Civil services constitute all departments of the government machinery which run the state administration. The Central and State Civil Servants are in charge of the governance of the various departments (non-military) to ensure that the administrative infrastructure works according to the Constitutional provision. They are in fact the custodians of the civil rights and entitlements of every citizen.
The Civil Services have a long history and tradition dating back to 1919 and even before. These services have enjoyed great eminence in the Indian society, right from the British days. Civil servants continue to be prestigious and the power wielding persons and hence have been attracting ambitious youngmen to their fold.
The charisma of Civil Services has inspired young aspirants to gear themselves to prepare for the coveted services to fulfill their desire for achieving ‘power’ and ‘authority’. It may be administration of a town, or an appointment to work for energy conservation, or wasteland development, or water resources, etc., it gives an opportunity to make important decisions. In other words, there is scope for dynamism and opportunity to ensure that things work in the best possible way. India is facing a challenge of development and the All India Services have a crucial role to play in the development of the country. The services need individuals with an intense desire for field work and an inclination for interaction with the common men and women.
The popularity of Civil Services Examinations ultimately will not wain due to the fact that it recruits personnel for higher civil service of the country. The personnel of these service eventually occupy the most important echelons of the bureaucracy that are very closely and intimately associated with decision making, policy formulations and its execution. The officers of Central Service are posted within or outside and they serve the Government of India only. The members of All India Services, on the other hand, on appointment by the Government of India, are placed at the disposal of the Government of different States.
All India services
Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Foreign Service are the three All India Services.
The Central Services
Group A includes (i) Indian Posts and Telegraphs Accounts and Finance Service; (ii) Indian Audit and Accounts Service; (iv) Indian Customs and Central Excise Service; (iv) Indian Revenue Service; (v) Indian Ordinance Factories Service; (vi) Indian Postal Service; (vii) Indian Civil Accounts Service; (viii) Indian Railway Traffic Service ; (ix) Indian Railway Personnel Service; (x) Indian Railway Accounts Service (xi) Posts of Assistants Security Officer in Railway Protection Service; (xii) Indian Defence Estates Service; (xiii) Indian Information Service; (xiv) Central Trade Service and (xv) Posts of Assistant Commandant in the Central Industrial Security Force, etc.
Group B includes (i) Central Secretariat Service ; (ii) Railway Board Secretariat Service; (iii) Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service ; (iv) Customs Appraisers Service; (v) Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service; and (vi) Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service. (vii) Central Bureau of Investigation (viii) Pondicherry Civil & Police Services
State Civil Services
Selection of Civil Servants for the States is the responsibility of the State. There are State Public Service Commissions in every state, like the UPSC at the Centre, which conduct selection examinations for filling up vacancies in the various Group A, B, C and other State services.
