UPSC Posts List With Salary and Job Profile: Complete Guide for Civil Services Aspirants

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to recruit candidates for some of the most prestigious government posts in India. These include the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and several other Group A and Group B services.

Candidates selected through UPSC CSE receive attractive salaries, job security, allowances, career growth opportunities, and administrative responsibilities.

In this article, we will discuss the UPSC posts list with salary, job profile, promotion opportunities, and facilities to help aspirants understand the different career options available through the Civil Services Examination.

What Are the Posts Available Through UPSC CSE?

UPSC Civil Services Examination recruits officers for three major categories:

• All India Services: Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).
• Central Civil Services Group A: Indian Foreign Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, and other central services.
• Central Civil Services Group B: Services such as the Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service and selected Union Territory civil services.

The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) is also an All India Service, but its recruitment involves a separate examination process, with the preliminary screening conducted through the Civil Services Preliminary Examination.

UPSC Posts List With Salary

The following table provides an overview of major UPSC Civil Services posts, their typical entry-level basic pay, and primary responsibilities.

UPSC Service/Post	Starting Basic Salary (Monthly)	Job Profile
IAS – Indian Administrative Service	₹56,100	District administration, governance and policy implementation
IPS – Indian Police Service	₹56,100	Law enforcement, policing and internal security
IFS – Indian Foreign Service	₹56,100	Diplomacy, international relations and foreign policy
IA&AS – Indian Audit and Accounts Service	₹56,100	Auditing government expenditure and public accounts
ICAS – Indian Civil Accounts Service	₹56,100	Government accounting, payments and financial reporting
ICLS – Indian Corporate Law Service	₹56,100	Corporate law enforcement and regulatory administration
IDAS – Indian Defence Accounts Service	₹56,100	Defence financial management and expenditure control
IDES – Indian Defence Estates Service	₹56,100	Defence land administration and cantonment-related work
IIS – Indian Information Service	₹56,100	Government communication and public information
IPoS – Indian Postal Service	₹56,100	Postal operations and administrative management
IP&TAFS – Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service	₹56,100	Financial and accounting functions in communications sectors
IRMS (Traffic)	₹56,100	Railway operations, freight and passenger traffic
IRMS (Personnel)	₹56,100	Railway human resources and personnel administration
IRMS (Accounts)	₹56,100	Railway finance, budgeting and accounting
IRPFS – Indian Railway Protection Force Service	₹56,100	Railway security and protection
IRS (Income Tax)	₹56,100	Direct tax administration and investigation
IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes)	₹56,100	Customs, GST administration and anti-smuggling
ITS – Indian Trade Service	₹56,100*	Foreign trade policy and export promotion
AFHQ Civil Service	Varies by designated grade	Defence headquarters administration
DANICS	As per applicable pay rules	Civil administration in designated Union Territories
DANIPS	As per applicable pay rules	Policing in designated Union Territories
PONDICS	As per applicable pay rules	Civil administration in Puducherry
PONDIPS	As per applicable pay rules	Police administration in Puducherry

*Figures are indicative entry-level basic pay under the 7th CPC, not in-hand salary. The exact entry grade and pay for individual services should be verified against their recruitment and pay rules, particularly Group B services and ITS Grade III. The 2026 UPSC CSE notification lists 23 participating services/posts.

What Is the Job Profile of Major UPSC Posts?

1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

IAS is among the most preferred services through UPSC CSE. IAS officers are responsible for district administration, development programmes, public welfare and policy implementation.

Major responsibilities:

• Work as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), District Magistrate (DM) or District Collector.
• Coordinate government departments and development schemes.
• Handle revenue administration and disaster management.
• Contribute to policy formulation at state and central levels.

Starting basic salary: ₹56,100 per month.

Highest basic salary: ₹2,50,000 per month at the Cabinet Secretary level.

2. Indian Police Service (IPS)

IPS officers are responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing crime and managing police organisations.

Major responsibilities:

• Serve as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), SP, DIG, IG or DGP.
• Supervise criminal investigations and policing operations.
• Maintain public order and coordinate security arrangements.
• Work in central security and investigative organisations on deputation.

Starting basic salary: ₹56,100 per month.

3. Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

IFS officers represent India internationally and contribute to diplomatic relations, foreign policy and international cooperation.

Major responsibilities:

• Work in Indian embassies, high commissions and consulates.
• Represent India’s interests abroad.
• Handle diplomatic negotiations and consular services.
• Promote international trade, cultural relations and cooperation.

Starting basic salary: ₹56,100 per month.

