GLOW by Heartfulness: Aspiring to be a Civil Servant: Reach for the Sky

In the good old days when I was young and 21-years-old, I would get inspired by this popular TV serial, “Udaan” which was aired on Doordarshan Channel from 1989 to 1991. It was on the life of a woman who takes up the challenge of becoming an IPS officer and this TV serial was on women empowerment and in those days, there were very few women officers in the Civil Services. I believe this story was based on the true story of Kanchan Chaudhury Bhattacharya. She was the second woman IPS officer in Indian Police Service in the year 1973–2007

We all know about the first woman IPS officer being Kiran Bedi. She is the first Indian female to become an officer in the Indian Police Service and started her service in 1972, she had introduced Vipassana Meditation for benefit of the prisoners in Tihar Jail. Kiran Bedi remained in service for 35 years before taking voluntary retirement in the year 2007 as Director-General Bureau of Police Research and Development. Kiran Bedi was born on 9 June 1949, she is an Indian politician, social activist, retired police officer, and tennis player, who was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry from May 2016 to 16 February 2021.

So, now since the times have changed and society has undergone tremendous change with societal norms with regards to education and empowerment of girl child and our society is sensitized towards change in the stereotype image of women). Megha, daughter of the rickshaw driver has achieved the eighth rank at the All-India level in the Indian Economic Service (IES) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). 197 women qualify in UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019 out of 829 candidates as per statistics of 2019. Still, there is a need for more and more girls to be motivated to opt for civil services and reach for the sky.

1.So, what is the basic qualification for this?

Any Graduate from Government recognized Universities or possess an equivalent qualification. Candidates who are in their final year or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for UPSC preliminary Examination.

2. Age Limit:

Any graduate between 21 and 31 years of age.

There are many options of Civil Services which are listed below https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/civil-services-post-one-may-get-into-upsc/

I. All India Civil Services

1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
2. Indian Police Service (IPS)
3. Indian Forest Service (IFoS)

II. Group ‘A’ Civil Services

1. Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
2. Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
3. Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)
4. Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
5. Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
6. Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES)
7. Indian Information Service (IIS)
8. Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
9. Indian Communication Finance Services (ICFS)
10. Indian Postal Service (IPoS)
11. Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)
12. Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
13. Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
14. Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
15. Indian Trade Service (ITS)
16. Railway Protection Force (RPF)

III. Group ‘B’ Civil Services

1. Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
2. DANICS
3. DANIPS
4. Pondicherry Civil Service
5. Pondicherry Police Service

My niece has been presently working as Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayats, Government of Punjab, and has been in service for more than 20 years now. I took her inputs of her experience being in Civil Services. She chuckled and said that the UPSC exam is not a sprint, it’s a full marathon. So, endurance matters. She said that typically tortoises fare better than hares in this race. I am quoting the key points that she mentioned to me below

Key points to make sure to continue to do well are below:

1. Relentless hard work always pays off, both for preparing for exams and for success in a career.

2. Always stay grounded and remember the law of gravity- what goes up MUST come down. Never let a coveted posting make you ‘arrogant’ or likewise less sought after posting should not disorient you. Continue to work with quiet efficiency.

3. Never compromise your principles or dignity, nothing is worth it. People respect you more for taking a principled stand.

4. Always keep the hunger for knowledge alive, update your information at all times, learn new skills. Read a lot and develop a breadth of informed opinions on important issues.

Success is not a one-time thing of clearing the exam. If one has to do well, be a lifelong learner, keep the curiosity alive. Those who don’t soon become dinosaurs, extinct to be of any value in the service. Technology is changing rapidly; it pays to keep up with it.

5. Be focused on the outcome, all other things are of course needed just to get there, and so must be done regardless.

6. Treat your visitor with respect and empathy. A pleasant demeanor is always welcome, not a stern and intimidating one, we are to serve not to rule.

There is no such thing as luck or destiny, you will get what is yours. The harder you work the luckier you will get, so keep working.

Gender issues:

IAS gives very good opportunities to women, the glass ceiling is not present. Promotions are merit and seniority-based. But some challenges-

1. We do have a strong support system but still need to balance more on the home — office equation.

Tips for doing so: -

- maintain office timings, reach on time so you finish your work by 5 ‘o'clock. Don’t have to stay late.

- Try to have a predictable routine.

2. Women are not into networking with others so much, not part of the blue-eyed boys club. So, one needs to put perform them on targets that are quantifiable. Where you lose out on impressions (no networking), you can more than makeup on facts (100% in targets).

3. Take yourself less seriously, so you will be less affected by stress.

4. Be very professional in conduct.

5. Once your work is noticed, gender ceases to matter. It really does.

The above points were key points from her. I wish good luck to all those who are aspiring to go into Civil Services. So, I encourage all young civil service aspirants to benefit from this webinar.

For more details: please visit: https://heartfulness.org/webinar/glow-webinar-series/. Please join us for a webinar on 14th August 2021, 7 PM IST/9:30 AM US Eastern/2:30 PM London Time for a talk with Ruchi Vardhan, IPS, ‘Aspiring to be a Civil Servant — Part I’ and Aspiring to be a Civil Servant Part II on 21st August 2021, for a talk with Ruchi Vardhan again at the same time 7 PM IST/9:30 AM US Eastern/2:30 PM London Time.