UPSC Posts 2025: Types of Services in UPSC Recruitment

UPSC 2025 Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted to fill various UPSC posts under 24 Civil Services. Every year lakhs of candidates apply for the IAS exam but only a few thousand candidates pass it. Candidates after passing the UPSC exam get appointed under 24 different Civil Services. Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), Indian Revenue Services (IRS), and Indian Foreign Services (IFS) are some of the most popular services covered by UPSC. Candidates are allotted the Services based on rankings obtained in the UPSC exam. A candidate after being selected in service gets appointed to various posts under that particular service in his/her work span.

IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims 2025 is scheduled to be held on May 25, 2025. Candidates who are appearing for the IAS 2025 exam can read this article to know the various posts and services under UPSC.

Types of Civil Services

UPSC Posts are majorly classified into 3 types of Civil Services.

1. All India Civil Services
2. Group ‘A’ Civil Services
3. Group ‘B’ Civil Services

Various services under the three main Services of UPSC are listed below.
 

All India Civil Services

The work responsibilities along with the place of training of candidates appointed under various All India Services are mentioned below.

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

Indian Administrative Services is one of the most popular All India Services that candidates aspire for. IAS is the permanent arm of the Government of India and State Governments. Candidates who are appointed as IAS officers are responsible for formulating and implementing, Government policies and maintaining the law and order across their region. Candidates who are appointed as IAS officers begin their career with training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie. The initial IAS salary is approximately INR 56,100/- per month. The salary increases with the years of work experience.

• Indian Police Service (IPS)

Candidates who are appointed as IPS officers are trained at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. IPS officers occupy senior positions in the Police service. Other departments where IPS officers are appointed as senior officers are RAW, IB, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), etc. The salary structure of IPS is similar to the IPS salary structure.

• Indian Forest Service (IFoS)

The highest designation attained by IFoS officers serving the Central Government is Director General (DG) of Forests. The highest designation of IFoS officers serving the State Government is Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. Candidates appointed as IFoS officers come under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. IFoS officers are also appointed to work at various other organisations like Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Group ‘A’ Civil Services

The details of various Group ‘A’ Civil Services are mentioned below.

• Indian Foreign Services (IFS)

Candidates appointed as IFS officers are initially trained at LBSNAA, Mussoorie. After completing their training at LBSNAA, IFS officers are trained at the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi. IFS officers are responsible for handling the foreign affairs of India. IFS officers can get promoted to High Commissioner, Ambassadors, Permanent Representative of India at UN, and Foreign Secretary in the span of their career. Candidates who have been selected into IFS cannot reappear for the Civil Services Exam.

• Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS)

Candidates who are appointed under IA&AS are trained at NAAA, Shimla. IA&AS officers come under Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Work responsibilities of IA&AS officers include financial auditing of Central Government, State Governments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

• Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)

ICAS cadre is trained at the National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), Faridabad and Institute of Government Accounts and Finance (INGAF). Candidates who get selected for ICAS work under the Ministry of Finance. The ICAS cadre is headed by the Controller General of Accounts.

• Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)

ICLS officers work under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The primary objective of the Indian Corporate Law Service is to govern the corporate sector in India. ICLS probationary officers are trained at ICLS Academy located at Manesar Campus of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA). ICLS cadre is trained in various areas like law, economics, finance, and accounting to carry out their responsibilities smoothly during their work tenure.

• Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)

This cadre functions under the Ministry of Defence. Candidates who are appointed as IDAS officers are initially trained at CENTRAD, New Delhi and then at the National Academy of Defence Financial Management Institute (NIFM), Pune. IDAS officers are appointed to serve the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Ordnance Factories. The major role of an IDAS officer is to audit defence accounts. Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) heads the Indian Defence Accounts Service.

• Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES)

Candidates appointed under Indian Defence Estates Service are trained at the National Institute of Defence Estates, New Delhi. IDES officers are responsible for managing the cantonments and land that belongs to the defence establishment.

• Indian Information Service (IIS)

This Group ‘A’ service manages the media wing of the Government of India. Indian Information Service communicates Government’s decisions and statements to the common people through various channels and acts as a bridge between the Government and the public. This cadre comes under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Candidates appointed as IIS officers are trained at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). IIS officers are appointed to work in various media departments like DD, PIB, AIR etc.

• Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)

Indian Ordnance Factories Service is responsible for managing a large number of Indian Ordnance Factories that make defence equipment, arms and ammunitions. This cadre comes under the Ministry of Defence. Candidates appointed as IOFS officers are trained at the National academy of defence Production Located in Nagpur and the tenure of the training is 1 year and 3 months.

• Indian Communication Finance Services (ICFS)

This Group ‘A’ Civil Service was earlier known as Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP & TAFS). Candidates who are appointed for ICFS undergo training at the National Institute of Financial Management, Faridabad. This cadre is responsible for providing accounting and financial services to Indian Posts and Telecommunication Departments.

• Indian Postal Service (IPoS)

The training of candidates appointed for this service is held at Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy (RAKNPA) in Ghaziabad. Candidates recruited for IPoS are appointed as higher grade officers in India Post. Indian Post Service runs the India Post and is responsible for providing an array of services offered by India Post ranging from traditional postal services, banking, old-age pension disbursement and MGNREGA wages to e-commerce services.

• Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)

The primary role and responsibilities of an IRAS officer includes maintaining and managing the finances and accounts of the Indian Railways. Candidates who are appointed for IRAS undergo a two years training program at the National Academy of Direct Taxes in Nagpur, Railway Staff College in Vadodra, specialized training institutes and other construction organizations, divisions, manufacturing establishments of the Central and Zonal Railways.

• Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)

IRPS cadre is initially trained at LBSNAA and then the training is provided at various institutes like the National Academy of Direct Taxes, RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration, and Dr Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development Institute. The final training is provided at the National Academy of Indian Railways at Vadodra. IRPS officers are responsible for managing the behemoth Human Resources of Indian Railways.

• Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)

The training of the IRTS cadre takes place at Railway Staff College, Vadodara and the Indian Railway Institute of transportation Management in Lucknow. This service is responsible for generating revenue for Indian Railways. IRTS acts as a bridge between railways and public; railways and corporate sector. IRTS officers manage the operation and commercial wings of Indian Railways.

• Indian Revenue Service (IRS)

The initial training of IRS officers takes place at LBSNAA and later on the cadre is trained at NADT, Nagpur and National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics, Faridabad. Indian Revenue Service functions under the Ministry of Finance. This service is responsible for collecting direct and indirect taxes.

• Indian Trade Service (ITS)

Candidates who are appointed as ITS officers undergo training at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi. Indian Trade Service functions under the Ministry of Commerce. This cadre is headed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and manages the International Trade and Commerce of India.

• Railway Protection Force (RPF)

RPF is a paramilitary force that functions under the Ministry of Railways. Candidates who are recruited to work for RPF are trained at Jagjivan Ram Railway Protection Force Academy, Lucknow. The primary objective of this cadre is to provide high-end security to passengers, assets, and property of the Indian Railways.

Group ‘B’ Civil Services

The information regarding roles and responsibilities associated with Group ‘B’ Civil Services is mentioned below.

• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service

This Group ‘B’ Service is responsible for providing basic support services to Indian Armed Forces and Inter-Services Organisations. This service functions under the Ministry of Defence and is headed by the Defence Secretary.

• DANICS

The full form of DANICS is Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Civil Services and it functions under the Government of India. DANICS acts as a feeder service to the Indian Administrative Service. Candidates recruited for this service are initially appointed as Assistant Collector (District Administration, Delhi). DANICS officers are responsible for looking after the administrative functions of Delhi and other Union Territories.

• DANIPS

DANIPS stands for NCT of Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service. It is a federal police service of India that administers Delhi and other Union Territories of India.

• Pondicherry Police Service

Pondicherry Police Service is the law enforcement agency of the Union Territory of Puducherry in India. This service functions under the Department of Home Affairs, Government of Puducherry. Pondicherry Police Service is headed by the Director-General of Police (DGP).

Candidates who are planning to appear for the UPSC 2025 exam can go through the various above-listed posts under UPSC and aim for the one that matches their interests.

FAQs on UPSC 2025