The IES (Indian Economic Services) is one of the prestigious examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission in India. It is considered among the toughest exams conducted across the nation, but it attracts a lot of candidates each year. The competition in IES is so aggressive, and less than 0.30% of candidates are able to get into the position of an officer in the IES. Only the successful candidates get a chance to participate in economic policy-making and development with the Indian government and thus become an integral part of shaping the country's economy. But We at Plutus IAS with India's Leading Expert of Economics, Prateek Tripathi Sir Make this Indian Economic Services Teaching Effective.
The work responsibility of an officer of the Indian Economic Service-IES ranges from different economic analyses to analyzing economic data, creating and implementing economic policies, undertaking deep economic research work, and project management that would encourage the economy in growth ways. They will contribute to formulating and implementing various strategies that have an impact on the economy of the nation. IES officers play a very important role in policy formulation, including planning and execution of economic reforms, assessment of economic trends, and follow-through on proper implementation by the government.
The work responsibility of an officer of the Indian Economic Service-IES ranges from different economic analyses to analyzing economic data, creating and implementing economic policies, undertaking deep economic research work, and project management that would encourage the economy in growth ways. They will contribute to formulating and implementing various strategies that have an impact on the economy of the nation. IES officers play a very important role in policy formulation, including planning and execution of economic reforms, assessment of economic trends, and follow-through on proper implementation by the government.
The Indian Economic Service (IES) is a Group 'A' Central Government Service.
Group 'A' Service This is the highest category of government jobs in India, meant for leadership and policy-making roles. These positions involve making key decisions, managing departments, and shaping national policies.
Central Government Service This means that officers are directly employed by the Government of India, not by state governments. They work at the national level and their decisions impact the entire country.
Purpose of IES as a Service It brings trained economists into government positions to help create sound economic policies, plans, and decisions.
The service was set up to build professional expertise within the government.
Build professional expertise. This means creating a team of specialists with advanced knowledge and skills in economics. These experts provide high-quality analysis and advice.
Carry out economic analysis. Officers study data, trends, and economic problems carefully to understand what is happening in the economy and why.
Design and shape development policies Based on this analysis, they help create policies and programs that encourage growth and development, such as policies for jobs, education, health, industry, and trade.
Improve delivery systems. It's not enough to make a policy; it must also be implemented well. Officers help make sure government schemes and services reach the people in an efficient and fair way.
Assess government programs This involves checking if a program is achieving its goals, like reducing poverty or improving education, and suggesting changes if needed.
The IES is overseen by the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.
Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) This department is responsible for managing India's overall economic policies, including public finance, budgeting, and coordination of international economic matters.
Ministry of FinanceThe parent ministry that handles taxation, government spending, borrowing, and overall economic strategy for the country.
Indian Economic Service Rules These are official guidelines that describe how the IES is structured, how promotions happen, rules for transfers, duties of officers, and other administrative details.
Updated whenever required These rules are not fixed forever; they are revised to reflect new policies, challenges, and the changing needs of the government.
The IES has a special feature - its positions are spread across 72 different Ministries and Departments.
Spread across 72 Ministries and Departments This means IES officers are not limited to working in just one area, like finance. They are posted to many different parts of the government, depending on where economic expertise is needed.
Inter-Ministerial Service “Inter-ministerial” means officers move between ministries. For example, one officer might work in the Ministry of Health today and later move to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Inter-Departmental Service Similarly, officers can work across various departments within a ministry, giving them broad exposure and experience
ES officers handle work in diverse sectors that affect different parts of the economy. These include:
Finance and Economic Matters Managing the country's finances, such as budgeting, public debt, taxation, and macroeconomic policies like inflation control.
Social Sectors Health, education, rural development, and other areas that directly impact the quality of life for citizens.
Agriculture and Allied AreasIncludes sectors like food processing, irrigation, and agricultural productivity, which are vital for rural development and food security.
Industry and Services Covering manufacturing, business regulations, services like IT and tourism, and policies to boost growth in these sectors.
Trade and External Relations - Involves foreign trade policies, exports and imports, and India's economic relationships with other countries and global organizations.
