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How to Become an IES Officer? Check the Selection Procedure Here

Unlock the path “How to Become an IES Officer?”. Explore the educational requirements, selection procedure, and essential skills needed for becoming an IES Officer in this Comprehensive guide.
authorImageSurya Bazal17 Jan, 2024
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How to Become an IES Officer?

How to Become an IES Officer? - The Indian Engineering Services (IES), also known as the Engineering Services Examination (ESE), is composed of engineers who work for the government of India and are classified as Class 1 officers. They are chosen to carry out technical and management duties for the Indian government.

The Indian Engineering Services workload is determined by the design branch and the administration or division in which they are engaged. These government officials may be transferred to any of the Government of India's organisations, frameworks, services, or public sector enterprises.

Read the entire article to know “ How to Become an IES Officer?

How to Become an IES Officer?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the IES Exam, a national-level exam designed for hiring engineering graduates. Every year, the commission organises the ESE IES test for the major areas of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics Telecommunications.

The UPSC ESE exam is divided into two rounds (Prelims and Mains) that are held offline to shortlist applicants for the interview process. The preliminary test is an objective paper, whilst the mains is a descriptive paper. Candidates who pass the Prelims and Mains will be eligible to compete in the final round. The UPSC ESE/IES test concludes with the interview procedure, which is the most difficult stage owing to the stringent assessment. After qualifying these stages, applicants are eligible to become an IES Officer.

How to Become an IES Officer? - Procedure

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the selection process for Indian Engineering Services. The process has three stages:
  • Preliminary Exam
  • Main Exam
  • Interview

Engineering graduates from disciplines such as Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, ECE, and Civil Engineering can apply for the position of 'IES Officer'. UPSC conducts written and personality tests to choose qualified applicants for the position. The written test includes questions about general studies, general English, and the engineering subject in question.

In order to satisfy the qualifying criteria, candidates must have a degree or diploma in engineering from an authorised university. Furthermore, they have the option of passing the graduate membership examination.

Eligibility Criteria

The UPSC has set a variety of qualifying criteria for IES, and candidates must carefully follow the official notification or instructions issued by the commission to verify that they satisfy all of the prerequisites.

Only applicants who match the following conditions are eligible to take the Indian Engineering Services, or IES, examination.

  • Graduate students pursuing engineering are eligible to take the IES test.
  • Engineering students in their last (fourth) year are also eligible to apply for the Indian Engineering Services Exam.
  • The minimum qualification necessary is an engineering degree from any recognised university. It is advisable to acquire the necessary qualifications in any of the following fields.
    • Electrical engineering
    • Electronics and Communication Engineering
    • Civil Engineering
    • Mechanical engineering
  • PG holders in Science who studied any of the following disciplines as part of their degree curriculum are also eligible (for specific special postings).
    • Wireless Communication
    • Electronics
    • Radio Physics
    • Radio Engineering
  • Final-year students with the necessary qualifications can also appear for the IES exam.
  • The IES examination has an age limit of 21 to 30 years, except applicants from restricted categories.
  • To be considered for the IES, candidates must be citizens of India.

Apply for IES Exam

Candidates who have earned the relevant qualifications can apply for the IES examination. Applications can be filed online through the UPSC's web platform, which organises the test. Eligible candidates receive an e-admission certificate after reviewing the pool of applications submitted. This certificate can be accessed from the UPSC website; no admission certificates will be mailed. Candidates who do not have the downloaded e-admission certificate will be unable to take the exam.

Participating in the Recruitment Process

The final stage in getting the job is qualifying for the UPSC screening procedure. Eligible candidates are selected through a written test and an interview. There will be two portions to the written test: Section I and Section II. Section I will include objective model problems covering broad English and general subjects. Section II is a standard document that focuses on the engineering subject. Section I will have 600 questions that must be solved within 6 hours. Section II will have 400 questions, and the time permitted for completion is 4 hours. Qualified applicants in the written test should proceed to the next step of selection, the personality test.

Aspirants are assigned to several departments (Indian Railway Service, Indian Defence Service) under the relevant engineering category based on their written test and personality test scores.

How to Become an IES Officer?  Overview

IES stands for Indian Engineering Services. Every year, the UPSC holds a national-level examination to select qualified candidates for the Indian Engineering Services, or IES. Selected IES applicants are recruited into a variety of government sectors, including power, telecommunications, PWD, and railroads.

The IES examination serves as a gateway to the highly sought-after sector of government service, where successful candidates are assigned considerable responsibilities and duties. The Union Public Service Commission organises the IES, commonly known as the ESE examination, every year. Interested applicants may register for the IES test after determining their eligibility, as indicated by the exam-conducting body.

IES Exam Overview
Particular Details
Name of the Exam IES, or ESE
IES Full Form Indian Engineering Services
IES Eligibility
  • Nationality: Indian citizen
  • Education: Engineering Graduate
  • Age limit: 21-30
Conducting Body UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)
Application Fees INR 200 Per Applicant
IES Selection Process
  • Prelims
  • Mains
  • Personality Test
Frequency Once a year
Examination Mode Online
Total Papers in IES Exam
  • Prelims: 2 Papers
  • Mains: 2 Papers
Total Marks
  • Prelims: 500
  • Mains: 600
  • Interview: 200

IES Officer Roles & Responsibilities

The IES officer would be responsible for coordinating with other PE organs, communicating with government agencies, maintaining relationships with other comparable PEs or private parties, and so on. The IES makes decisions on procurement, product specification and verification, the extension and examination of government-approved public works, and so forth. The IES's highest echelons have significant decision-making power, project execution authority, and direct connection with Ministries. They operate in technological fields like highways, trains, manufacturing, defence, building, public works, telecommunications, and power generation.