Officers posted abroad may receive foreign allowances and other benefits according to the country and applicable government rules.

4. Indian Revenue Service (IRS)

IRS officers administer India’s taxation system. The service has two major branches: Income Tax and Customs & Indirect Taxes.

Major responsibilities:

• Assess and administer taxes.
• Investigate tax evasion and financial irregularities.
• Enforce relevant tax and customs laws.
• Support government revenue collection.

Starting basic salary: ₹56,100 per month.

5. Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS)

IA&AS officers work within the Indian Audit and Accounts Department under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Major responsibilities:

• Audit government expenditure and financial transactions.
• Examine the use of public funds.
• Assess compliance with financial rules.
• Support accountability in public administration.

Starting basic salary: ₹56,100 per month.

What Is the Salary Structure of UPSC Officers?

The salary of UPSC Civil Services officers depends on their pay level, seniority, service and posting.

Pay Level	Starting Basic Pay	Indicative Career Stage
Level 10	₹56,100	Entry-level Group A officer
Level 11	₹67,700	Senior Time Scale
Level 12	₹78,800	Junior Administrative Grade
Level 13	₹1,18,500	Selection Grade
Level 14	₹1,44,200	Senior administrative positions
Level 15	₹1,82,200	Higher administrative positions
Level 17	₹2,25,000	Apex-level senior positions
Level 18	₹2,50,000	Cabinet Secretary

Indicative IAS pay progression under the 7th CPC. Other services have their own promotion structures, and not every officer reaches every level.

Department of Personnel and Training+1

What Is the In-Hand Salary of UPSC Officers?

A newly appointed Level 10 officer has a basic salary of ₹56,100 per month. However, the actual monthly earnings are higher after adding eligible allowances.

The salary generally includes:

• Basic Pay
• Dearness Allowance (DA)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA), where applicable
• Transport Allowance (TA)
• Other service-specific allowances

Deductions may include income tax, pension contributions and other applicable recoveries.

Therefore, the in-hand salary of an IAS, IPS or IRS officer is not a fixed amount. It varies according to posting location, accommodation, allowances and deductions.

What Facilities Do UPSC Officers Receive?

Depending on the service, designation and posting, UPSC officers may receive government facilities such as official accommodation, medical benefits, leave entitlements, travel allowances and retirement benefits.

Senior officers may also receive official vehicles, supporting staff and other facilities necessary for performing their duties. These benefits are governed by service-specific rules and are not automatically available to every officer.

Which Is the Highest Post in UPSC?

The Cabinet Secretary of India is the highest-ranking civil servant in the Government of India and is generally appointed from the IAS.

The Cabinet Secretary receives a fixed basic salary of ₹2,50,000 per month under Level 18 of the 7th CPC pay matrix.

However, the Cabinet Secretary is not a direct recruitment post through UPSC. It is a senior appointment reached after extensive administrative experience.

Which UPSC Post Is Best?

The best UPSC post depends on a candidate’s interests, professional goals and preferred working environment.

Career Interest	Suitable UPSC Service
District administration and governance	IAS
Police leadership and internal security	IPS
Diplomacy and international relations	IFS
Taxation and financial investigation	IRS
Government audit and accountability	IA&AS
Corporate regulation	ICLS
Public communication and media	IIS
Railway administration	IRMS
Defence financial administration	IDAS

IAS is often preferred by candidates interested in broad administrative responsibilities, while IPS is suitable for those interested in law enforcement. IFS offers an international career, and IRS provides opportunities in taxation, investigation and financial administration.

How Are UPSC Posts Allotted to Candidates?

UPSC posts are allotted based on a combination of factors, including:

1. Final UPSC CSE rank.
2. Service preferences submitted by the candidate.
3. Category and applicable reservation rules.
4. Available vacancies in each service.
5. Eligibility and medical requirements for the relevant service.

A candidate securing a higher rank generally has a better chance of receiving a highly preferred service. However, there is no universal fixed rank that guarantees IAS, IPS or IFS every year.

Conclusion

The UPSC Civil Services Examination provides opportunities to join some of India’s most respected government services. From IAS and IPS to IFS, IRS, IA&AS and other central services, each offers distinct responsibilities, career prospects and opportunities to contribute to public administration.

While most entry-level Group A services offer a basic salary of ₹56,100 per month, candidates should consider more than salary when selecting their service preferences. Job responsibilities, working conditions, promotion opportunities and personal interests are equally important.

For accurate recruitment information, candidates should refer to the official UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification.