Roles & Responsibilities of an IAS Officer

IAS Officer– The most desired & respected career which proves the quote, “With great power comes great responsibility”. To become an IAS officer itself a very tedious task and if we talk about the roles & responsibilities of an IAS, the list will not end soon. We are fascinated with the salaries & perks as well as respect, the IAS gets. But, behind these things, there is a dedicated & long list of the work an IAS is supposed to do.

Let’s take a closer look at his/her Roles/Responsibilities:

An IAS officer’s career growth is proportionate to the responsibilities and powers required to fulfill accordingly.

General Responsibilities:

1. Collection of revenues.
2. Maintain law & Order in their respective areas
3. Implement Government policies.
4. Ensures proper fund management as the officer is answerable to the parliament as well as the State government legislature for the funds allocated to them for different schemes.
5. Responds to emergencies such as natural disasters, accidents, and riots in relief activities & managing relief funds ensuring Zero irregularities.

Responsibilities concerning the Role:

At Sub-divisional Level: As a Sub-divisional magistrate, an IAS officer is appointed at the starting of his career to maintain law & order under the area in his jurisdiction.

At District-Level: As the position goes higher, he is appointed as a District Magistrate which is a very respected job. As DM, he ensures to maintain law & order as well as look after the administrative affairs and also supervises the development work in his district.

At State- Level: An IAS on promotion can be deployed in state-level administration as a bureaucrat in the state secretariat or as head of the departments. In this role, they help the elected executives in the Policy Formations and making Policy decisions.

At Cental-Level: An IAS officer is posted with the central government at the top positions like Cabinet Secretary, Secretary, Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Director, Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary under different departments or concerned ministries. An IAS officer is responsible for the formation & implementation of the Government Policies under the departments of Finance, Defence, etc.

Moreover, IAS officers are hired for the Public Sector Undertakings as head of the concerned PSU’s.

Thus, If you become an IAS officer, you can directly participate in the administration and development of the country. It is a very challenging role that comes with great satisfaction.