How to Become a Civil Servant?

One of the most respected jobs is that of a Civil Servant in India and lakhs of students choose to pursue civil services every year. However, due to the highly competitive nature of the entrance exams conducted specifically for civil services, only a few students get the opportunity to become one. Those passionate about building a career as civil servants must start preparing right after completing their secondary school education. Most of the aspirants opt for majors such as Political science, Public Administration, Sociology, History, Economics and Philosophy to begin their career in the civil services. Are you planning to become a Civil Servant? Here’s how you can become a civil servant, in India and Abroad.

Types of Civil Services in India

In India, we have three types of Civil Services as depicted in the table below:

All India Civil Services	Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Indian Police Service (IPS) Indian Forest Service (IFoS)
Group A Civil Services	Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS) Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) Indian Information Service (IIS) Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) Indian Communication Finance Services (ICFS) Indian Postal Service (IPoS) Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Indian Trade Service (ITS) Railway Protection Force (RPF)
Group B Civil Services	Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service DANICS DANIPS Pondicherry Civil Service Pondicherry Police Service

How to Begin your Career as a Civil Servant in India?

To begin your career as a Civil Servant, you must opt for the arts stream after completing your secondary education. i.e. Class X in India. While pursuing higher secondary education i.e. class XII you should start preparing for civil services exams i.e. UPSC because you need to pass and score high in the civil services exam to become a civil servant in India. 

After completing your higher secondary education, get a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Public Administration or related subjects and prepare for UPSC alongside. You can also opt for a postgraduate degree in Public Policy, Public Administration and Political Science. However, you are still eligible for taking the UPSC exam with a bachelor’s degree only.

Keeping in mind the competitive nature of UPSC, preparations must be started from class X or even before. Clearing the UPSC can get you a Civil Servant in India for the following popular civil services:

• Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
• Indian Police Services (IPS
• Indian Revenue Services (IRS) 
• Indian Foreign Services (IFS)

Here’s all you need to know about UPSC

Best Courses to Become a Civil Servant

After completing your higher secondary education, you must choose an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Course that fits the best for you. Here’s a list of courses you can choose from to become a Civil Servant:

• BA in Political Science
• BA in Public Policy and Administration
• MA in Public Administration
• MA in Political Science
• PhD in Political Science
• PhD in Public Administration

Skills Required to Become a Civil Servant

Apart from your educational qualifications, you must also possess some skills required to excel in this field. Here are some of the skills you need to become a Civil Servant:

• You must have exceptional organisation and negotiating skills
• You must have the ability to work independently
• You must have a great team working and leadership qualities
• You must have effective communication skills, both written and oral
• You must be a great decision-maker with logical and analytical thinking
• You must be committed to the betterment of the country
• You must be enthusiastic about politics, current affairs and policy issues.

How to Become a Civil Servant Abroad?

To become a Civil Servant abroad in countries like Canada, the USA or the UK, you can opt for an Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy or related subjects. Here’s a list of the top universities offering courses for civil services abroad: 

University	Course Name
Harvard Kennedy School	Master in Public Administration
York University	Bachelor of Public AdministrationMaster of Public Policy, Administration and Law
University of Alberta	Master of Business Administration with Specialization in Public Policy and Management (Business)
University of Winnipeg	Master of Public Administration
University of York	MA Public Administration and public policy
University of Birmingham	Master of Public Administration
University of Southampton	Master of Public Administration
De Montfort University	BA (Hons) Public Administration and Management
University of South Florida	Bachelor of General Studies – Public Administration
North Illinois University	BA in Political Science – Public Administration and Service
London School of Economics	Master of Public Administration
University of Exeter	Master of Public Administration

Admission Requirements

General Criteria for pursuing a course related to Civil Services abroad is as mentioned:

• You must have completed your Higher Secondary Education with good grades.

• For postgraduate courses, you must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in India.

• You must prove your English Language Proficiency through tests such as IELTS TOEFL PTE. 

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How Much Does a Civil Servant Earn?

The salary of a Civil Servant depends upon experience and position. The average salary in India for a Civil Servant such as an IAS or IPS is INR 56,100 and can go up to INR 2,50,000 per month. 

The average salary of a Civil Servant in various countries abroad is as mentioned below:

Country	Average Salary per annum	In INR
USA	USD 86,157	65,80,675
UK	£32,221	32,01,042
Canada	CAD 76,212	46,11,173

How to Apply?

To apply for any of the above-mentioned courses, you can begin by contacting Leverage Edu who will further start with your application process by shortlisting your Civil Services course through  AI Course Finder. Contact us at 1800 572 000 and our Student Counselors at Leverage Edu will help you start with the application process now!

FAQs

This was all you needed to know about becoming a Civil Servant in India and Abroad. Do you want to pursue your higher studies abroad in Political Science, Public Policy or Public Administration? Reach out to Leverage Edu and we’ll provide you with assistance regarding your study abroad journey.