Update on 2024-04-15
Becoming an IAS Officer is the ambition of many young Indian candidates. Every year lakhs of IAS aspirants appear in the UPSC exam hoping that they would qualify for the exams and will get an opportunity to serve the nation by becoming an Indian Administrative Officer.
To make their career dream true, they study day and night to crack the UPSC exams. But before applying for the UPSC exam, the aspirants must understand the duties and responsibilities of an IAS officer.
Looking after administration work under the Government of India, ensuring law and order, managing government affairs, and maintaining overall departmental expenditure are the key responsibilities of an IAS officer.
To understand the roles and duties of an IAS Officer more clearly, please continue reading this article.
An IAS officer is a civil servant and a representative of the Indian government who is responsible to implement the policies administered by the government. He/she is also responsible for maintaining the law and order in the state.
An IAS officer plays numerous roles, however, his/her duties vary according to his/her post. If you are wondering what the Life of an IAS Officer looks like, then you should definitely read this article.
An IAS officer’s work depends on the type of assignments and posts allotted to them by the Government of India. Usually, there are three types of assignments assigned to an IAS officer which are Field Assignments, Public Sector Undertaking/State Secretariat, and Central Secretariat.
Detailed Explanation of 3 Major Roles and Responsibility:
1. Field Assignments: After completing the training, the first posting of an IAS officer is usually a field assignment. In simpler words, Roles and Duties of an IAS Officer - The work of the IAS Officer's first task allotted to the officer after the training is called field assignment. In their first posting, they have to work in an environment of complexity and they have to face various hurdles to fulfill their duties during their assignment.
Completing the field assignments is one of the most challenging job roles of an IAS.
Designations of IAS During the Field Assignment: As already discussed, after completing the training from Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), the first posting of an IAS officer is mostly a field posting and for most, IAS officers, the field posting ends at the district level.
SDO/SDM/Chief Development Officer/Joint Collector
(iii) Deputy Commissioner: The deputy commissioner or district magistrate is the executive head of a district, an administrative sub-unit of a state.
2. State Secretariat Assignments: After completing the tenure in the field posting, the IAS officers get posted in the State Secretariat and will have to work with the state government.
They have to use their experience and field expertise to give needful advice and consultation to the elected state representative to make policies and decisions that can help in the betterment of the state and society.
Many IAS Officers also get posted in Public Service Undertaking Cadres on deputation period and get an opportunity to work in higher management departments of PSUs like industrial units, power stations, and many others.
3. Central Secretariat Assignments: IAS Officers also get posted at the secretariat level in the Central Government of India. During the central secretariat assignment, an IAS looks after inspecting, reviewing, formulating, and implementing policies for different ministries of India.
There are chances that as an IAS you will be allotted international assignments and deputed to international bodies such as the United Nations.
IAS Designations During State or Central Secretariat Postings
As we discussed earlier, the roles and duties of an IAS officer depend on his/her post and designation. An IAS officer is capable of doing so much good for the welfare of society.
He/she can serve as an eminent member of the Government of India to fulfill his/her purpose of serving the nation. During the State and Central Secretariat postings, The candidate gets an opportunity to make bigger decisions while being an integral part of the system.
Below we have briefed the roles and duties of an IAS officer during the state or central postings:
Undoubtedly, the career of an IAS officer is full of responsibilities, challenges, and hurdles but becoming an IAS officer also means a life full of pride, honor, and respect. Apart from the social respect and responsibilities, the title also brings a rewarding Salary and benefits with it.
The work of an IAS officer is enormously difficult and sometimes one has to make sacrifices with his/her social life in order to fulfill his/her duties, therefore the salary offered to them is lucrative.
