EXPLAINER: Why IFS officer? Why do people choose IAS vs. IFS? - A series on Indian Foreign Services

Why people choose IAS over IFS? -Demographic profile

3 years ago, I missed #UPSC final list by 8 marks. My score in optionals was amongst the highest in India, my interview score was second highest.

A few years later, I’m in Istanbul - discussing with one of India’s entry level diplomats, whether it makes sense for him to leave services and do an #MBA.

1. India changed : We aren’t a 20th century #economy anymore. With the advent of liberalization - state control of power shifted from Civil Servants to specialized professionals.

Current JS of Civil Aviation is an MBA from IIM A and was a partner at KPMG. There are 100 others like him who are laterally hired and contributing immensely through their work

2. Working for Society : If Sunder Pichai had cleared IAS- he would be working as a collector in Noida. Impact he has created is insurmountable to one he could possibly create while being in services

It is extremely critical that exceptional people join IAS, but for those who couldn't should know that entry through an exam isn’t the only route in 21st Century India to make a difference.

Many youngsters preparing for IAS in India quit their jobs, take multiple years of sabbatical, and thoroughly screw up their 20s - in anxiety and depression with a hope of getting into civil services (that has a yearly cycle, less than .5% success rate, and an archaic curriculum).

There is no better way to screw up your life than prepare for government exams in India (without any backup plan).

From a career in the United Nations to social impact, to getting laterally hired - you can do a million things to create a large-scale impact.

Do write to me, if you are crumbling under pressure because of a few bad decisions you made in your 20s. . Life is definitely more than an exam that the British created to recruit loyal servants.




I wish you all the very best,
Naman

[namanshrivastava]

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors"

Look forward to inspiring youngsters to become part of the Public Policy Ecosystem via GGI's Policy Scholars Program - along with innumerable partnered organizations (such as BCG, Clinton Health Access Initiative etc) working closely with political and business leaders.


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[astitvbharadwaj]

Can you share about the foreign allowance received by the diplomats of India

[tanishhede]

Naman, please bring an IFS officer who has taken his parents along with him to the country of posting. I had earlier made this request and once again its a gentle reminder. Looking forward for it pretty soon

[shalonichauhan]

Sir I always think of becoming an IFS officer but I don't even know what is the work of an IFS officer. Should I choose this stream sir if I am unaware about the work of an IFS officer.

[Modernaakriti]

Aisa nahi hai ki Bihar me padhai nahi hai ya madhya Pradesh backword you people just setrotype us nothing else and if you look into you will see that most of the achievement in knowledge and education are Bihar up mp etc students only

[faisalmuneerone]

I personally like IFS but it doesn't have even 10 percent of power that an IAS have.

[kumarr]

you are wrong man, Bihar has been contributing to civil services since its early, so dont use the word "today"

[DOCUMENTARYANDINTERVIEWS]

Hi ! Naman Srivastava, I had something to say :
I am willing to prepare for upsc 2025 and I always have one question in mind that is - IAS Vs IFS Particularly I am confused with one point that Are IFS officer allowed to live with their parents at foreign posting if they r not financially dependent and what is emotionally dependancy of parents ?

Please Please Please throw some light on it !

[eraanjum]

Bkwass.. The real reson actually is India ne Ias ko sab bhagwan ki trh mante hain... He's got some real power... Plus he can earn hell lot of money(black).... Foreign countries itna bhav nhi denge