Options worth exploring : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

LESSER KNOWN GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Options worth exploring

A government job is among the most coveted in the country. The status, the power, position, and the bati-wali gadi aura attracts the brightest and the best, and lakhs of students sit for the UPSC competitive exams for a career in the civil services aiming for IAS, IFS or IPS.

Options worth exploring


Usha Albuquerque

A government job is among the most coveted in the country. The status, the power, position, and the bati-wali gadi aura attracts the brightest and the best, and lakhs of students sit for the UPSC competitive exams for a career in the civil services aiming for IAS, IFS or IPS. But apart from these 'elite' choices there are many other government services that offer   similar importance, attractive postions, career growth and remuneration. 

Indian Forest Service

The Indian Forest Service, is one of the 32 Civil Services, but relatively less popular, as there is a separate examination for entry. Officers of the Indian Forest service play an important role in the supervision and management of forests. This involves protection of the existing forests and wastelands, protecting wildlife, and verifying the cutting of trees where necessary. Other areas of work include agro-forestry - planting of trees in agricultural areas; farm forestry- planting of trees in farms; community forestry - plantation in villages; ornamental forestry - for decorative purposes; urban forestry - planting of trees in  town and cities and in research and training. Of increasing importance in recent years has been the development of forests and wildlife sanctuaries in order to protect whatever flora and fauna that still exists and can be nurtured, and to encourage tourism.  Various non-governmental as well as governmental and international organisations employ forestry experts as consultants in spreading awareness regarding the deterioration of the forest cover, and for the preservation of forest resources. Forestry officials also work as industrial and agricultural consultants in various organisations, and as financial consultants in forestry organisations.

Getting in

Entry to the Indian Forest Service is through the UPSC exam but different to the papers set for the other civil services. Here the requirement is a bachelor's degree in Science and an entrance exam which includes a paper in science. Those selected are called for a personality test and interview, followed by a medical and endurance test. The latter checks the candidate's physical fitness and stamina for a service which will require much outdoor activity. Those who qualify and are selected for the Indian Forest Service will work as Forest Officers in the forest areas, with Forest Development Corporations as well as with the Ministry of Environment and Forests after the initial training. Selected candidates are sent for foundation training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, which is followed by specialised orientation for the Forest Service at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy with inputs on wildlife management, tribal welfare, soil conservation, forest management, engineering survey and weapon handling. After this comes field training in the particular state to which the candidate is allotted.

Forestry is the ideal career for those who love nature, especially forests and have a commitment to conservation. However, it is a tough job requiring physical and mental alertness, a spirit of adventure, a scientific temperament, curiosity, practicality and patience.

The Indian Economic Service

If you enjoy number crunching and economics is your favourite subject, you would do well to look at a career in the Indian Economic Service. 

The Indian Economic Service (IES) is a distinct cadre of Group 'A' Service government officers, specifically for economic specialists who play an important role in advising the government on all economic matters concerning the country. IES is a central government service involved in economic planning and analysis through state boards, planning commission and other government owned bodies in the country. They are concerned with the organization, utilization and distribution of productive and financial recourses nationally and internationally, by studying political, industrial and social relationships. 

Trained in economic analysis, policy formulation and its implementation, the officers of the IES provide economic advice and economic administration, and are involved in implementation of development programmes, besides dealing with other areas such as economic reforms, regulation, price fixation, and monitoring and evaluation. 

Getting in 

You can join the Indian Economic Service through the Indian Economic Services Exam conducted along with the Indian Statistical Services exam by the Union Public Service Commission  to recruit Grade IV officers for the Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Services (ISS). You also require a postgraduate degree in economics/applied economics, business economics/isometrics. If you hold a postgraduate degree in statistics/applied statistics then you are eligible to apply for the ISS — but you can only apply for any one of these services.

The selection process consists of a written examination followed by a personal interview for those who qualify in the written exam.

The written examination covers 6 papers and carries a maximum of 1,000 marks. For the IES, papers are: general economics I, II and III and Indian economics, apart from English and general studies. The economics papers tests you on your knowledge of economics at the master's degree level.

Those who clear the written examination are called by the Commission for an interview which aims to assess the suitability of a candidate for the service.

As an officer of the Indian Economic Service (IES) you can be posted to major cities, commercial centres, working in the planning boards, departments of institutional finance, commerce, economic affairs, industry, agriculture, stock exchanges, etc. Once selected you will start as an Assistant Director in the service and over the years your career can take you up to Additional Secretary level in the Government of India. Postings in the service can include those in the Niti Ayog, Labour Bureau, Central Electricity Authority, as Economic Advisers to many ministries, Forward Market Commission, Tariff Commission, the National Sample Survey Organization., Central Statistical Organisation and other allied offices where specialists in Economics are required. You could also go on deputation to different agencies of United Nations, or other international organisations. Senior positions in banks and financial institutions have also been held by officers of the IES. 

Strong analytical skills, a balanced judgment, scrupulous attention to detail, ability to explain and analyse complex research findings and an ability to work both independently and as a team  is important for successful adjustment in the service. 

Geological Survey of India 

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is a government organisation under the Ministry of Mines responsible for conducting geological surveys and studies. GSI is the premier organisation which provides basic earth science data to other government organisations, industries and other geoscientific institutions. 

