One of the most sought-after exams in India is the UPSC Indian Engineering Service exam. It is a national-level exam organised by UPSC to recruit Engineering candidates for various posts under the Government of India. Candidates who clear this exam can use their engineering expertise to serve their country. Like the UPSC CSE, the IES exam is a three-stage process: Prelims, Mains and Interview. The final selection is based on the total scores of the candidates in the Mains and the Interview. A significant number of engineers take this exam each year.
In addition to the respectable and satisfying job profile, the IES officers are paid a handsome salary. The IES Salary is made up of various components, such as grade pay, basic pay and promotions. Apart from these, candidates are also eligible for a variety of other allowances and benefits like transportation allowances (TA), dearness allowances (DA), house rent allowances (HRA), medical benefits, etc. More detail about the IES job role, salary structure, and other relevant information is provided in the given article.
All interested candidates can also learn about the detailed IAS Salary, in the linked article.
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UPSC Indian Engineering Services (IES): Overview
The UPSC Engineering Services recruits candidates for the technical wing of the government administration, much like the IAS Exam does for the administrative services of the Indian government. IES Officer is employed in a variety of technical fields, including manufacturing, public works, telecommunications, power, manufacturing, railroads and roadways.
An IES officer can operate in both the civil and defence sectors, particularly in the Indian Army, the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME), the Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Military Engineer Services, the Indian Naval Armament Service and the Indian Naval Stores Service. Candidates who take the UPSC IES may be assigned to a variety of departments or services, including
- Indian Skill Development Service
- Central Public Works Department
- Indian Railways Service of Electrical Engineers
- Survey of India
- Indian Defence Service of Engineers
To know what are the other posts in the Civil Services, click on the linked article.
IES Job Profile: Roles And Responsibilities
The service to which the UPSC IES candidates are assigned determines the career profile of those individuals. The type of their job and roles varies depending on the service and departments they are appointed in. Some of the responsibilities of the IES officers are as follows:
- IES Officers are generally required to carry out a variety of managerial and technical tasks.
- The work of the IES officers is primarily administrative in nature.
- Along with experience, the area of supervision of the employee also increases.
- Project management and execution will also fall within his or her purview.
- The employees may be required to cope with bureaucratic procedures by getting in touch with government representatives.
- The officials are also given the power to get in touch with the concerned ministers as they advance in designation and experience.
Learn the difference between Indian Administrative Services and Indian Engineering Services by visiting the IAS vs IES, in the linked article.
The following list includes the many organisations and cadres where IES Officers ae work:
- Indian Railway Service
- Indian Supply Service
- Indian Navy Armaments Service
- Central Water Engineering
- Central Power Engineering Service
- Indian Army Engineering Service
- Indian Ordnance Factory
- Defense Service Engineering Corps
- Geological Survey of India
- Border Roads Engineering Service
- Central Electrical and Mechanical Service
- Central Engineering Service for Roads
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UPSC IES Career Growth
Unlike many other occupations, IES officers advance up the hierarchy as they gain experience. The IES officers with experience will be considered for the different positions. The officers will start out as Assistant Executive Engineers but may eventually rise to the position of Chairperson or Cabinet-level officer.
According to the Union Public Service Commission, an IES Officer can advance in the following ways in terms of promotions and career development:
- After clearing the exam, the candidate is chosen initially for the position of Assistant Executive Engineer or Assistant Director in any government department.
- An officer becomes qualified for promotion as an Executive Engineer or a Director after serving for three to four years. However, this time frame for promotion could change based on the candidate’s performance while they were employed.
- An officer is qualified for advancement to Joint General Manager or Chief Engineer of Level 2 after serving for around 13 years.
- Promotion to the position of Chief Engineer or AGM (Additional General Manager) takes place after roughly 20 years of service.
- Promotion to the position of Senior General Manager is possible after serving for 30 years.
- Following the completion of 34 years of service, the officer will be qualified for the last promotion, which will see the officer elevated to the position of Chairperson or Managing Director.
If you are preparing for Government exams 2023 follow Daily Video Analysis of The Hindu Newspaper to augment your preparation of current affairs.
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UPSC IES Salary Structure
The 7th Pay Commission is responsible for determining the basic pay and benefits that make up an IES salary. Before considering applying for this prestigious position all candidates who want to take the IES Exam should be aware of the IES Salary Structure, which changes depending on the job and level of promotion.
The pay band of an IES officer’s salary after the 7th Pay Commission is 56100/- because IES officials are Scale “A” officers. The IES officer salary is on par with the other Civil Service Officer salaries. Due to the 7th pay commission, there is a sizable difference between the candidates’ previous pay packages. Previously Officers received an in-hand salary of Rs 42,000 and now they receive Rs 55,135 per month.
Also, Read Perks and Allowance of IAS Officers, in the linked article.
The salary increases with the promotions as the career advances. In the table below, we’ve included a detailed breakdown of the UPSC IES Salary based on promotions and ranks.
| UPSC IES Rank Wise Salary Details | ||||
| S. No. | Rank/Level | Time Frame | Grade Pay | Pay Scale |
| 1. | Junior level | On Joining | INR 5400 | INR 15,600 – INR 39,100 |
| 2. | Senior Scale | 5 – 6 years of joining | INR 6600 | INR 15,600 – INR 39,100 |
| 3. | Junior Administrative Grade | Minimum 10 years after joining | INR 7600 | INR 15,600 – INR 39,100 |
| 4. | Selection grade scale( Chief Engineer L2 / Jt. G M ) | 20 years or more after joining | INR 8700 | INR 37400 – INR 67000 |
| 5. | Super time grade (Chief Engr. /Additional GM) | — | INR 8700 | INR 37400 – INR 67000 |
| 6. | Cabinet Secretary Grade | Fixed | N/A | INR 90,000 |
| 7. | Apex Pay Scale | Fixed | N/A | INR 80,000 |
Check details related to Government exams after 12th in the given link.
