IAS

Indian Administrative Services, probably the most coveted services in India. Every year more than four lakh students appear for this examination in the hope of becoming an IAS officer. Only 80 to 100 are able to fulfill their dream, and the rest appear again in the hope of qualifying next year and thus year on year the attempts continues either till the number of attempts have been exhausted or they have exhausted all their patience and energy. Not only IAS , but for IPS, IFS, IES, IIT, IIM, the trend is similar for all these examinations and services. So what is it which makes all these so special.

For some people it is just the desire of adding the word 'Indian' on their name plate. For many others it is much more than that. The social prestige associated with any of these exams is tremendous and hence cannot be denied. On the lighter side this word 'Indian' does also have boosting impact on the prospective bride and groom in the matrimony market. But there is something, something really special about being an IAS, which puts it much ahead of all the others. An IAS is a civil servant who is supposed to work in anonymity. He is not the public face of the government but mostly is overburdened with the back ground stuff.  Although these service conditions does not sound lucrative but there are some extra opportunities and facilities which makes an IAS officer  special.

Leadership role at an early stage, Capacity to do some thing for the people who really need help, Authority, Power, Influence, lucrative perquisites and allowance, ambassador with a blue beacon, large houses with many domestic helpers, a strong network of powerful people, guest houses and other facilities available throughout the country and a 'powerful' phone call being some of those extra things.

But the thing which really keeps it ahead of every other thing is the limitless opportunities it offers. The 'one man fit everywhere' policy of the government makes sure that an IAS is never stuck to a particular kind of job. In the initial phases of his service when he is working as a District Magistrate or a City Development Officer, his work is to implement the policies formulated by the government, then as he climbs the ladder of his service then his duties change from implementing of policies to framing those policies, due to the delegated legislation given to him by the legislature. At every level his power enhances. His circle of influence grows bigger and bigger everyday. This change is not only vertical but also horizontal at the same time. He does switch from one department to another and from one ministry to another. Probably he never gets bored with only one kind of job, his career is dynamic and opportunities limitless.

Even after retirement his career does not end. Retired IAS officers often become the members of various government appointed committees, they do join a number of missions of United Nations, they are sometimes appointed as very high ranking persons in the government machinery like governors of state, they do also come in active politics. This service does attaches two qualities to an individual which are beneficial to him throughout his life. First and the foremost quality is 'credibility'. It establishes an individual's credibility in the market that he has the required intelligence, hard working nature, decision taking ability and commanding authority to take up any kind of job and excel in it. Secondly it gives him a great network not only in the government but also in various private companies as well. Thus making him a near perfect liaison for any company. Both these qualities makes him a potential candidate to lead a company, or to take up the position of higher level management in a company. 

So the bottom line is that...An IAS is never short of work or money in his life. He never gets bored with his work as he always has the option to switch.