Also, Click: UPSC ESE Eligibility Criteria 2024

Skills required to become an IES Officer

The Indian Engineering Services (IES) provide technical and management assistance to the Government of India's engineering duties. The Indian Engineering Services organisation essentially encompasses all engineers hired by the Indian government. They administer, oversee, and run a substantial section of the public sector economy. They manage the administration of the region to which they have been assigned. To control the territory assigned to them, they will require great management and leadership skills. Aside from that, engineering officers possess a deep knowledge of engineering and scientific ideas. They also have great mathematical, logical, and reasoning abilities. They must be able to make solid decisions in order to run such a huge sector efficiently.

Also, Click: IES Officer Salary 2024

IES Officer Job Profiles

Check out the many job opportunities for engineering experts after clearing the IES (Indian Engineering Services) test, which are listed below.

Career Options After IES Exam
Civil Engineering
  • Indian Railway Service of Engineers
  • Indian Railway Stores Service
  • Central Engineering Service
  • Indian Defense Service of Engineers
  • Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
  • Central Water Engineering
  • Central Engineering Service (Roads)
  • Border Roads Engineering Service
Mechanical Engineering
  • Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers
  • Indian Railway Stores Service
  • Central Water Engineering
  • Central Power Engineering Service (Central Electricity Authority)
  • Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
  • Indian Naval Armament Service
  • Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME), a branch in the Indian Army
  • Indian Navy
  • Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service (Central Public Works Department)
  • Border Roads Engineering Service
  • Indian Supply Service (Directorate General of Supply and Disposals)
  • Indian Defence Service of Engineers
  • Central Engineering Service (Roads)
Electrical Engineering
  • Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers
  • Indian Railway Stores Service
  • Central Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service (Central Public Works Department)
  • Indian Naval Armament Service
  • Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
  • Central Power Engineering Service (Central Electricity Authority)
  • Indian Defence Service of Engineers
  • Indian Navy
  • Indian Supply Service (Directorate General of Supply and Disposals)
  • Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME), a branch in the Indian Army
Electronics and Communication Engineering
  • Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers
  • Indian Railway Stores Service
  • Indian Inspection Service
  • Indian Naval Armament Service
  • Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
  • Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME), a branch in the Indian Army
  • Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing
  • Indian Navy
  • Indian Supply Service (Directorate General of Supply and Disposals)
  • Indian Telecommunication Service

IES Officer Career Opportunities

After reviewing “ How to Become an IES Officer” , let's look at the career options for an IES officer. The Union Public Service Commission supervises the hierarchical structure and advancement in career of an IES official, as follows:

  • They begin their careers as Assistant Executive Engineers or Assistant Directors after being selected.
  • After three to four years of experience, they are promoted to executive engineer, director, or work manager. After 8 years of service, they advance to the position of deputy general manager or joint director.
  • After 13 years of service, they can be promoted to joint general manager or chief engineer at level 2.
  • Twenty years of experience are sufficient for promotion to chief engineer or additional general manager.
  • Providing 30 years of service to India's government will qualify them for the rank of senior general manager or chief engineer.

Also Read: UPSC ESE Previous Year Cut Off

Advantages to Become an IES Officer

Here is the advantages of becoming an IES Officier-

  • Respect and Prestige: The IES is a prominent and respected vocation, and IES officers enjoy great social prestige.
  • Job Security: The IES provides a high level of job security because officers are appointed for a set term and may only be dismissed from service under extraordinary circumstances.
  • Good Salary and Perks: IES officials are paid well and get a variety of benefits, including official housing, travel allowance, medical insurance, and so on.
  • Less Political Interference: Because the IES Job Profile involves more technical and department-specific activities, the legislature is less likely to intervene politically than the IAS.
  • Opportunities to Make a Difference: As IES officers, you will have the chance to positively impact people's lives while also contributing to the country's development and advancement through the technical and engineering components of many departments.The IES provides exceptional chances for growth and success.
  • Exposure to Diverse professions: As an IES officer, you will have the chance to work in a range of professions and develop knowledge of many industries and concerns.

Also Read: UPSC ESE Exam Calendar 2024 PDF

How to Become an IES Officer?

How to Become an IES Officer?

The Commission issued the UPSC ESE(IES) result pdf for the candidates, which included the names and roll numbers of those who were eligible for recruitment and become an IES Officer.

What is the highest IES salary?

The maximum pay for an IES officer varies depending on their level, grade, and years of service. However, an IES officer's monthly remuneration might range from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 2,00,000, which comprises base pay, dearness allowance, and many other allowances.

Is IES a powerful position?

An IES (Indian Engineering Services) officer has a high-ranking job in the Indian government. They manage and implement engineering projects at various levels of government.

How many branches are covered in the IES exam?

UPSC conducts the IES examination at the national level. The IES exam is administered to four branches. The branches are as follows: Civil Engineering Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
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