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Indian Economic Service

  • Every year UPSC conducts the Indian Economic Service Examination. 
  • Selected Candidates get  to be a part of formulation and implementation of government policies. 

Want to serve the nation through economics, we at Ecoholics, provide thorough guidance to crack Indian Economics Service (IES) conducted every year by UPSC. In any capacity it is considered a matter of pride to serve the nation. With IES, UPSC selects individuals, who can use their knowledge of economics to serve by helping in creating policies. IES officers also help in their successful implementation. 

At Ecoholics, leveraging on our years of experience and success record help in creating IES officers from economics students. Our comprehensive approach includes detailed course materials, test series and interview preparation. We feel that a strategic approach can be the difference between success and failure.

Understanding the Indian Economic Service (IES) Examination

The Indian Economics Service is a ‘Group A’ Central Service constituted in 1961, and operationalized in 1964. The selected officers are expected to leverage their knowledge in helping various vertices. Including, providing economics analysis and advice in designing and formulating government policies. Also, strengthening the delivery systems and monitoring & evaluation of the public programs run by the Government of India. 

How did the Indian Economic Service come into Existence?

The first Prime Minister of India, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru is credited for conceiving the idea of Indian Economic Service (IES), to formulate and implement economic policies and programs in the country. After India gained independence in 1947, the economic reconstruction and development was a major roadblock. There was a huge gap between formulation and implementation. We lacked considerably in both fields. 

Hence Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru envisioned the creation of a separate cadre of economists to fuel the development of the country. The Union Public Service Commission was given the responsibility to directly recruit officers for various positions in the IES. This exam provides an opportunity to be involved in policy making and economic interaction in India, and having a high position is an added bonus.  

IES - Exam Pattern and Structure

Similar to other government and other public service commission examinations, IES follows a pattern and structure. As explained below.

Structure of IES:

 

Exam

Indian Economic Service

Conducted By

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Frequency

One a Year (June / July)

Exam Mode

Pen & Paper Based (Offline)

No. of Attempts

No Limit

Age Limit

30 (Unreserved)

Duration

3 Days

Vacancies 

32 (Tentative)

Test Centers

19

Registrations

Over 2,00,000 (approx.)

Official Website

 
Pattern of IES:
 

Note: The UPSC tends to make changes in the exam pattern from time to time. Candidates are advised to refer to the official website for the details. 

How to Crack the Indian Economic Service (IES)?

Similar to every other government exam, a strong and well planned strategy is required to crack the Indian Economic Service (IES). A meticulously planned approach should be followed for better results. Our experts at Ecoholics have years of experience in the field. Planning, Preparation, Perseverance, Dedication and Willingness to go that extra mile is all you need. 

Know Your Syllabus In & Out:

Before going all in, and diving into the pool of complex books and terminologies, understanding the syllabus and exam pattern is a must. Before deciding your strategic approach, mode of study, and time table, knowing the syllabus is a prerequisite. 

Placing your current knowledge, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, alongside the aforementioned pattern and syllabus should help you in formulating your roadmap to success. We at Ecoholics already have a well crafted, tried and tested methodology covering topics, and timely tests for each topic for better understanding. 

Consistency is the Key:

Dedication  & perseverance is the key to success in any such examination, candidates are expected to put daily efforts without any cheat day. When going through a complex topic feels overwhelming, reading lighter topics or going through other materials should keep the wheel running. Keep in mind, Study, Understand, Implement, Repeat.

Short and To the Point Notes:

At times the syllabus might seem like a never ending  möbius strip, but breaking down the points into palatable chunks would be really helpful. Well organised, concise, and short notes should work as a key to revising this huge syllabus on the go. Also, note making is an art, make sure you gain expertise in this art.

Work on making a Strong Foundation:

Having your basics clear and strong can be vital in your selection. It would help in better understanding of the topic, and should greatly cut the time in covering its vastness. Clear your doubts with our experts and mentors, and build a strong foundation by referring to NCERTs. We start from the basics and switch to advanced levels, the unlimited doubt clearing option has helped countless candidates.

