If you are reading this, you are probably looking forward to filling in your Detailed Application Form (DAF) – the multipage form wherein you need to fill in your service preferences as well as your state cadre preferences for IAS & IPS.
First, Congratulations on clearing the first hurdle called Prelims. Second, the journey has just begun. Because a number of you may have crossed this hurdle before but not quite reached there.
Filling out your state cadre is a BIG decision. Do not take it lightly. Most people do take it lightly with the thinking – Let me first clear the exam, what state I shall get is for later deliberation.
Your quality of life largely depends on the place you live. And the All India Services is the least All India of all services under the Union Public Service Commission, if you know what I mean.
Factors to keep in mind before you choose your cadre:
1. Do you want to live in an urban or rural area?
If you like to prefer living in rural areas in the early days of your life, all of India is your walking ground. Except AGMUT , which has the magnanimous Delhi , Chandigarh etc.
If you prefer urban centres , then AGMUT (Arunachal Goa Meghalaya and Union Territories) and states close to Delhi will top your list. This would include Haryana, Punjab and adjoining states. This would be followed by more urbanised states like Karnataka. Then states which have a number of urban cities – like Maharashtra has Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, and more, will be among your top preferences. You will be always be close to an urban city
Bihar for instance, doesn’t quite have many urban centres, barring Patna , where you could go watch a movie, or just hang out.
2. Do you want Power?
If yes, then at the cost of quality of life, you may choose Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and likes. The Mai-Baap culture is still intact. And you could live like Zamindars, if not kings, as a DM in these states.
3. Do you want to live close to your family?
By family, I mean your would be family. Your spouse and your child. Let us face it. You will be in a rural area for the first decade of your life. If your spouse is working, she shall not accompany you. Worse, if your child grows up, he/she will stay with him in an urban city for his education. So you don’t quite get to live with him/her.
With states like Maharashtra , where there may be a big city nearby (assuming you don’t get to be the DM of that city – Nasik, Nagpur etc.), your family may move to that city and may live close by and you may be able to visit them on weekends or vice versa.
With a state like Bihar, forget about visiting your family for weekends, because they shall probably stay in Patna eventually when you aren’t able to sell your DMship and your big bunglow as an attraction anymore, while you may be stuck in Western Champaran.
Traversing all of UP is like traversing half of India. Staying with family isn’t quite easy. UP, however, and Western UP in particular has some big cities where you may be able to fit in your family. Or if you are lucky, you may get posted close to Allahabad or Lucknow.
4. Do you want some tangible achievements in your area of work?
If yes, then Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttarakhand etc are states where you may actually be able to achieve results. These states have little political interference.
5. Do you want to become a DM soon?
Then UP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh etc, should be your top choices. You could be a DM in no time here. Less than five years. Southern States like Andhra, Tamil Nadu and states like West Bengal have a slow promotion to DM in place, though they are preferred a lot.
A person can soon become a DM in UP while his batchmates may be struggling with a CDP/ DDC post elsewhere. Then, of course, you have too many people at DM rank, and the government can choose its favourites. Welcome to the world of Pairavi and Lobbying.
6. How much political interference can you survive?
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar (until Nitish Kumar came in) etc top the list for political interference. This would be followed by West Bengal & Kerala (unusual for it to figure on any list.) These two are on the list for political interference due to communist parties in place, looking for a committed bureaucracy.
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan have little political interference as compared to the above.
Your choices in the DAF will decide the next 30-35 years of your life. As said earlier, quality of life is directly related to the city you live in.
Choose wisely.
Note: The above article is valid for IAS. For IPS, the power equations and autonomy of IPS vis-a-vis IAS, number of Commissionerates , and the social status of police in the society will be guiding factors for the same.
