It is a well-known fact that government jobs provide much more security as compared to private-sector jobs and that is the #1 reason why people prefer working for the government apart from the prestige of serving the country. Besides government jobs usually provide a better benefits package although the private sector is catching up in that arena. Many candidates prefer the slow but steady growth in government institutions to the fast-paced corporate life. For those who wish to serve the country here are some of the top public sector jobs in India both in terms of prestige and pay packet –
Indian Foreign Services
Indian Foreign Services is a body of diplomats who represent the country in various international locations, events, and missions. Internally, the body reports to the Ministry of External Affairs and sometimes directly to the Prime Minister’s office. The body also heads the regional Passport Office network throughout the country.
Selection for the IFS is done through the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). Selected officers are subjected to rigorous training first at Missouri and then at Delhi followed by a year of probation before receiving their first posting. While the training includes foreign tours, after completion of the training the officers must serve at a desk job and study one compulsory foreign language before embarking on an independent foreign assignment.
A new IFS cadet can expect a starting salary upward of INR 50000 a month along with perks such as free accommodation at the place of posting, admission of children to nearest public school, travel expenses, and more.
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All India Services of Government of India
The All India Services (AIS) of the Government of India (GoI) include three major branches – the IAS (Indian Administrative Services) IPS (Indian Police Services) and IFoS (Indian Forest Services) – also called the three pillars of the Indian Administration. Together these three arms of the AIS provide administrative services to the ruling political party while remaining neutral themselves. The AIS is considered among the most prestigious jobs in the country. Besides facilitating government administration and policymaking, the responsibilities of the AIS also encompass the responsibilities of its three branches.
Recruitment is done by the UPSC based on a competitive examination. Earlier, three different exams were conducted for each of the three branches but after the Kothari Report 1976, a single exam is conducted since 1979. A candidate should be at least 21 years old and the maximum age for taking the exam is 26. You can only take the exam 3 times. You must qualify in the preliminary exam to be eligible for UPSC Mains.
Once you clear the mains, the criteria for service allocation is as under:
- Your rank in the mains
- Your order of preference selected at the time of application
- Your category – whether or not you belong to a reserved category
- Available posts or vacancies
- Your medical health status – candidates must undergo a health check-up after clearing the exam and before receiving posting.
No changes are permitted once you’ve selected your preferences at the time of application. You should therefore select wisely and fill in all questions in this regard to be sure your choices are communicated correctly. It is possible that if you have not answered all questions, the choices that you have made may not be considered. Clearing the mains and health screening does not guarantee selection.
Indian Defence Services
Operating under the Ministry of Defence, the defence is among the oldest government departments in India. It comprises three main branches – the army, the navy, and the air force – defending the country on land, water and air. It is a matter of pride for the youth to be defending their country so here’s what you need to know about this prestigious posting.
You are eligible to join the Indian Defence services if you are an Indian national or a migrant from Burma, Pakistan, or certain East African countries. To appear for the UPSC preliminary exam you should be the holder of a degree from a recognized university or equivalent qualification. You can take the preliminary exam even if you are yet to appear for the final exam – that is you are in your final year of a degree course – but you should have completed your degree to be eligible for UPSC civil service exam. You can also apply if you have a technical qualification from a recognized institution or its equivalent. MBBS candidates awaiting internship may also apply as long as you have your University degree. You should be between 21 – 30 years of age and 1st August is usually the cut-off date in this regard. Depending upon your category, you can get relaxation in the age limit of about 3 – 9 years. The number of attempts allowed is also incumbent upon your category.
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ISRO / DRDO
ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) and DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) are government bodies that conduct research. The former – ISRO – researches space while the latter – DRDO – researches defence of the country.
Both bodies employ engineering graduate scientists to work with them. The eligibility criteria for the two organizations are as under:
Upper Age Limit – 28 for DRDO and 35 for ISRO.
Qualification for ISRO – Bachelors in Engineering or Technology (BE or B.Tech) with specialization in Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, or Computer Science from a recognized university with at least 65% score or a CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 6.84 on 10. Diploma holders are also eligible as are candidates in their final year of graduation as long as they secure the minimum required scoring. Postgraduates can apply provided their bachelor’s grades match the required criteria.