Stay Updated & Practice Hard:

Candidates are expected to stay updated with what’s  going around, reading prominent newspapers  daily will help in stage II (interview) of the IES. Committee would be happy with your up-to-date  knowledge. Solving previous year question (PYQs) papers should make  the candidate well versed with the exam pattern, and the requirements of IES.

INDIAN ECONOMIC SERVICE EXAM 2024 APPLICATION FORM:

  1. Candidates are required to fill the application form for the Indian Economic Service which is available from the official website of the Union Public Service Commission.
  2.  Check the instructions before you fill the application form.
  3.  Once you are through with filling out the personal and other details, scan the recent photograph as well as signature.
  4.  Don’t forget to pay the application fee.
  5.  Most importantly, take a print out of the application form and challan also for further reference.
  6.  While filling the application form online, the candidate will automatically get the registration number and after filling the challan number and the registration number, press enter to end the process.

UPSC INDIAN ECONOMIC SERVICE 2024 APPLICATION FEE:

  1.  The cost of the Indian Economics Service application fee will be Rs 200/- for General/OBC candidates.
  2.  SC/ST/PH /female candidates are exempted from paying the application fee.
  3. Mode of payment can be a credit card, debit card or internet banking.
  4.  You can also make payment via offline mode using e-challan through any branch of SBI.

How can Ecoholics help in Fulfilling your dream to be an IES Officer?

Ecoholic is the one-stop solution for everything required to clear the examination. Our dedicated team of experts and years of experience should suffice in fulfilling your dream. We provide three Ts, the basic building blocks, Test papers of previous year, Test Series and Teaching experts. These experts are here to help you understand the intricacies of the subject, they would enhance your knowledge and understanding of the topics. 

 

Connecting complex topics with a real life scenario is considered to be the best mode of understanding. We apply a similar procedure, aligned with one-to-one mentorship and doubt-clearing sessions. Test series and study material arrives at your doorstep, and knowledge is at your fingertips. We at Ecoholics are happy to help you achieve your dream and dedicated to provide India with the best economics experts.  



Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

An IES aspirant must possess a Postgraduate degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Business Economics, or Econometrics from a recognized Indian University. Deemed to be a university, or a foreign university approved by the Central Government of India from time to time. 

Also, the aspirant must be a citizen of India or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962. He/she can also be a person from Indian origin who migrated to India from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or Eastern African countries with the intention of permanently settling in India. 

Aspirants must belong to the age group of 21 to 30 years as on August 1 of the year of examination. However, there are exceptions for certain categories of candidates.

The role of an Indian Economic Service (IES) officer can be categorised as imperative for economic development of the country. IES officer provides economic advice, helps in economic administration, development, monitoring and implementation of economic programmes. 

 

They also work closely with economic reforms, regulation, price fixation, monitoring and evaluation. IES officers assist the Ministry of Finance in preparing annual and periodic statements compatible with the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management of the nation. They practically spearhead the reforms and innovations in the economic domain as per the vision of the government. 

An Indian Economic Service officer has bright career prospects. They can work in various domestic and international organisations like the UN bodies, foreign governments, state governments and other regulatory bodies. An IES officer can also get promoted to higher grades and designations like Deputy Director, Assistant Economic Advisor, Senior Research Officer, Director,Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, etc.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Indian Economic Service cut off is announced after considering various factors. The difficulty level of the exam, the number of candidates appeared in the exam, current vacancies for IES, also what the previous year’s cut off was.

The  salary structure for an Indian Economic Service (IES) officer in 2023 is based on the post of the candidate and area of designation. The Junior Time Scale Officer / Assistant Director / Research Officer pay scale is INR 15,600 – 39,100 plus Grade Pay: 5,400. Beyond this the officers are provided with Dearness allowance, Travel Allowance, and HRA. 

 

Note: This salary scale can change from time to time.

Both Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS) come under administrative inter-ministerial civil services of the Indian government’s executive branch. Since the inception of economic reforms in 1991, the area of analysing and providing recommendations within the service area have multiplied. Moreover it has expanded into a regulatory role of the government. 

Originally the Indian Economic Service exam was introduced for formulating and implementing economic policies and programmes of India. In the case of Indian Statistical Service, all the statistical posts of different ministries and departments were amalgamated together in the initial constitution of the service.

Important Books for Indian Economic Service Exam