The Indian Information Service (IIS) is one of the Group ‘A’ Civil Services options available for candidates who successfully clear the UPSC Civil Service Examination. This is the media wing of the Government of India. They act as the bridge of communication between the Public and the Government of India. It comes under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The role of IIS is to provide advertisements, press releases and disseminate information on behalf of the Government. The IIS officers have to serve duties at different roles and positions.
Eligibility:
The eligibility criteria for the Indian Information Service exam is similar to the other allied Central Government Category ‘A’ Services. Once the candidate qualifies the civil services and gets allotment to the Indian information service as per candidate rank, he/she has to go through specified training.
Training:
After the completion of the entrance examination, the candidates will need to undergo training. The IIS officers’ training is in following three stages:
Stage 1: Foundation Course of 3 months at the LBSNAA.
Stage 2: Probationers undergo training at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (New Delhi) for a duration of 9 months.
Stage 3: Probationers will undergo training for a period of 1 year at various media wings of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
As soon as the Indian Information Service Officer finishes the probationary period, she/he is posted in the media wing of the Indian Government. The following are the various employment opportunities in this field:
- DD News
- All India Radio
- Press Information Bureau
- Registrar of Newspapers for
India
- Directorate of Field Publicity
- Publications Division
- Electronic Media Monitoring
Centre
- New Media Wing of Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting
- Directorate of Advertising and
Visual Publicity
Funtions of IIS Officers:
The following are the key responsibilities:
- Administering, monitoring and coordinating the work of the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
- Controlling, supervising and guiding the news service units including DD News and All India Radio.
- Organising press advertising and visual publicity campaigns for spreading information to the people about the various policies and activities of the government through diverse media.
- Monitoring legal issues involved in the verification of titles, registrations and circulation for newspapers in India.
- Creating, Planning and executing media strategies for the government.
- IIS Officers can also be posted abroad especially in association with Prasar Bharati.
- Officers can be posted to other departments/ministries on deputation. They can also act as Personal Secretaries in the Central Government on a co-terminus basis.
Career
Prospects:
Job in Indian Information Service is full of challenges and growth. If the aspirant fair really well at it, then their chances of making it big are fair enough as they will be involved in dialogue and action with other top-level bureaucrats and diplomats of India. As soon as the Indian Information Service Officer completes probationary period, he/she is posted in the media wing of the Government of India.
- In the initial posting as
Junior Grade Officer – he/she is posted as Assistant Director.
- The first promotion will be to
the role of Deputy Director.
- In the Junior Administrative
Cadre, the position is Joint Director or as the Deputy Secretary to the
Government of India.
- Attain the Post of
Director in Junior Administrative Cadre.
Grade and
Salary:
There is a lot of scope for
promotion in this cadre as the system is well structured with different grades
and pay scale.
Below table gives information on
grades and pay scales of Indian Information Service
|
Grade |
Designation |
Pay Scale |
|
Junior Time Scale |
Assistant Director, ANI, News
Reporter/ Correspondent, Field Publicity Officer, Assistant Regional &
Research Officer, Assistant Director (Monitoring), |
8000-275-13500 |
|
Senior Time Scale |
Assistant Press Registrar, Deputy
Director, Editor, Copy Tester, Research Officer, Campaign Officer, Senior
Correspondent-Cum-Editor, Regional Officer, Public Relations Officer, Officer
On Special Duty, Talks Officers, Public Relations Officer, Special
Correspondent (Abroad), Senior Correspondent |
10650-325-15850 |
|
Junior Administrative Grade |
Joint Director (News), Deputy
Press Registrar, Editor-In-Chief, Special Correspondent (Abroad), Director
(Media), Joint Director, Chief (Media) |
12000-375-16500 |
|
Junior Administrative Grade (NFSG) |
Director |
14300-400-18300 |
|
Senior Administrative Grade |
Director, Registrar Of Newspapers
For India, Special Correspondent (Abroad), Additional Director General (News) |
18400-500-22400 |
|
Higher Administrative Grade |
Director General (News) |
22400-525-24500 |
|
Director-General / Principal
Information Officer |
26000 (Fixed) |