Choosing the right career option at the right stage of life is one of the most important decision every one of us has to take. Correct decision making, a systematic plan for achieving the career goal and its proper implementation – is the key for professional success. SWOT analysis of all the available career options guides you to choose the best career option for your better future.  An aspiring Indian youth with practical thinking about professional life, desires for a job which will give him adequate salary, name, fame and job security over a period of time. Traditionally followed, prestigious job options like- becoming a doctor or an engineer or a chartered accountant or a management graduate- might fulfil the above mentioned name, fame, money, job security expectations from a job, but civil services is an unique  career option which not only fulfils these basic expectations from a job but also empowers you to ‘touch the million lives’ of the people through your job.

Civil services, as a career option has the unique distinction of providing a larger canvass to work in public life. It provides you an opportunity of contributing to the welfare of the society as well as gives you a respectable social identity.  After being selected through most prestigious UPSC or MPSC examinations, you are posted as a District Collector or a Superintendent of Police or an Income Tax Commissioner and so many other Class I Gazetted officer appointments, where on day to day basis, you have the tremendous scope to work for the welfare of the society. It is the Indian constitution and governance system of our country that gives you an authority to perform your duties towards the most needy and downtrodden section of the society. Through your daily work, you not only ‘touch the lives’ of millions of the poor of the society but also make positive changes in their lives through your administrative actions. If Indian constitution has entrusted you with the authority then it is meant for acting as an agent of social change through proper implementation of various Government schemes as well as various acts and laws. Many a times, in your career as a civil servant, you may come across the situation where you are equated with God as you have brought those positive changes in the lives of the poorest section of the society, and additionally, you are also being handsomely paid by Government, the salary and other perks and privileges of a class I Government gazetted officer.

           Another important aspect of dedicating your full energies towards cracking the civil services examination is the nature and process of preparation of this exam itself. As a graduate or a post graduate of any stream, you acquire the limited knowledge of a specific subject only. Considering the vast nature of civil services examination syllabus encompassing various subjects like history, geography, economics, polity, science & technology, international relations and mental aptitude- your mind develops in such a manner that you become jack of all trades and master of one i.e. subject of your specialization. The process of civil services examination enriches your personality which positively transforms you into a versatile personality. The analytical approach required for civil services examination along with the basic understanding of all the basic subjects gives you an edge over all the other competitors in various fields of career options. But this advantage can be gained only if you have thoroughly prepared and devoted your energies for civil services examination preparation over a period of time. You will be surprised to know that many of the successful journalists, anchors, entrepreneurs, corporate managers, etc have been at some point of time in their life were associated with civil services examinations preparation and hence could apply that knowledge in other areas of their professional life.  Remember, cracking the civil services exam is not an end itself but the whole process to crack it is more important than the final destination.

Thus, an opportunity to touch the million lives of the society through your day to day job along with fulfilment of the humanly desires of a youth like- money, name, fame, job security- can be fulfilled through choosing most prestigious and challenging ‘civil services’ as a career option. Taking a right decision at right time will help you achieve your dream destination faster without waste of time and energy. Believe in yourself, set your goal and put your best efforts in cracking the civil services examination!

(The author of this article ,Lt Col (Dr) Satish Dhage, is an ex Army officer and has been qualified for IPS (Indian Police Services) through IPS LCE 2012. Presently, he is Director, MGM Institute of Competitive Exams Aurangabad.                                    

For any queries or feedback, he can be contacted on email id : drsatishdhage@gmail.com)