Indian Administrative Service
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The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India; others being the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). It is also called the 'Steel frame' of India and was born out of the need to have a strong administrative network to assist the executive arm of the Government in implementing its policies and decisions effectively.
History
The Indian Administrative Service grew naturally out of the thousand-member Indian Civil Service, the main body of administrators in the British Raj.The British used the service initally mainly for revenue collection, which is why IAS officers are still called collectors. Collecting taxes in a colony would not have been possible unless one had powers to punish the citizens who did not pay taxes. So ICS officers were provided the powers of a magistrate.
During the Raj, ICS officers were generally held in high esteem; known as the 'twiceborn', ICS officers were believed to be mostly incorruptible and good administrators.
Upon independence, thenewly formed Republic of India accepted the then serving Indian Civil Service officers who chose to stay on rather than leave for Pakistan or the United Kingdom and renamed the service the Indian Administrative Service.
Function
The officials of the IAS are involved in civil administration, policy making and managing conflicts - internal and external. They are selected from a large pool of educated individuals through an extensive and rigorous examination process that selects only the most intelligent, responsible and capable individuals in every field from literature to medicine.Independence
The members of the IAS receive a constitutional guarantee to enable them to exercise executive powers without fear of prosecution. The Constituent Assembly of India intended that the bureaucracy should be able to speak out freely, without fear of persecution or financial insecurity as an essential element in unifying the nation. The independence of the IAS officers is ensured by a unique system of recruitment and posting. They are recruited by the Central government on the recommendation of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and posted under various State governments. While respective State Governments have control over them they can not censure or take disciplinary action against IAS officers without consulting the Central government and the UPSC. This aims at protecting IAS officers from being unduly influenced by State governments.Neutrality and Independence? The neutrality and independence of the IAS in early post independent India has gradually been eroded with the assertion of power by the political system. Over time there has been a general tendency of centralisation of power in the hands of ministers. Most routine matters like transfers and postings are handled by ministers. Officers have sometimes tired of speaking up and tend to go along with the tide. The frequency of transfers and postings based on political considerations and the insistence of the political masters to have their way has silenced many vocal and independent civil servants to silent obedience.
Designations
The officers of the IAS belong to various ranks, ranging from District Collectors in the states to the Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India. Their cadre, based on the state to which they are assigned, usually remains constant throughout their careers. They are frequently circulated amongst various departments and are promoted based on their seniority level as well as their managerial capacity and achievements based on their annual confidential reports. The officers enter the system after passing a multi-level examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission of India. They come from a wide spectrum of human endeavour ranging from literature to medicine. The structure of the examination selects only the top cream of the individuals in each field , ensuring that the system is fed with intelligent, responsible and capable officers.Policy and Implementation
The officers of the IAS play a crucial role in the policy making and implementation processes of virtually every division of the Government machinery. However the utility of this service has come under severe criticism from many quaters and not without reason. The colonial hangover still persists in this service. The members are basically generalists having experience in general administration without much specialization. However they man decision making positions in areas ranging from science and technology, rural development, defence, trade, commerce, industries, finance and almost everything connected with governance.See also
External links
- [IAS Exam Study Material]
- [IAS Preparation Material]
- [Online community IAS & UPSC Aspirants]
- [Site for IAS examination)]
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