Infrastructure, Technology, Energy, and Environment Planning and policies for roads, railways, electricity, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and environmental protection.
Yes. Apart from their regular roles, officers can go on deputation, which means temporarily working in another organization.
International Organizations Like the United Nations (UN), World Bank, IMF, or other global institutions where India needs representation and expert advice.
Foreign Governments Officers can work with other countries to share knowledge and strengthen international partnerships.
State Governments They can help state governments with planning and development strategies.
Regulatory Authorities Such as SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), or RBI (Reserve Bank of India), which need economic expertise.
Central Staffing Scheme This allows officers to be placed in other ministries or departments at the central level for specific projects or assignments.
IES officers act as in-house economists for the government. Their contributions include:
Define and measure policy objectives They help set clear goals, like reducing poverty by a certain percentage or achieving specific growth targets
Create and implement policies - They assist in drafting policies and ensure they are put into action effectively.
Monitor and assess policies Officers track how well a policy is working and recommend improvements.
Work with specialists They collaborate with experts in other fields, such as agriculture, health, or technology, to design better policies.
Evaluate government programs They check if programs like MGNREGA or Ayushman Bharat are achieving their intended outcomes.
Provide evidence-based inputs Their work is based on data and factual analysis, which makes government decisions more reliable and scientific.
Candidates must be:
A citizen of India, or
A subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or
A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently, or
A person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries (e.g., Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, East African nations, Vietnam) intending permanent settlement in India.
→ Those in categories (b)–(e) require a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
Must be 21-30 years on 1st August 2024 (Born between 2 August 1994 and 1 August 2003).
Age Relaxation
Important Notes
Date of Birth Rules
For Indian Economic Service (IES):
Postgraduate degree in Economics / Applied Economics / Business Economics / Econometrics
from a recognized Indian or approved foreign university
For Indian Statistical Service (ISS):
Bachelor's degree with Statistics / Mathematical Statistics / Applied Statistics OR a Master’s degree in these subjects from a recognized Indian or approved foreign university.
Additional Notes
Candidates must meet the physical fitness standards prescribed in Appendix III of the official notification published in the Gazette of India (dated 10 April 2024).
UPSC
INDIAN ECONOMICS SERVICES {IES}
BASIC DETAILS: -
TOTAL PAPERS: - 6
TOTAL MARKS: - 1000
PAPER 1 {GENERAL ENGLISH} , 100 MARKS
PAPER 2 {GENERAL STUDIES} , 100 MARKS
PAPER 3 {GENERAL ECONOMICS -1}, 200 MARKS
PAPER 4{GENERAL ECONOMICS -2}, 200 MARKS
PAPER 5 {GENERAL ECONOMICS -3}, 200 MARKS
PAPER 6 {INDIAN ECONOMICS}, 200 MARKS
Exam Day-1
General English (9am-12noon, Morning Shift) - 100 Marks
General Studies (2pm-5pm, Evening Shift) - 100 Marks
Exam Day-2
General Economics-1 (9am-12noon, Morning Shift) - 200 Marks
General Economics-2 (2pm-5pm, Evening Shift) - 200 Marks
Exam Day-3
General Economics-3 (9am-12noon, Morning Shift) - 200 Marks
Indian Economics (2pm-5pm, Evening Shift) - 200 Marks
BOOKS TO BE REFERRED: -
EXAM PATTERN:-
Paper Consist of 4 Parts: -
Books to be Referred :-
Exam Pattern:-
CONSISTS OF FOLLOWING SECTIONS: -
PART A:- MICROECONOMICS {5 SUB SECTIONS}
PART B:- MATHEMATICAL METHODS, STATISTICS, ECONOMETRICS
BOOKS TO BE REFERRED: -
MICROECONOMICS:-
STATISTICS:-
ECONOMETRICS:-
MATHEMATICAL METHODS:-
BOOKS TO BE REFERRED: -
BOOKS TO BE REFERRED: -
Environment Economics:-
Public Finance:-
BOOKS TO BE REFERRED: -
