The ‘State Civil Services’, also known as ‘Provincial Civil Services’ provide a lucrative alternative to the All India Services like the IAS, IPS and IFS.

Every State has a separate ‘Public Service Commission’ which is responsible for conducting competitive examinations to recruit new candidates into a particular State’s Civil Service.

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Through a State Civil Service Examination, the different categories in which you get jobs initially are mentioned below:

State Civil Services, Class-I (SCS)

State Police Service, Class-I (SPS)

Block Development Officer

Tehsildar/Talukadar/Asstt. Collector

Excise and Taxation Officer

Distt. Employment Officer

Distt. Treasury Officer

Distt. Welfare Officer

Asstt Registrar Cooperative Societies

Distt. Food and Supplies Controller/Officer

Any other Class-I/Class-II service notified as per rules by the concerned State.

A majority of these jobs are executive in nature and you will directly be responsible for implementing the State Government’s plans, schemes and programs.

Initially, the kind of jobs you get in the State Civil Services range from Sub-Divisional Magistrates/Deputy Collectors, Land Acquisition Collectors, Additional District Magistrates, Municipal Administrators, Under/Deputy Joint Secretaries, Deputy/Joint /Additional Directors or Assistant Commissioners in the State administration. In case of State Police Services, recruits generally get the job of a Deputy/Additional Superintendent of Police.

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Working in the State Civil Services offers great growth opportunities. You will get regular opportunities to take up bigger roles with more responsibilities within the state administration as you gain more experience.

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After you work in the State Civil Services or the State Police Services for a few years, it is very possible that you get promoted to the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) or the IPS (Indian Police Services) and work directly under the Central Government. These promotions are generally based on seniority and merit.

How to get into the State Civil Services?

Almost every State in India has its own ‘Public Service Commission’ which is responsible for recruiting suitable candidates into vacant entry – level positions as well as vacant higher posts in the State Civil Services. Most vacancies at the entry – level are filled by conducting competitive examinations (yearly, in most cases) and then recruiting the highest ranked candidates. The number of vacancies differs from year to year and state to state.

Find out how the Central Government recruits candidates into entry and lower level posts through the SSC and the Combined Graduate Level Examination.

Vacant higher level posts in the State Civil Services are also filled through examinations and interviews, but these exams and interviews are conducted less regularly, and only when vacancies arise.

To get into the State Civil Services as a college graduate, you will need to appear for the competitive examination that is conducted for the respective state.

Eligibility Criteria for State Civil Services Exams:

Most states do not accept candidates below the age of 21. The upper age limit ranges between 28 – 35 for a majority of the states. You will need to be a graduate in any field to be eligible. Even though you will not need to be a domicile of the state you are applying to, it is important that you have detailed knowledge about the customs, culture, language and geography of that state if you wish to be recruited.

Pattern of the State Civil Services Exams:

A major number of states follow the pattern and syllabus of the Civil Services Exam which is conducted by the UPSC. The State Civil Services Exams are also divided into 3 stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam and Personality Test (Interview). However, this does not apply to all states as some smaller states do not conduct the Preliminary Exam.

The major difference between the UPSC Civil Services Exam and the Civil Services Exam conducted by a State’s Commission is that you will be asked questions related to that particular state in the State Civil Services Exam. These questions can be about the demography, laws, culture, customs or geography of the state.

Click on the links mentioned in the following table to gather detailed information about the State Civil Services Exam for a particular state.