Career as Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES)

 

The Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) is one of the Group ‘A’ services options available for candidates who have successfully cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination. IDES cadre officers work at the Defence Estates Organization (DEO) whose primary mandate is to manage and administer the civil affairs of cantonments and defence land in the country. This article provides the service profile of the IDES.

Functions:

1. Managing the defence lands.
2. Administering the Cantonment Boards.
3. Developing Cantonments and ensuring health care for all residents, quality schools for all children, social care system for the elderly, differently-abled and the underprivileged sections of society.
4. Conducting a regular survey of defence lands.
5. Acquiring, hiring and requisitioning immovable properties for defence purposes.
6. Conducting regular audits of defence land.
7. Maintaining and updating accurate and digitised records of land.
8. Preventing and removing encroachments and unauthorized constructions on defence land.
9. Disposing defence land.
10. Handling litigation regarding ownership of defence land.
11. Advising the Defence Ministry on matters regarding Cantonments and defence land.
12. Supervising the implementation of the Cantonments Act 2006.

Training:

The officers undergo training at the National Institute Defence Estates Management (NIDEM) at Delhi.

Organisation Structure:

The Directorate General of IDES is situated in Delhi Cantonment. This is the Headquarters. The Directorate General is headed by the Director-General of Defence Estates (head of the IDES). Here there is one Senior Additional Director General and four Additional Director Generals, in charge of specific divisions. In the final tier of IDES structure, there are 62 cantonments each of which is headed by a Chief Executive Officer.

Career Prospects:

1. Opportunity for deputation with Central Government.
2. Opportunity to work with State Governments

Grade & Pay Scales:

This is not a very large group “A” civil service cadre like its counterparts. However, it has a very structured grade and respective pay scales associated with it.

Below table gives extensive details on grade and pay scale of IDES cadre

Grade	Designation in Directorate	Designation in Directorate General	Pay Scale
Junior Time Scale	Assistant Director	Assistant Director-General	15,600 – 39,100 + Grade Pay 5400
Senior Time Scale	Deputy Director	Assistant Director-General	15,600 – 39,100 + Grade Pay 6600
Junior Administration Grade (Ordinary)	Joint Director	Deputy Director-General	15,600 – 39,100 + Grade Pay 7600
Junior Administrative Grade (Selection)	Joint Director	Deputy Director-General	37,400 – 67,000 + Grade Pay 8700
Senior Administrative Grade	Director	Additional Director General	37,400 – 67,000 + Grade Pay 10,000
Higher Administrative Grade	Principal Director	Senior Additional Director General	67,000 – 79,000
Secretary-level Post	——	Director-General Defence Estates	80,000

 

 

Continue Reading

Career as Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)

 

The Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) comes under Group ‘A’, one of the career options available for successful candidates of UPSC civil services examination. This service is responsible for the accounting functions of the defence department. The Controller General of Defence Accounts is the head of the Defence Accounts Department.

Functions:

The main function is to provide financial advice, payment, and internal auditing and accounting functions for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ordnance Factories, Canteen Stores Department, Border Road Organisation and other allied organisations.

Apart from departmental postings, the IDAS officers can also be appointed into other governmental organisations/ministries/departments. They can also be sent overseas as part of the Indian Army’s UN peacekeeping missions.

Training:

The initial training is for a period of 4 months at LBSNAA. The next training will be conducted at CENTRAD located in New Delhi. After completion of training at National Institute of Financial Management, Faridabad; the trainees will have final training at National Academy of Defence Financial Management Institute located at Pune. It takes a total time period of 24 months to complete the training.

Career Prospects:

1. Soon after induction of IDAS cadre officers, they will be posted as Assistant Controlling Officer of Defence Accounts. The postings are usually at municipal towns having cantonments.
2. Going further, the IDAS cadre officers will be promoted as Deputy Controlling Officer of Defence Accounts. In this position, the postings are generally at State Capital Cities.
3. At senior roles, the IDAS cadre officers would be working at Command Headquarters.