An IAS officer gets a minimum salary of Rs 50,000 and it can go up to Rs 2,50,000 depending on his/her designation. Below we have tabulated the rank-wise salary of an IAS Officer after the 7th Pay Commission:
IAS Officers- Rank-wise Salary After 7th Pay Commission |
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Grade |
Pay Scale |
Grade Pay |
Years of Service Required |
Junior Scale |
Rs 50,000 - Rs 1,50,000 |
Rs 16,500 |
N/A |
Senior Time Scale |
Rs 50,000 - Rs 1,50,001 |
Rs 20,000 |
5 years |
Junior Administrative Grade |
Rs 50,000 - Rs 1,50,002 |
Rs 23,000 |
9 years |
Selection Grade |
Rs 1,00,000 - Rs 2,00,000 |
Rs 26,000 |
12 years to 15 years |
Super Time Scale |
Rs 1,00,000 - Rs 2,00,000 |
Rs 30,000 |
17 years to 20 years |
Above Super Time Scale |
Rs 1,00,000 - Rs 2,00,000 |
Rs 30,000 |
Varies |
Apex Scale |
Rs 2,25,000 (Fixed) |
NA |
Varies (around 30 years) |
Cabinet Secretary Grade |
Rs 2,50,000 (Fixed) |
NA |
Varies |
IAS Officer Salary: Pay Levels and Post-Wise
Pay Level |
Basic Pay |
Name of the Post |
Pay level 10 |
Rs 56,100 |
Sub-divisional Magistrate in District Administration |
Assistant Secretary in Central Secretariat |
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Undersecretary in State Secretariat |
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Pay level 11 |
Rs 67,700 |
Additional district magistrate in District Administration |
Deputy Secretary in State Secretariat |
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Under-Secretary in Central Secretariat |
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Pay level 12 |
Rs 78,800 |
Deputy Secretary in Central Secretariat |
District magistrate in District Administration |
||
Joint Secretary in State Secretariat |
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Pay level 13 |
Rs 1,18,500 |
Director in Central Secretariat |
District magistrate in District Administration |
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Special secretary-cum-director in State Secretariat |
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Pay level 14 |
Rs 1,44,200 |
Divisional commissioner in District Administration |
Joint Secretary in Central Secretariat |
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Secretary-cum-commissioner in State Secretariat |
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Pay level 15 |
Rs 1,82,200 |
Divisional commissioner in District Administration |
Additional secretary in Central Secretariat |
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Principal Secretary in State Secretariat |
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Pay level 16 |
Rs 2,05,400 |
Additional Chief Secretary in State Secretariat |
Pay level 17 |
Rs 2,25,000 |
Secretary in Central Secretariat |
Pay level 18 |
Rs 2,50,000 |
Cabinet Secretary of India |
Apart from the good income, an IAS officer also enjoys certain benefits and facilities which are provided by the government of India. Some of these facilities and benefits provided to an IAS officer are as follows:
Ans. IAS officers initially are provided training for two years at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.
Ans. An IAS Officer generally leads a very disciplined lifestyle. They are provided with all the perks and benefits such as accommodation, helpers, security, transportation, etc.
Their role in the administrative part of society holds a lot of importance and they are responsible for handling government affairs at numerous levels.
Ans. There is no fixed number of hours for which an IAS Officer has to work. However, the official timings are said to be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., but it may vary based on their role and responsibilities, designation, and need of the hour.
Ans. Cabinet Secretary (Central) and Chief Secretary (State) are among the highest post for IAS officers.
Ans. It is the perks and benefits provided to an IAS officer along with the salary that makes it extremely popular and attracts candidates to apply for the post. But on the professional front, the work is challenging and stressful at times, as the employee is directly answerable to the state or central government authorities.
Ans. The total amount earned by IAS trainees at LBSNAA is INR 56,000. After deducting mess charges and other necessities, the stipend earned by IAS trainees varies from INR 35,000 to INR 40,000 every month.
Ans. If candidates think that the journey to crack the civil services exam is tough, they should know what is more in store for them. The real work begins after joining the services as an IAS Officer is expected to perform a lot of responsibilities and continuously adhere to the government guidelines. Tough, at the personal front a lot of perks are available, it is the professional front that is challenging.
Ans. IAS officer duties and responsibilities include managing government affairs including policy framing, implementation, and review. Consulting with various departments and elected representatives. Managing allocated public funds for various schemes
Ans. Some of the powers of an IAS include managing government affairs and infrastructure, implementing and supervising government policies’ formulation process, etc. Also, IAS officers can give the 1st order in case of any disaster (natural/ manmade) and for managing the disaster.
The duties and responsibilities of an IAS Officer are quite challenging, however, it can offer you a lot more than anyone can expect. The life of an IAS Officer is more challenging yet more interesting than any other career in the government sector.
However Contrary to the common opinion, IAS is not just for anyone who is good at academics. It is specifically meant for those who are in love with the idea of serving the nation and want to bring change in society for good.
If you are impressed with the work of an IAS Officer and want to make it your career goal, then you should read our article on how to become an IAS officer & Highest Marks in IAS Interview Round - Tricks to Crack the IAS Interview Round
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