Indian Administrative Service

The Indian Administrative Service (abbreviated as IAS) (Hindi: ) is the

premier[2] administrative civil service of the Government of India. IAS officers hold key and strategic
positions in the Union Government, States[2] andpublic-sector undertakings.[2] Like in various
countries (example UK) following Parliamentary system, IAS as the
permanent bureaucracy in India forms an inseparable part of the executive branch of the
Government of India thus providing continuity and neutrality to the administration. Unlike Candidates
selected to other civil services, a person once appointed to Indian Administrative Service or Indian
Foreign Service (IFS) becomes ineligible to reappear in Civil Services Examination conducted
by Union Public Service Commission because there are no higher civil services other than
aforementioned two services under Government of India.[3]
Along with the Indian police and forest services, the IAS is one of the three All India Servicesits
cadre can be employed by both - the Union Government and the States.[2] Upon confirming to service
after probation as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, an IAS officer is given administrative command of
entire district as District collector. On attaining super time scale to Apex scale, they went on to head
whole departments and later entire Ministries of Government of India and States. IAS officers
represent Government of India at international level in bilateral and multilateral negotiations. On
deputations[4] they work at Intergovernmental organizations like World Bank[5] and United Nations or
its Agencies.[4] IAS officers at various levels of administration plays a vital role in conducting free, fair
and smooth elections in India under the direction of Election Commission of India and states.[6]