 

Grades and Pay Scales:

This Group “A” service has a very structured hierarchy and attractive pay scales associated with every grade.

Below table gives extensive details on the grades and pay scales of IDAS-

Grade	Designations in different offices				Pay Scales
	HQ	PCDA/CDA	Factory Side	Integrated Financial Advice (IFA) Side
Junior Time Scale	Assistant Controller General of Defence Accounts (ACGDA)	Assistant Controller of Defence Accounts (ACDA)	Assistant Controller of Finance and Accounts (ACFA)	Deputy Integrated Financial Advisor (Dy IFA)	15600-39100 + Grade Pay 5400
Senior Time Scale	Senior ACGDA	Deputy Controller of Defence Accounts (DCDA)	Deputy Controller of Finance and Accounts (DCFA)	Senior Dy IFA	15600-39100 + Grade Pay 6600
Junior Administrative Grade (JAG)	Deputy CGDA	Joint Controller of Defence Accounts	Joint Controller of Finance and Accounts	Joint IFA	15600-39100 + Grade Pay 7600
Non Functional Selection Grade of JAG	Senior Deputy CGDA	Additional Controller of Defence Accounts	Additional Controller of Finance and Accounts	Additional IFA	37400-67000 + Grade Pay 8700
Senior Administrative Grade	Joint CGDA	Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA)	Controller of Finance and Accounts (CFA)	IFA	37400-67000 + Grade Pay 10000
Higher Administrative Grade	Principal Controller of Defence Accounts	Principal Controller of Finance and Accounts	Principal IFA	67000 (annual increment @3%) – 79000
Higher Administrative Grade +	Additional CGDA	——	——	——	75500 (annual increment @3%) – 80000
Apex	Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA)	——	——	——	80000 (Fixed)

 

 

Continue Reading

Career as Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)

 

The Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) is one of the Group ‘A’ services options available for candidates who have successfully cleared the UPSC Civil Service Examination. Entry to this service through the UPSC CSE commenced only in 2009. The chief responsibility of this Group “A” service is the implementation of Companies Act, 1956, Companies Act, 2013 and The Limited Liability Partnership (LLP Act), 2008. The article talks about the Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS), functions, training, hierarchy and salary.

Roles & Responsibilities:

1.       To administer the Companies Act, the LLP Act and a few other related acts.

2.       As Registrar of Companies (RoC), the officers register the companies and partnerships floated. It is their duty to ensure that all the companies are filing their annual returns and balance sheets, and all other documents. The RoC can also carry out an investigation and initiate prosecution against criminal and civil offences in this regard.

3.       As Official Liquidators (OLs), the officers are responsible for liquidating the companies as ordered by the courts. They are responsible for taking control of the companies’ assets, recover debts, sell the company assets via public auction, settle creditors’ claims, etc.

4.       As Regional Directors (RD), the officers are the heads of the Regional Directorates. The RD is the senior-most ICLS officer in a region, there being seven Regional Directorates in India. The RDs supervise the work of the RoCs and the OLs.

Training of Probationary Officers:

The training of the ICLS officers takes place at the ICLS Academy located in the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Manesar, Haryana for a period of ten months. This induction training familiarises the Probationary Officers (POs) with the provisions of the Companies Act, the Limited Liability Partnership Act (LLP Act), and other allied acts. It also teaches them about bookkeeping and accounts, Indian Penal Codes, concepts in Economics, Law and Management.

Career Prospects:

1.       Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) Cadre officers get posted as Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors, and Joint Directors to ensure the working of the companies in sync with the companies Act.

2.       Have the option of promotion as Director of Inspection and Investigation to probe matters into companies that are not abiding the rules and causing revenue loss to the Government.

