Indian Economic Service: An Opportunity to Reshape the Economy

• Indian Economic Service offers a chance to contribute to a country’s economy  in a unique way. 
• UPSC conducts the IES examination to select brilliant minds in the field of economy.

Serving the nation is a matter of pride, more so if it has large scale implications, the Indian Economics Service (IES) allows you the option. Every year the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts IES examination to select candidates well versed in the knowledge of economics. The prestigious examination let selected individuals to be a part of formulation & implementation of government policies. Indian Economic Service

Understanding the Nuances of Indian Economic Service

The Indian Economic Service is an inter-ministerial and inter-departmental service envisioned by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India. It is a ‘Group A’ central service constituted in 1961 and operationalised in 1964. It selects the candidates to work on posts in Ministries & Departments that deal with economics & social sectors. 

The cadre of IES holds a unique position in the Public Service Commission realm. Mainly because its posts are included within the Planning Commission. Selected individuals are called IES officers and specifically address a plethora of subjects including the following. 

IES officers have to leverage their knowledge of economics in facilitating development issues in various sectors. Contributing to policy-making in the Central Government throughout their tenure comes under job description. The IES cadre serves as a knowledge pool of experts having deep knowledge of economics. They are expected to use their analytical skills and experience for making policies for the government. 

Apart from working for the government, the candidates are also deputed to serve various domestic and international organisations. Reputed bodies like the United Nations, foreign and state governments and other regulatory bodies opt for the expertise of IES officers. They can also be seen working under Central Ministries & departments under the Central Staffing Schemes. 

The Examination Pattern of Indian Economic Service

Every year between June & July the UPSC board conducts the direct recruitment examination known as the Indian Economic Service. The details regarding the examination including application dates, application form, results etc are released by the UPSC from time to time on their official website or trusted sources. 

Along with the examination dates they also release the number of vacancies to be filled. Moreover the examination pattern is explained below. 

There are two stages of the UPSC IES examination, as explained below. 

Stage-I: Written Examination.

Candidate is judged on the basis of marks obtained in Paper-I which is worth 200 marks, and is divided into General Studies for 100 marks and General English for 100 Marks. Paper-II is worth 800 marks and is divided into 4. General Economics I,II & III for 200 marks each followed by Indian Economics for 200 Marks. 

It should be noted that these 6 papers are conducted in 2 sessions each for three days and the candidate gets three hours to solve. 

Stage -II: Interview

Selected candidates then become eligible for the final stage, the Personality Test or the Interview. The panel would judge the candidates based on their mental ability and acumen required to become an IES officer. It should be noted that the interview is more of a conversation rather than a strict session to assess the candidate. 

The Eligibility Criteria to Apply for the Indian Economic Service Examination

The Cadre Controlling Authority has released a list of eligibility criteria required to appear for the Indian Economic Service Examination. 

• The candidate’s age should be a minimum of 21 years and maximum of 30 years on August 1 of the year of application. If there are any changes in this range it will be notified on the website. 
• Candidates’ date of birth must be mentioned in either matriculation & secondary school leaving certificate. Or in a certificate issued by an Indian University as equivalent to matriculation. 
• Or, in the extract from the Register of Matriculates maintained by the University of  Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination authority. 
• However these certificates are to be submitted only after the declaration of these documents is required after declaration of results of the written papers.  

Tips to Clear the Indian Economic Service Examination

Clearing the IES examination requires a strong strategy and dedication. Plus if an aspiring candidate follows the points mentioned below, they can increase their chances of becoming an IAS Officer. 

They must know the syllabus like the back of their hand. Understanding the nuances and details of the syllabus and subject matter helps in devising the study plans. Moreover, candidates are required to be consistent and dedicated towards covering the whole syllabus beforehand and making sure they have ample time for multiple revisions. 

Preparing short and concise notes could be very helpful during revision and retaining the knowledge at a glance. An IES officer will have to leverage the knowledge of economics for reshaping the economy of the country hence the strong basics are a must. One should clear all the doubts and refer to prescribed study materials only. 

Aspiring candidates are also advised to be updated with current affairs for the interview. Overall a thorough knowledge of economics and the understanding of using that knowledge at the moment required is among the prerequisites of an IES officer. 

Work Profile of an Indian Economic Service Officer?

The cadre of Indian Economics Services select the candidates for either of the following roles.

• Economic Advice. 
• Economic Administration. 
• Implementation of Development POlicy & Programmes. 
• Economic Reform Regulation. 
• Price Fixation, Monitoring & Evaluation. 

In this rapidly evolving world, the potential to influence policy making and implementation can be very crucial.  IES Officers have the opportunity to contribute their knowledge in policy making and implementation. They gain exposure to nearly every sector and act as a crucial link between policy making, decision making across the sectors. They can be said to act  as an irreplaceable linkage between the economic reforms and their implementations.