Government jobs: In the service of the nation
Posted on February 18, 2010 by Tahlent Team
Last year, when the economic crisis triggered a recruitment freeze across the board, graduates from IITs and B-schools flocked to public sector organizations. Government jobs have always had the reputation of being the most secure of all occupations despite being low-paying. However, with the sixth pay commission recommendations being put in place, jobs in the public sector have started paying better and now offer the added advantage of job security.
There are several job opportunities available with the governments of India. These include central and state administrative departments, public sector companies, nationalized banks, power and utilities corporations, the armed forces, various administrative bodies, police forces, foreign services, customs and excise departments, the environment and forests department, department of civil aviation, shipping, transport and railways, postal services, etc.
But it is not just administrative jobs that the government offers. Fields like information technology, aerospace engineering, agricultural and bio-sciences research and medicine also offer a host of career options in government departments.
In keeping with constitutional directives, government jobs offer reservations for candidates from backward communities, scheduled castes and tribes, and other backward classes.
Prior to the 1990s when the liberalization of the Indian economy brought in foreign investment and entrepreneurship and led to the creation of more jobs, employment opportunities offered by India’s public sector were coveted because they offered high wage structures, good benefits (healthcare, housing, leave, etc.) and guaranteed job security. However, those involved in the selection processes are often accused of bureaucracy and nepotism. Training, effective human resource management practices, productivity and professionalism are unheard of in some public sector offices. Promotions are time-bound and not necessarily performance-related.
As the process of getting a government job was so entangled in red tape, most competent graduates never considered the option. Additionally, trade union activities in public sector companies often disrupt work and result in the loss of several man-days of work every year.
Despite these shortcomings, government jobs attract many takers. To qualify for a government job at entry level, a candidate must establish his/ her eligibility by passing an entrance examination, followed by interviews.
The Union Public Service Commission, which conducts entrance examinations every year to induct candidates into the civil services – primarily the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service and the Indian Foreign Service, is the most sought-after for graduates and postgraduates. Similar academies exist at the state level. Further, there are entrance examinations for jobs with one of India’s largest public sector employers — the Indian Railways — apart from jobs with the armed forces, public sector banks, postal services, customs and excise departments, forest services, etc.
There are a number of institutes that offer courses tailored for public sector jobs. For instance, those aspiring to a career in banking may apply for admission to the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance, which offers many courses. The Insurance Institute of India and the Indian Institute of Financial Planning also offer specialized courses in other areas of the financial services industry.
Astrophysics and space research offers exciting career options, the premier institutes being the Indian Space Research Organization. For those aspiring to a career in civil aviation, specifically flying, the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi in Fursat Ganj, Raebareli is India’s leading training school. For aspiring fighter pilots, the Indian Air Force offers high-paying, exciting careers. Defense careers in the Indian Army and the Indian Navy are also highly sought after. Medical professionals are also in great demand in the armed forces and the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune is the premier institute for them.
For those aspiring to a career in the government information and media departments, the best institute is the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. The National Law School of India University in Bangalore is among the best institutes for legal education.
For medical education and jobs in India’s public sector medical and healthcare departments, the best courses are offered by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Post-Medical Education and Research in Puducherry and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bangalore. The Pharmacy Council of India also offers courses for those looking for career avenues in pharmacy.
More information on current openings in government departments, entrance examination calendars and eligibility criteria for various public sector jobs is available at the website of the Employment News Weekly.
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