3.       Opportunity to serve in Serious Fraud Investigation Offices (SFIO).

4.       ICLS Cadre officers working at the Ministry level gets to formulate policies, rules and regulations.

Grade & Pay Scale:

This is Group “A” service entrusted with the task of handling matters concerning companies functioning in India. ICLS cadre has an attractive career option with ample opportunities for promotions and good pay scales for the respective grades.

Below table gives information on grades and pay scale of ICLS Cadre-

Grade	Designations	Pay Scale
Junior Time Scale	1. Registrar of Companies 2. Official Liquidator 3. Registrar of Companies cum Official Liquidator 4. Assistant Registrar of Companies 5. Assistant Official Liquidator 6. Assistant Director 7. Bench Officer – Company Law Board	15600 – 39100 + Grade Pay 5400
Senior Time Scale	1. Registrar of Companies 2. Official Liquidator 3. Deputy Registrar of Companies 4. Deputy Official Liquidator 5. Deputy Director	15600 – 39100 + Grade Pay 6600
Junior Administrative Grade	1. Registrar of Companies 2. Official Liquidator 3. Joint Director 4. Secretary, Company Law Board	15600 – 39100 + Grade Pay 7600
Senior Administrative Grade	1. Regional Director 2. Director of Inspection and Investigation 3. Director	37400 – 67000 + Grade Pay 10000
Higher Administrative Grade	Director-General of Corporate Affairs (DGCA)	67000 – 79000

 

Continue Reading

Career as Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)

 

The Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) is one of the ‘Group A’ services created in 1976 to provide accounting and auditing services to the Government of India. It functions through the Indian Civil Accounts Organisation under the Ministry of Finance. This article provides information on the roles and responsibilities, pay scales, probationary period and career prospects of ICAS.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) fulfils the following functions:

1. Development of processes, systems and forms related to government accounts of the Union of India and the states.
2. Framing and optimisation of manuals, rules and procedures for accounting of receipts and payments according to Government Accounting Rules, 1990.
3. Preparation of monthly and annual account statements along with periodic audits of revenue, deficits and borrowings.
4. Monitoring and reconciliation of cash balances of the Government of India with the Reserve Bank of India.
5. Coordination of management accounting systems in Civil Ministries along with developing and implementing human resource augmentation programmes for the service and allied organisations.

Training of Probationary Officers:

The Indian Civil Accounts Service has a three-stage training programme for ICAS UPSC recruits. The following are the three stages

1. ICAS officers undergo initial training at the National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), Faridabad for a total duration of 6 months. This also includes a foreign country exposure tour.
2. The second stage of training is conducted at the Institute of Government Accounts and Finance (INGAF)
3. The third stage of training is On the Job Training (OJT) in one of the 87 Pay & Accounts offices spread throughout the country.

Career Prospects:

1. Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is the highest position in the office of the Department of Expenditure.
2. CGA is supported by ICAS officers at different levels and grades and their duties are executed as per the instructions of the Ministry of Finance.
3. ICAS cadre officers get the opportunity to handle accounting and auditing in various ministries.
4. Some of the lucrative positions open for senior-level ICAS cadre officers are Principal Chief Controller of Accounts, Chief Controller of Accounts, and Controller of Accounts.

SALARY:

Sl.No.	Name of Post/grade	Pay Scale
1	Junior Time Scale	Rs. 15,600-39,100 Grade Pay Rs.5,400
2	Senior Time Scale	Rs. 15,600-39,100 Grade Pay Rs.6,600
3	Junior Administrative Grade	Rs. 15,600-39,100 Grade Pay Rs 7,600
4	Selection Grade (Non-functional) Junior Administrative Grade (NFSG)	Rs. 37,400-67,000 Grade Pay Rs. 8,700
5	Senior Administrative Grade	Rs. 37,400-67,000 Grade Pay Rs 10,000
6	Principal Chief Controller of Accounts	Rs.67,000-79,000
7	Additional Controller General of Accounts	Rs.75,500-80,000
8	Controller General of Accounts

Continue Reading

Career as Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS)

 

The Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) is one of the Group ‘A’ services. The officers from this cadre are absorbed in the top and middle-level management of Indian Audit and Accounts Department. Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) heads this department. This article throws light on the objectives, advantages, pay scale and career growth associated with Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS).

