UPSC Services List: IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and All Civil Services Explained
Komal Gupta
UPSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Table of Contents
- 1.How Services Are Allotted Through the CSE
- 2.Group A Services Through UPSC CSE
- 3.Group B Services
- 4.All India Services and Central Services
- 5.Popular Preference Order Among Aspirants
- 6.How to Choose Services Smartly
- 7.Services by Type of Work
- 8.Mistakes to Avoid in the Preference List
- 9.Training, Salary and Career Growth
- 10.Who Can Get Which Service?
- 11.Is a Lower Service Also Worth It?
- 12.How to Start Your Preparation
- 13.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Complete UPSC services list: Group A and Group B civil services, what each service does, All India vs central services, allotment, training and how to build your preference list.
Quick answer: The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) recruits officers for around two dozen central services, divided into Group A and Group B. The best-known are the IAS, IPS, IFS and IRS, but there are many more, such as the Audit and Accounts Service, Railway Management Service, Postal Service, Defence Accounts Service and Information Service. The exact list and the number of vacancies are published in the notification every year. This guide explains all the services in a simple way, with their roles, so that you can prepare a smart preference list.
How Services Are Allotted Through the CSE
After the final result, every successful candidate fills a preference list of services. UPSC allots a service on the basis of your final rank (out of the total marks of Mains and Interview), your preferences, your category and the vacancies. So a higher rank gives you more choice. A candidate who fills the services in a careful order has a better chance of getting the service that he or she wants. You can read the rules of the exam in the UPSC exam pattern guide and check who can sit in the exam in the eligibility guide.
Group A Services Through UPSC CSE
| Service | What the officers do |
|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service (IAS) | District administration, state and central policy, development schemes |
| Indian Foreign Service (IFS) | Diplomacy, embassies, foreign policy, international negotiations |
| Indian Police Service (IPS) | Policing, law and order, intelligence and central police forces |
| Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) | Direct taxes, assessment, investigation and tax policy |
| Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) | Customs, GST, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation |
| Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) | Audit of government accounts under the Comptroller and Auditor General |
| Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) | Accounting and financial management of the Union government |
| Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) | Financial advice and audit for the defence forces |
| Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) | Management of defence land and cantonments |
| Indian Postal Service (IPoS) | Management of the postal network, banking and logistics |
| Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service | Accounts and finance in the posts and telecom departments |
| Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) | Railway operations, finance, personnel and traffic (this service has replaced the separate IRTS, IRAS and IRPS recruitment) |
| Indian Information Service (IIS) | Government communication, media and public relations |
| Indian Trade Service (ITS) | Foreign trade policy and commercial work |
| Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) | Company law, corporate regulation and investor protection |
| Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) | Management of defence production and ordnance factories |
Group B Services
The Group B services include the Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (AFHQ CS), the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS), the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS), the Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS) and the Pondicherry Police Service (PONDIPS). These are generally filled by candidates with lower ranks and have fewer vacancies, and a Group B officer can be promoted to the Group A level after years of service. Remember that the Indian Forest Service is not a part of the list above, as it has a separate Mains examination, though it uses the same Prelims.
All India Services and Central Services
The IAS and IPS are All India Services: the officers are recruited by the Centre but serve under state governments in a state cadre, and can go to the Centre on deputation. The IFS, IRS and other services are Central Group A services and serve the Union government throughout their career. The difference matters for your lifestyle: an IAS or IPS officer must live in the allotted state, while a Central service officer is posted according to the department. To see the roles of the top three in detail, read our comparison of IAS vs IPS vs IFS.
Popular Preference Order Among Aspirants
There is no official ranking of services, but the common choice of aspirants is the IAS first, then the IFS and IPS, followed by the IRS (Income Tax and Customs), the Audit and Accounts Service, the Railway Management Service and the others. This is only a trend. Your personal liking for the type of work matters more. Some students prefer IRS for tax and finance work, and some prefer Railways for a big technical and managerial organisation. Prepare your list after reading what each service does, and not only through the opinions of friends.
How to Choose Services Smartly
- Know the work: Read the official description of every service and talk to serving officers.
- Know the lifestyle: Check postings, transfers, training place and working hours.
- Know your strengths: Law, finance, languages, management or security may match different services.
- Keep a realistic list: Fill all the services you can accept, in the order of your honest liking.
- Do not leave services blank: You may lose a service you would have enjoyed.
