One app for all your study abroad needs
Your cadre allocation is a big part of the IAS journey. It gives you a chance to deeply impact a specific region and contribute to its growth. While you might not get your first choice right away, remember – you’ll be part of a team working towards a bigger goal of a better India! India is divided into administrative groups, like states. Each state (with a few exceptions) is your potential cadre, the place where you’ll spend most of your IAS career. You’ll be working on development, law and order, and making that state a better place. But here’s the twist: You don’t always get to pick your exact state. After you clear the exam, the government assigns your Cadre in IAS based on your rank, vacancies in each state, and sometimes even your home state (if you want to work there). This mix ensures a good spread of officers from different regions.
Table of Contents
Cadre in IAS: Significance
Cadres help you become an expert on your state. You learn the local language, culture, and challenges, making you a more effective problem-solver. It also promotes national integration as officers from different regions work together in various states. Here’s how cadres create a more united India:
- You break out of your comfort zone and learn about other parts of the country, their challenges, and their strengths. No more stereotypes!
- You bring your own experiences and ideas to the table, helping your state team with a new approach. It’s a knowledge exchange for a better India!
- Working together across regions strengthens the feeling of being one nation. You become a team player for all of India, not just your state.
Cadre in IAS: Big Change in Policy
The cadre allocation policy was updated in 2017. Here we have listed the most important points regarding the same:
- Jammu & Kashmir is no longer a separate cadre. This means more flexibility in assigning officers across states.
- Picking your cadre changed. Now, you express your preferences during the UPSC application process, but the final call still depends on factors like your rank and vacancies.
- Filling vacancies is different too. There are now “insider” and “outsider” vacancies. Insider vacancies are for people whose home state is the same as the cadre, and outsider vacancies are for everyone else.
Cadre in IAS: Division of Zones
India is divided into 5 zones for IAS cadre allocation. You can pick your preferred zone and cadre from the list during the UPSC application. This policy applies to IAS, IPS, and IFoS officers. Here’s a table representing the UPSC Cadre Zones for the All India Services:
| Zone | State Cadre |
| Zone 1 | AGMUT, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan |
| Zone 2 | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand |
| Zone 3 | Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh |
| Zone 4 | Tripura, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur |
| Zone 5 | Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
Cadre in IAS: Tips to Remember
Think of India divided into 5 regions. Each region has a bunch of states. You get to pick which regions you prefer, ranking them in order. Then comes the fun part: choosing your dream cadre from each region. It’s like a wishlist, but the final call depends on your rank in the exam and how many openings there are in each state. Here are some key points to remember:
- Be clear about your preferences: The clearer you are about your region and state choices, the better your chances of getting placed where you’d like.
- Don’t worry if it’s not your top choice: If your dream spot isn’t available, the commission will assign you a state based on your rank and vacancies. Don’t worry, every state needs amazing IAS officers!
- Home state love (sometimes): If you want to work in your home state, mention it in your application. But remember, it depends on your rank and openings there.
- Be fair and honest: If you don’t have any specific preferences, that’s okay! Just leave the section blank.
- Physically challenged candidates get a little extra choice: You can pick your dream state from any region (except your home state) on your top preferred region list.
- The whole process might seem complex, but trust the system: They’ll take your preferences into account and place you where you can make the biggest impact. It’s all about finding the perfect fit for you and the country.
Want to See Where This Year’s IAS Officers Are Headed?
The UPSC releases a list every year showing which state (cadre) each new IAS officer is assigned to. Curious to see it? Here’s how to find it:
- Head to the official website: CSE Plus: https://cseplus.nic.in/
- Look under “Announcements.” You should see something about cadre allocation based on the Civil Services exam.
- Click the link, and a new file will open with a big table showing who got assigned where.
- Download the PDF or print it out for future reference! This can be helpful to see where past officers ended up based on their rank.
DOWNLOAD NOW: IAS Cadre Allocation 2022 PDF
Best Cadre for IAS Officer
There isn’t really a single “best” cadre for IAS officers! It all depends on what you’re looking for in your career and life. Here’s how to think about it:
- Do you want a familiar place? Maybe you want to work in your home state and use your local knowledge.
- Are you an adventurer? You might prefer a new state and culture to explore.
- Do you have a specific cause you care about? Some states might have a bigger focus on areas you’re passionate about, like rural development or infrastructure.
The good news is, that you get some say! When you apply for the UPSC exam, you can list your preferences for regions (zones) and even specific states (cadres) within those zones. Here’s the thing: Your final cadre assignment depends on your rank in the exam and how many openings there are in each state. So, be flexible and open to different possibilities. Every state needs amazing IAS officers to make a difference!
RELATED POSTS
FAQs
There are 24 cadres for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The “best” cadre varies based on personal preferences, work opportunities, and lifestyle choices.
Cadres for IAS officers are allocated based on their rank in the Civil Services Examination and their preferences.
The highest post in the IAS cadre is that of the Cabinet Secretary at the Union Government level.
Yes, there are provisions for transfers later in your career, but it’s not that easy. There needs to be a vacancy in your desired state, and approvals are required
This was all about the “Cadre in IAS”. For more such informative blogs, check out our UPSC Exams Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our Indian exams page.