Myth 1: All IAS officers are powerful.
Reality: IAS officers have no inherent power just because they are IAS officers. Being an IAS officer entitles you to be posted in some important assignments like District Magistrates, which is powerful. There are a large number of postings where anIAS officer enjoys hardly any power.
Myth 2: IAS officers are mostly posted as District Magistrate.
Reality: When you think of IAS officers, you think of a DM. However, an average IAS officer is posted as DM for only 2-3 years in his career of around 30-38 years. Some IAS officers never get an opportunity to become a DM at their career.
Myth 3: A DM is the boss of a district?
Reality: A DM is only a coordinating officer for all the state government departments. He has no power and control over the central government officer like IRS, IRTS etc. Even the state government officials report to their own superior who writes their performance report. DM only enjoys a loose control over the other government officials.However, he is responsible for every department in his district which oftentakes the toll on his health and happiness because his responsibilities are toogreat to handle. He also has several bosses in bureaucracy and politics; and itis not easy to please everyone.
It is not everyone’s cup of tea to manage a district. Some officers prefer to have cooler assignments than heading a district as the salaries and allowances are same for all officers. You can be suspended for any shortcoming in any department under your district or face vigilance cases for misusing your discretion even under political pressure.
Myth 4: IAS officers always get huge perks like bungalow, cars and servants?
Reality: Most of the perks of IAS officers are based on the specific charge. You may get a huge bungalowas DM but get a small flat once you are posted in the secretariat. All the vehiclesare provided for official purposes only and the servants are often those whoare diverted from office to do personal work.
Myth 4: IAS officers can’t be removed from service?
Reality: The procedures for removing IAS officers are almost the same as any other Group A officer of Government of India. Every year several IAS officers are suspended, arrested and removed from service for various reasons.
Myth 5: IAS officers are more powerful than the officers of other services?
Reality: The power to any government officer is given by the Act of Parliament or State Legislature. The power of an IRS or IPS officer can be exercised only by them and not by the officer of any other service including an IAS officer. For example, CBI can be headed only by an IPS officer and only an IRS officer can be a Commission of customs,excise or income tax. No service is superior to any other service in performance of their jobs.