The principal function of GSI is to create and update geo-scientific data, conduct mineral resource assessment, air-borne and marine surveys and multifarious geotechnical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seismotectonics, etc. and to nurture studies on fundamental research in all the developmental facets of the country including coal, steel, cement, metals/ minerals and power industries.  

The GSI has its headquarters at Kolkata, six Regional offices at Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata and offices in almost all states of the country.  From the early days when much of this data collection was done travelling on bullock cart, or trudging  on foot to remote areas, today much has been acheieved through satellite mapping, digitised maps and mobile telephony.  The Systematic Geological Mapping on 1:50,000 scale of the entire country is almost complete, providing maps which can be used for various purposes like identify areas with potential for mineral exploration, environmental studies like health hazards associated with trace element accumulation in soils and  impact on agriculture.

— The writer is Director, Career Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi


Indian Engineering Services

Indian Engineering Services (IES) refer to the services that cater to the technical and managerial functions of the Government of India. Officers of the Indian Engineering Services manage activities in diverse areas. Given the extent of tasks and functions managed by the government, this extends to a fairly broad segment of the economy covering the railways, roads, defense, manufacturing, inspection, supply, construction, public works, power, telecommunications, and so on. Most of the IES officers are associated with the public sector units including roads, railways, inspection, manufacturing, power, public works, and telecommunication. 

The nature of work performed by these officers largely depends on their engineering branch and the service or cadre they are recruited in. However, they can move to any cadre, organisation, agency, department, ministry or PSU of the Government of India.

Getting in

A national-level combined four-stage competitive examination (comprising six tests), called the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) is conducted by the UPSC for recruitment to the Indian Engineering Services in the following categories — civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics and telecommunication engineering.  All those who qualify in the written examination are called for the personal interview.  

Candidates require to have at least a bachelor’s degree in Engineering (BE/BTech) from a recognised university or equivalent.  An MSc degree or its equivalent with Wireless Communications, Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering as special subjects is also acceptable for certain services/posts only. Candidates are required to give their preference for different service of different category during filling online application form. Candidates can apply only one of the above mentioned category.. 

Those who have cleared the Indian Engineering Services Exam, can seek recruitment  in various departments of the government  according to their engineering specialisation and on the basis of their rank and industrial experience. 

According to the vacancies they can be selected into the Indian Railway Service, Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Central Engineering Service (Roads), Central Water Engineering Service, Border Roads Engineering Service, P&T Building Works, Indian Defence Service of Engineers, Military Engineer Service, Central Power Engineering Service, Indian Inspection Service, Indian Supply Service, Indian Telecommunication Service, Indian Radio Regulatory Service, and others.

Candidates are placed as Assistant Executive Engineer in various organisations at the time of selection. 

After three to four years of service, they can work in the post of Executive Engineer which is equivalent to Under Secretary. Those with 20 years of service are promoted to the post of Chief Engineer level-1(equivalent to Joint Secretary to Government of India), and can rise to Chairman, Director General or as Secretary to the Government of India


Getting in

The UPSC Geologists Examination is conducted every year to select candidates for Geologist Group A post in Geological Survey of India and Jr. Hydro geologists (Scientist B), Group A and Assistant Hydro geologists Group B posts in Central Ground Water Board. The written test is  followed by an interview or personality test.  

Educational qualifications required for this service  include: 

Master’s degree in Geology/Applied Geology or Marine Geology from a recognised university; Diploma of Associate ship in Applied Geology of Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad; Master's degree in Mineral exploration from a recognised university (for posts in GSI) master’s degree in Hydrogeology from a recognised university (for posts in CGWB). 

 Newly recruited officers can be selected for the Geological Survey of India or the  Central Ground Water Boar. They have to undergo intense 11-month training, an Orientation Course for Geologists (OCG) held at different training centers  with the main objective to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and field training.  Today there are 12 field training centers (FTC), and geologists are divided into different groups and rotated in such a way that all the officers get trained at different training centers. 

Those  who join this service start as Group A officers, and Geologist (Jr) and then are  promoted as Geologists (Sr) and subsequently as Supdt. Geol (Superintending Geologist) and then Director (G) and Deputy Director General, with the Central Ground Water Board and the Geological Survey of India. Coal India, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation, Mineral Exploration Authority, Hindustan Zinc and many other organizations also offer excellent job opportunities for the Geologists. The Defence and Para-military forces also utilise the services of Geologists.

In addition to these services, there are many other government services which you can apply for. You are paid according to the salary grades fixed by the Government of India and with the recently announced Seventh Pay commission this means good salaries and allowances. In addition,  you are entitled to benefits and facilities such as health care, educational facilities for the children, in some cases housing, travel and many other allowances.

So if you are looking for a career with government there are many different options other than the very competitive Civil Services. 

Top News

Mukhtar Ansari was subjected to slow poisoning in jail: Son

Mukhtar Ansari was subjected to slow poisoning in jail: Son

Ansari's post-mortem to be conducted in UP by panel of five ...

High alert across Uttar Pradesh after gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's death

High alert across Uttar Pradesh after gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's death

Umar Ansari alleged that his father was subjected to slow po...

10 killed as SUV falls into gorge in J-K’s Ramban

10 killed as SUV falls into gorge in J-K’s Ramban

The vehicle was on its way from Srinagar to Jammu

Mohali police arrest 3 members of Chaura Madhre gang

Mohali police arrest 3 members of Chaura Madhre gang

They are Lovejit Khakh, Gursewak Bamb and Bahadur Khan


Cities

View All