Services by Type of Work
| If you like | Look at these services |
|---|---|
| Administration and policy | IAS, DANICS, Pondicherry Civil Service |
| Security and policing | IPS, DANIPS, PONDIPS |
| Diplomacy and world affairs | IFS, Indian Trade Service |
| Tax, customs and finance | IRS (IT), IRS (C&IT), ICAS, IA&AS, IDAS |
| Transport and management | Railway Management Service, Indian Postal Service |
| Media and communication | Indian Information Service |
| Law and corporate regulation | Indian Corporate Law Service |
| Defence support | IDAS, IDES, IOFS, AFHQ Civil Service |
Mistakes to Avoid in the Preference List
The first mistake is to fill only two or three popular services and leave the rest blank, because if your rank is not enough for those, you may be allotted no service or a service you did not want to list. The second is to copy the list of a friend or a topper without thinking about your own interest. The third is to ignore the first posting, training place and lifestyle. The fourth is to judge a service only by its salary, when the work satisfaction and growth are more important in a 30-year career. Before the final result, make a short table with your top services, the work, the pros and cons, and review it with a mentor or a serving officer. This takes only a few hours but can improve the decision of a whole life.
Training, Salary and Career Growth
All the new officers of Group A go to a Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, and then to the training institute of their own service. For example, IRS (Income Tax) officers are trained at the National Academy of Direct Taxes in Nagpur, and IRS (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officers at NACIN. The starting pay of Group A officers is in the same range under the 7th Pay Commission, with dearness allowance and other benefits. The growth is based on the seniority and performance: for example, an IRS officer can become a Commissioner or a Member of the Central Board, and a Railway officer can become the General Manager and a Member of the Railway Board. Read the pay structure in the salary guide to see the pay levels.
Who Can Get Which Service?
The final rank is not the only factor. The cut-off rank for each service changes every year, according to the number of vacancies and the choices of candidates above you. It is also true that some services have a special condition. The IPS, for example, needs the physical standards, and some postings in the defence accounts and ordnance services have their own medical rules. Always read the rules in the official notification. As a general idea, candidates with ranks in the top few hundred have the choice of the main services, and the ranks beyond that move to the other services, depending on the vacancies. Do not judge your chances only by the previous year's cut-off, because the vacancies in your year can be quite different.
Is a Lower Service Also Worth It?
Yes. A Group A central service gives job security, a respectable status, work of national importance and a steady career. Many candidates take a service like IRS or IA&AS, and then try again for a better rank in the next attempt, as the rules allow them to appear once again. If you do so, check the rules of the exam about whether you can join the service and appear again. The key is not to become disheartened with a rank that is below your expectation.
How to Start Your Preparation
The exam is the same for all services, so you should begin with a good plan. Start with the UPSC syllabus, read the NCERT books, follow current affairs, and practise answer writing. A month-wise plan is given in our 12-month roadmap. You can also revise the basics with the polity notes and other subject notes on this website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many services are there in the UPSC Civil Services Examination?
The CSE recruits for around two dozen Group A and Group B central services. The exact list and vacancies are given in each year's notification.
Which are the main UPSC services?
The main services are IAS, IFS, IPS, IRS (Income Tax), IRS (Customs and Indirect Taxes), Indian Audit and Accounts Service, and Railway Management Service.
What is the difference between Group A and Group B services?
Group A services are the senior central services with higher posts, and Group B services have fewer vacancies and lower entry posts, with a chance of promotion to Group A.
Is the Indian Forest Service part of the CSE?
No. The Indian Forest Service has a separate Mains exam, though it uses the same Prelims as the CSE.
How is a service allotted in UPSC?
It is allotted on the basis of your final rank, your preference list, your category and the vacancies available.
Which UPSC service is the best?
There is no official best service. IAS is the most popular, but the best service for you depends on your interests and strengths.
Are IAS and IPS central services?
They are All India Services. The officers are recruited by the Centre but work in state cadres and can go to the Centre on deputation.
What is the Railway Management Service?
It is the combined Group A railway service that has replaced the separate recruitment for the traffic, accounts and personnel services.
Where are IRS officers trained?
IRS (Income Tax) officers train at the National Academy of Direct Taxes in Nagpur, and IRS (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officers train at NACIN.
Do all UPSC services have the same salary?
Group A services start in the same range of the 7th Pay Commission, though the allowances and facilities differ by post.
Should I fill all services in the preference list?
Yes, fill all the services you would accept, in the order of your liking, so that you do not lose a good option.
Can I appear again after joining a lower service?
The rules allow appearing again within the limit of attempts, but you should check the latest notification for the conditions.
Komal Gupta
UPSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Komal is a senior UPSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CSE, CDS and NDA exams. She writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.