Running the administration of a vast and diverse country like India requires efficient management of its natural, economic and human resources and this is responsibility of the civil services. The country is managed through a number of Central Government agencies in accordance with the policy directions given by the ministries.

The construction of the Civil Services follows a certain pattern. The All India Services, Central Services and State Services constitute the Civil Services. The IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), and IFS (Indian Foreign Service) are All India Services.

There are state cadres and the officers of All India Services (AIS) - IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service - are divided into State cadres. When on probation, AIS officers are allocated to their States. The AIS officer cannot demand to be placed in his/her home state, but may put in a request for being considered for the home cadre. Generally, once allotted to a state, an officer stays with that state cadre.

Promotional grades for Civil Servants:

The pay scales have been revised and there is a substantial increase as per the 5th pay Commission recommendation along with other perks.

After Class XII (any stream): Graduation in any subject followed by Civil services preliminary examination in any of the subjects listed.
The Civil Services Examination has two phases - the first is called the Preliminary Examination ('Prelims') and the second Main Examination ('Mains'). After that, there is the personality test or viva-voce.
Eligibility - Indian citizens between the ages of 21 and 30. For Assistant Commandant Group 'A' in CISF, the age limit is 28 years. (Age limit relaxable for special categories).

Graduates are allowed to take the Civil Services Examination only thrice - and even dropping out in the middle of an examination is counted. There are some other restrictions and concessions for particular categories.

The Prelims consist of two objective type, multiple-choice question papers, carrying a maximum of 450 marks. The first paper of 150 marks is on general studies. The second one requires candidates to answer questions from any one of the following subjects of their choice (300 marks): Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, Indian History, Law, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics and Zoology.
The question papers are set both in Hindi and English, and each paper is of two hours. The course content of the syllabi for the optional subjects is of the degree level.

Main Examination:
The number of candidates generally admitted for the Mains is about 12-13 times the total number of estimated vacancies to be filled in that year. Those obtaining minimum qualifying marks, as fixed by the Commission, are called for an interview. The number of interviewees is approximately twice the number of the vacancies. An aggregate mark obtained in the Mains (written as well as interview) determines the final ranking. Selected candidates are then allotted to various services keeping in view their ranks and expressed preferences.

Written Examination:
- Paper I - One of the Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu).
- Paper II - English
- Paper III Essay and IV and V - General Studies
- Paper VI, VII, VIII and IX - Any two of the following subjects: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Literature of any one of these languages - Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Marathi, Malayalam, Oriya, Pali, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Arabic, Manipuri, Nepali, Konkani, Assamese, Persian, German, French, Russian and English, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics and Zoology.

Combinations Not Allowed:
- Political Science and Public Administration
- Commerce, Accountancy and Management
- Anthropology and Sociology
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Management and Public Administration
- Engineering Subjects, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering :.... ..not more than one of these subjects.

Question papers are of the conventional essay type, each carrying 300 marks. The papers on Indian languages and English (I and II) are of qualifying nature - marks obtained in these are not counted for the ranking. Their standard is matriculation level. The papers on General Studies and the optional subjects (Papers III - VIII) are evaluated only if candidates attain certain minimum marks in the qualifying papers i.e. in Indian languages and English. There is no compulsion to select the subjects studied at the graduate level for the Prelims or Mains examination. Many candidates select subjects that are entirely new by them. The trends show that History, Sociology, Physics, Public Administration and languages like Hindi, English Language, Punjabi, Telugu, and Tamil are better scoring.

Interview:
It is the last leg of the selection procedure carrying 250 marks with no minimum qualifying marks. A board interviews the candidate, having before them a record of his/her career. The interview technique used is a natural one. Through directed and purposive conversation an attempt is made to understand the candidates' qualities.
The prospective civil servant is expected to show understanding of national and international affairs, trends, currents of thought, new discoveries, etc. besides a firm grasp of the subjects of academic study.

The pay structure in civil services is embellished by handsome allowances. One not only enjoys the bureaucratic powers to an extent but also many privileges like free accommodation, conveyance, telephone facility, retirement benefits etc.

• Indian Postal Services
  
• Indian Audit and Accounts Services
  
• Indian Defence Accounts Services
  
• Indian Defence Estate Services
  
• Indian Civil Account Services
  
• Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise)
  
• Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax)
  
• Indian Ordinance Factories Service
  
• Indian Information Service
  
• Indian Railway Services
  
• Indian Railway Traffic Service
  
• Indian Railway Accounts Service
  
• Railway Police Force
  
• Indian Railway Personnel Service
  
• Central Trade Service
  
• Posts of Assistant Commandant in the Central Industrial Security Force, etc.
  
• Indian P & T Accounts and Finance Service