Accounting and auditing of Central Governments, State Governments, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSU’s) are the 2 main objectives of this Group ‘A’ Civil Service cadre. They have offices in 3 different countries – US, UK, & Malaysia. The reason behind having a presence in overseas location is to carry out auditing of Global Multilateral organisations.

What are the eligibility conditions?

The eligibility criteria for the Indian Audit and Accounts Service exam are the same as for other services. Once the candidate clears the civil services and gets allotment to the service as per his rank and has to undergo through specified training.

What kind of training are offered for IAAS ?

The officers recruited to the IAAS are trained at the National Academy of Audit and Accounts (Shimla) for a duration of 1.5 years. The training is in two phases: Phase 1: It covers the theoretical background on concepts of government and commercial accounting and auditing. Phase 2: practical exposure is given to the officers wherein they are attached to institutes like the RBI, the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow and the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies. The trainees are given international exposure through attachment with the London School of Economics and Political Science.

What are the posting offered after training?

After the training, they are posted as Deputy Accountant General (DAG)/Deputy Director (DD) at field offices. The highest post of promotion is Deputy CAG of India (equivalent to Secretary to Government of India). The Hierarchy in IAAD is as follows:

·        Deputy Accountant General (DAG)/Deputy Director (DD)

·        Senior DAG/Director

·        Accountant General (AG)/Principal Director (PD)

·        Principal Accountant General (PAG)/Director General (DG)

·        Additional Deputy CAG (Seven Posts)

·        Deputy CAG (Six posts)

Besides, IAAS Officers are also posted at overseas offices of CAG at London, Washington, Rome, New York and Kuala Lumpur. Moreover, they frequently audit various United Nations offices around the world in addition to Indian Embassies in different countries. In addition to the posting in IAAD, IAAS Officers are of high demand in government departments for deputation as Financial Advisers and other executive posts generally held by Indian Administrative service officers. They are also posted on deputation to various overseas offices of United Nations institutions, IMF and World Bank. The biggest attraction of IAAS compared to other All India and Central Civil Services is its independence.

Major Advantages:

1. For people who are not big fans of publicity that the IAS exposes one to, the IAAS is a good option. You can lead a quieter life.
2. Not a lot of political interference in your work.
3. This is an excellent option for people interested in Accounting.
4. According to a government survey, amongst all the three All India Services and the seven central services, the IA&AS had the highest percentage of job satisfaction amongst its officers.
5. IA&AS officers even get overseas postings in the IA&AS.
6. All postings would be in metro cities or state capitals. One would hardly get any rural postings here.

Career Growth:

1. Reports to Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
2. This is one of the most sought after services in India. IA&AS cadre officers get a plethora of opportunities to serve within the country and on deputation to foreign countries.
3. CAG offices are present in Washington, London, Kuala Lumpur; IAAS cadre officers have the opportunity to be posted in offices in these locations.
4. The work done by these officers in this cadre is of extreme importance as their audit reports are tabled in the Parliament.

Grade and Salary:

Before joining any career it is advisable for the candidates to have an awareness of the benefits offered by the concerned line of work.

The below table gives information on the Grade and Payscale of Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA&AS)

Designation	Pay Scale (Rs.)	Grade
Assistant Director	8000-275-13500	Junior Time Scale
Deputy Director	10000-325-15200	Senior Time Scale
Director	12300-375-16500	Junior Administrative Grade
Director	14300-400-18300	NFSG of Junior Administrative Grade
Principal Director	18400-500-22400	Senior Administrative Grade
Director-General	22400-525-24500
Additional Deputy CAG	24050-650-26000
Deputy CAG (6 posts)	26000 (fixed)

 

Continue Reading