Qualification for DRDO – A bachelor’s Degree in Science, or a 3-year Diploma in Engineering or Technology or Computer Science or allied subjects from a recognised Institute. Students who have passed their 10th standard may apply for the role of technician to gain entry into the organization. You can also apply if you have a valid GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) score in the same year as the recruitment is conducted.
Recruitment for the 13 ISRO centres across the country is done by the ISRO Centralized Recruitment Board (ICRB). While there is no exam for recruitment per se, students from IIST (Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology) with a CGPA of 7.5 or more are preferred.
The Centre for Personnel Talent Management (CEPTAM) manages recruitment for DRDO.
Indian Judiciary System
The highest level in the Indian Judiciary system is the Chief Justice of the supreme court. However, there are many other opportunities such as working for the public prosecutor or the public defender departments. To apply to this office you must have completed your bachelors in law (LLB) or masters in law (LLM) with an aggregate score of over 55% (subject to change) and clear the UPSC examination. Some work experience is also required before you can apply to become a public prosecutor. Promotions and growth are political but speedy and you can eventually apply to the judiciary.
Careers for Commerce Graduates
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CAG
The office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has been established under the Constitution of India and empowered with auditing the accounts of the central and state governments as well as those of any PSUs and autonomous bodies funded by the government. If you are a B.Com graduate and wish to work in the office of the CAG you will have to clear the SAS (Subordinate Audit/Accounts Services) exam. You would be eligible for this exam only if you have completed a minimum of 2 full years (earlier 3) in one of the following capacities in an Accounts or Audits office:
- Clerk (Pay Level 2)/ Accountant (Pay Level 5)/ Sr. Accountant (Pay Level 6) in an Accounts Office.
- Clerk (Pay Level 2)/ Auditor (Pay Level 5)/ Sr. Auditor (Pay Level 6) in an Audit Office.
- Data Entry Operator Grade ‘A’ (Pay Level 4)
- Data Entry Operator Grade ‘B’ (Pay Level 5)
- Data Entry Operator Grade ‘D’ (Pay Level 6)
- Divisional Accountant (Pay Level 6) and Divisional Accounts Officer Grade-II (Pay Level 7) under the administrative control of a Principal Accountant General/Accountant General(A&E).
- Junior Translator (Pay Level 6)
- Private Secretary (PS) (Pay Level 7)
- Senior Translator (Pay Level 7)
- Stenographer Grade-I (Pay Level 6)
- Stenographer Grade-II (Pay Level 4)
- Supervisor (Pay Level 8)
The entry-level job for the CAG office is Assistant Audit Officer. Growth is speedy and after passing through 4 or 5 levels you can reach the level of second in command. With that said, there are of course eligibility criteria for promotion including reservations.
Banks and PSU
You can also apply for jobs in PSU (Public Sector Undertakings) in the banking and finance sector such as with the Life Insurance Corporation, General Insurance Corporation, nationalized banks or RBI. Each of these institutions conducts recruitment exams almost every year depending upon the vacancies.
If you are aspiring for officer level posts you should be at least 21 years of age and not more than 30 years old. You should also have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Age grouping for clerical level is 20-28.
Relaxations are available for special categories.
The career path in financial PSUs is clearly defined and you can appear for internal exams to rise to the higher echelons within the institution. Pay rise is automatic so that even if you do not move up to the next level, you can still expect financial growth.
Within banks – both public and private – it is mandatory to move an official after he has put in 3 years at one place. For the clerical or administrative staff, this limit is 5 years.
Other government bodies like railways and municipalities also conduct examinations for recruitment. Graduation is now the minimum criterion for most government bodies. Relaxations are available for special categories in all government institutions both at the time of recruitment as well as at the time of promotion.
If you are aspiring to work for the GoI, you should complete your graduation from a recognized university and score at least 50% – although many government bodies do not require a minimum score and some may have a slightly higher cutoff. But scoring 50% and above is generally a safe bet .
With that said, if you would like to know more about any particular institution or job profile in more detail do let us know in the comments or join us on Facebook for a discussion. You can also write to us at contat@blogyourniches.com. And don’t forget to sign up for your weekly update and offers.