With
the exception of the IPS all officers of the various civil
services man exactly the same posts, and thus do the same type of
work pertaining to their particular service. Moreover, Government
of India stipulations as applicable to grades, levels of seniority
and titles, are common to all services.
(more content follows the advertisement below) A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Nature
of Work
In
all the branches of the civil services, much of the work is
administrative in nature. It therefore involves a great deal of
interaction with people at all levels. Officers must be able to
get things done in accordance with the rules and regulations laid
down by the Government. Many of these rules are framed in whole or
part by officers of the service themselves.
Responsible decision-making is another important aspect of this
work, as a great many lives are usually affected by an officer's
action. Most civil servants are also required to travel
extensively, both during inspection tours of the areas under their
jurisdiction in the country, or as in the IFS, the world. In
general, the earlier years of an officer's career are spent in the
districts and small towns. In the more senior grades, where the
area of responsibility is wider, postings are usually to bigger
cities, state capitals or at the Center.
The All India Services-IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service-follow a
cadre system. By this system, officers during their probationary
period are allotted states or cadres, to which they remain
affiliated throughout their careers. There are in all, twenty-one
state cadres. Officers may sometimes on request be assigned to
their home states, but this is not common practice.
Major
Tasks Performed
All civil servants, at some stage in their careers, are required
to perform certain administrative functions within the purview of
their departments. These include:
PLANNING
Which is carried out by the highest echelons of the service. It
involves making decisions-after having reviewed all possible
alternatives and their consequences-on the course of action to be
taken, as also the allocation of resources, towards the
achievement of specified, time-bound national targets.
POLICY
FORMULATION
Means setting plans down on paper, in a manner in which they can
be implemented and interpreting, clarifying and modifying them
when necessary.
IMPLEMENTATION
Of these policies and ensuring that rules and regulations are
followed.
SUPERVISION
Of the allotment and utilization of funds by field staff to make
certain that they are used for the purpose they are intended.
Also, monitoring the progress of projects ranging from public
works, to corporations and development schemes.
ASSESSMENT
By visiting the scene of action and reporting and making
recommendations.
PROVIDING
INFORMATION
That is accurate, at short notice, particularly in response to
questions in Parliament.
REPRESENTING
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
As a nominee on the board of a public corporation or institution;
at national or international fora; or in the case of the IFS, as a
member of the diplomatic corps.
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