the Union Government, State governments and Public Sector Undertakings.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts examinations for getting into IAS. The exam has three stages – preliminary, mains and interview.

Indian Administrative Service is also considered to be one of the most competitive selection processes in the world.

Recruitment
The direct recruitment of a candidate into IAS is by the examination conducted by UPSC as mentioned. However, recruitment into IAS is also done by appointment by selection through powers conferred by section 3 of the All India Services Act of 1951 (61 of 1951) and in pursuance of sub-rule (2) of rule 8 of the Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules of 1954 and in super-session of the Indian Administrative Service (Appointment by Selection) Regulations of 1956

Functions of the civil servant/Officer
A civil servant is responsible for the law and order and general administration in the area under his work. Typically the functions of an IAS officer are as follows:[7]

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.
- Implementation of policy requires supervision.
- Implementation requires traveling to places where the policies are being implemented.
- Implementation also includes expenditure of public funds which again requires personal supervision as the officers are answerable to the Parliament and State Legislature for any irregularities that may occur.
In the process of policy formulation and decision making, officers at various levels like joint secretary, deputy secretary make their contributions and the final shape to the policy is given or a final decision is taken with the concurrence of the minister concerned or the cabinet depending upon the gravity the issue.

IAS Officers are entrusted as law and order situations in city. The posts is also known as District Magistrate, District Collector, or Deputy Commissioner.