Exam Pattern :
Selection is through the Civil Services
Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission through a
three-stage combined selection process.
The first stage, the Civil Services Prelims
is composed of two objective exams: one of General studies and one of a
subject of one's choice amongst a given list of subjects.
The candidates can choose to be examined in
about forty fields, from Civil Engineering and Medicine to Chinese
Literature and Accountancy. This is purely an eliminatory stage and plays no
part in the final rankings. About 5000-6000 of the applicants are selected
for the next stage called the Civil Services Mains. The second stage is more
exhaustive. It has nine papers of which two are qualificatory in nature. One
has to choose two optional sujects of once's choice as compared to one in
the Preliminary stage. There are two papers of General Studies, Optional 1
and Optional 2 and one Essay paper. Around 1200-1400 aspirants clear Mains
and sit for the third stage i.e the Civil Services Interview . Every
candidate is asked to choose their preference of services before the
interview. Almost all of them choose IAS as their first choice but a few opt
for Indian Police Service or the Indian Foreign Service.
Indian Revenue Service is usually the
fourth choice. The entire selection process lasts fifteen to twenty months.
Repeated attempts are allowed (maximum of 4 times). |
Description :
Training IRS Officer Trainees (OTs, as
they are fondly referred to) undergo a 3 month foundational training with
their fellow officers from All India Services and other Central Services
(Group A) at Lal Bahadur National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA)
Mussorrie (Uttarakhand) followed by a 15 month rigorous professional
training in NACEN Faridabad for the officers of Customs and Excise or NADT
Nagpur for officers of Income Tax, where they are intensively trained in
principles, concepts and advances in Management, Taxation. Public Policy and
Law.
Postings
Starting with the prestigious post of
Assistant Commissioner, IRS officers rise up to Chief Commissioner level
with some fortunate ones reaching the post of Member/Chairperson - CBDT /
CBEC. The Revenue Secretary who heads the Department of Revenue in the
Ministry of Finance is usually an IAS officer. They are also deputed to the
Vigilance Department, Enforcement Directorate, SEBI, Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence, Narcotics Control Bureau, etc. apart from heading various
cells in the Ministry of Finance. However the administrative acumen of the
service has now started getting recognition of late. One of the previous
Chief Election Commissioner was an IRS officer. One of the present member of
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is also a member of IRS.
Career prospects
Though the pay is much lower than in
private sector, given the high talent and intelligence of the recruits, the
unparalleled power, perks, and prestige make up for it. Officers also feel
an added sense of satisfaction that comes from directly contributing to the
development of the country, revenue being the source of all developmental
works of a government. Their contribution can be judged from the fact that
with a total strength of around 5000 officers (in direct taxes) and an added
2500 (in indirect taxes), the IRS are responsible for collection of
direct/indirect taxes worth tens of thousands of crores of rupees ( 1 crore
= 10 million). Presently only 3% of Indian population comes in the direct
tax bracket. Similarly the Service Tax has only started picking up of late
due to very few services in the tax net. With the economy booming, the IRS
is bound to play an increasingly important role in the affairs of the state.
As the country liberalises further, the economic power will shift into
private hands with the public-private participation being the
keyword. Hence the IRS officers will be at the interaction point between the
private industry and the government. This is being recognised in one of the
reports of The Economic Times which foresees a high demand for IRS
officers in the private sector considering their wide range of experience in
manning various fiscal and monetary policy centers as well as field
formations.
Candidates prefer the IRS above other
premier services due to relatively low political interference, greater
leisure time, stable tenures, and postings to big cities.
Challenges
As with other government service there are
many allegations of corruption. The introduction of automated interfaces
using electronic technologies have the potential of reducing such
shortcomings in the system.
The IRS needs bright, young, honest, and
dedicated people with a high sense of morality, integrity and love for the
country. The nature of job brings out the jewel in him/her. An IRS officer
on posting is entrusted with the task of completing the assessment of the
tax returns (as in Income Tax, Central Excise and Service Tax) or border
control in relation to import and export of goods (as in Customs). It
requires prolonged verifications and inquiries. An IRS officer gets limited
staff to assist him in this task. The reduction of manpower in the field in
recent years has had a bearing on this. However promotion prospects and
deputation posts are a major demoralizing factors among the officers as
these have be monopolized by the IAS which has captured several benefits for
itself due to being in the decision making seat for other services as well
as itself. Both the services are adapting to changes in India's economic
framework in last fifteen years in the form of liberalization and
globalization. |
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AKHAND PRATAP SINGH