Also if you are planning to sit for prelims, you have to fill the application form using the UPSC Apply Online portal. Visit the linked article for more details.
UPSC IES Pay Scale
The locations where the IES officers are posted will affect the IES Entry-level Pay Scale. In Engineering Services, the cities are classified into 3 classes, and the location in which a candidate is assigned will determine the overall salary of the IES officers. Here is a list of the three categories: Class A: Metropolis; Class B: Metropolis + Other Big Cities; Class C: Village + Small Cities.
The city wise pay scale of the IES officers is given below:
| UPSC IES: Pay Scale | |||
| Component | Class A Cities
(In Rupees) |
Class B Cities
(In Rupees) |
Class C Cities
(In Rupees) |
| Grade Pay | 5,400 | 5,400 | 5,400 |
| Basic Pay | 15,600 | 15,600 | 15,600 |
| Net Basic Pay | 21,000 | 21,000 | 21,000 |
| House Rent Allowance | 6,300 (30% of Basic) | 4,200 (20% of Basic) | 2,100 (10% of Basic) |
| Transport Allowances ((15% of Basic + DA) | 7,087 | 7,087 | 7,087 |
| Dearness Allowance (125% of Basic) | 26,250 | 26,250 | 26,250 |
| IES Gross Salary | 60,637 | 58,537 | 56,437 |
| IES Deductions | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| IES Salary in Hand | 50,637 | 48,537 | 46,437 |
To know more about the Current Affairs related information, refer to the linked article.
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UPSC IES Allowances And Benefits
The IES officers receive several benefits and allowances in addition to their basic salary. The following benefits and sets of allowances are available to officers under the IES salary structure over the course of their careers.
- Leave Travel Allowance/ Tour Allowance: This variable serves as an additional incentive and is based on a number of parameters.
- Dearness Allowance: To cover the costs of the IES Officer’s daily household expenses, a dearness allowance is given, which is based on inflation rates.
- House Rent Allowance or Residential Quarters: Depending on the IES Officer’s preference, the officer may choose to live in the furnished quarters or manage his or her own arrangements. The city in which the IES Officer will be posted determines the HRA; these cities are divided into three categories as mentioned in the above section. These allowances are:
| City | Allowance |
| Class A- Metropolis | 30% of the Basic Pay is entitled to HRA. |
| Class B- Big Cities | 20% of the Basic Pay is entitled to HRA. |
| Class C- Small Cities/ Towns/ Villages | 10% of the Basic Pay is entitled to HRA. |
- Official Vehicle: Depending on the department, it is permitted for official business when travelling to locations for meetings and seminars.
- Personal Assistant: Each IES Officer is given a personal assistant to help with official tasks, which can change depending on the Officer’s department.
- CGHS Medical Facility: Medical Facility is available to take care of the IES Officer’s medical costs. It could differ as an additional payment in other departments.
- Provident Fund: Each employee receives a certain amount to use as financial assistance after retirement.
- Encashment of Leaves: If there are any pending leaves at the end of the year, the IES Officer receives their encashment.
- Gratuity: A gratuity is given to recognise the IES Officers’ service.
- Domestic Servant: A domestic servant is provided to assist with household tasks so that the officer can better concentrate on the official responsibilities that have been delegated to him or her.
- Driver: The IES Officer is given a driver to use in his or her official vehicle.
Aspirants of the UPSC CSE exam can read in details about the Life of an IAS Officer, in the linked article.
Aspirants applying for various government exams can check the linked article for post-wise salary structure for examination.
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UPSC IES Selection Process
The IES Officers are selected through a three phased examination: Prelims, Mains and Interview. The Prelims is objective in nature and consists of two papers:
- General Ability (GA),
- Engineering Branch Section.
The Prelims exam pattern is given below:
| UPSC IES Prelims Exam Pattern | ||||
| Paper Number | Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Total Duration |
| Paper 1 | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | Engineering Stream Specific | 150 | 300 | 3 hours |
| Total | 250 | 500 | 5 hours | |
Candidates who will clear Prelims will be eligible to write the next phase of the exam: UPSC IES Mains. The Mains exam is descriptive exams with two papers, the exam pattern for IES Mains is given below:
| UPSC IES Mains Exam Pattern | ||
| Papers | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 Civil/Electrical/ Mechanical/ Electronics & Telecommunication | 300 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 2 Civil/Electrical/ Mechanical/ Electronics & Telecommunication | 300 | 3 Hours |
| Total | 600 Marks | 6 Hours |
Candidates who successfully pass the second stage of the exam are then selected for the final interview round. It carries 200 marks, and the candidate is ultimately chosen based on the total of their scores from both the written exam and the interview.
For the Best preparation strategy for competitive exams, candidates can visit the linked article and get detailed study material and preparation tips to excel in the examination.
Aspirants who shall be appearing for the exam for the first time and are willing to get some preparation tips and study material for the competitive exams can turn to BYJU’S for assistance.
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