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Under DoPT and UPSC guidelines, the first independent assignment of an IAS officer is as an SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) or Assistant Collector, the role is usually for 1-4 years.
A District Magistrate, also called a District Collector, is the chief executive authority of the entire district. (AI-generated image)
In the quiet Himalayan town of Mussoorie where young recruits arrive with starry eyes and heavy bags, the making of an IAS officer begins long before any government file is signed. Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination may be the first victory, but insiders often say that the real test begins only after entering the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).
According to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the nearly two-year course at LBSNAA is designed to transform high-performing graduates into “servant leaders”, individuals who are equally capable of drafting policy and trekking through mountainous terrain.
The journey begins with a 15-week foundation course, where IAS, IPS, IFS and other civil services trainees study side by side. Academics include the study of the Constitution, economics, law and public administration. But the academy says class is only half the story. Yoga at dawn, horse riding lessons, cross-country races and treks through the hills are woven into the daily timetable to create what the LBSNAA calls “holistic preparation for public life”.
Once the basics are mastered, trainees move to Phase-1, which is an IAS-exclusive module lasting 20 weeks. Here, the focus becomes on state-specific administrative issues such as land revenue system, disaster management, field inspection and public service delivery.
The highlight of the year is ‘Bharat Darshan’, a 10-day study tour that takes officer trainees to Army, Navy and Air Force bases, major projects and culturally diverse areas across the country. The academy says the idea is to expose them to the country which will ultimately help them govern.
first steps in the field
After Phase-1, textbooks replace terrain maps. Officer trainees disperse to their cadre states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and others for about a year of district training. For six crucial weeks, they work directly under the SDM or Assistant Collector, overseeing everything from revenue collection to maintaining law and order in tense rural areas.
This is followed by a 3-month stint as an Assistant Secretary in Delhi, where he helps central ministries understand how national policy is shaped. Only after completing these cycles are they formally designated as probationary officers.
Life at this level is disciplined: a monthly stipend of Rs 56,100, deductions for mess and hostel facilities, limited mobile phone use, and no family accommodation. The government says the rules are meant to focus officers and prepare them for demanding field conditions.
Why don’t new IAS officers become DM overnight?
Popular perception often envisions a newly minted IAS officer stepping straight into the role of a District Magistrate (DM). The reality is much more measured.
Under DoPT and UPSC guidelines, an IAS officer’s first independent assignment is as an SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) or Assistant Collector, a role he usually lasts for one to four years.
An SDM is the administrative head of a sub-division, usually of two to three tehsils in states like Haryana or Uttar Pradesh. It is a demanding frontline post combining executive, revenue and magisterial powers. SDMs oversee law and order, hear land dispute cases, manage disaster relief, conduct elections and can even impose Section 144 if peace is threatened. The salary at this level ranges from Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500 excluding allowances.
Only after proving themselves in grassroots roles like SDM, Chief Development Officer (CDO) or Project Officer are officers considered ready for the hot seat at the district headquarters.
what does a dm actually do
A District Magistrate, also called a District Collector, is the chief executive authority of the entire district. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, the DM is the senior most executive magistrate, responsible for maintaining public order. Working closely with the Superintendent of Police (SP), the DM oversees revenue administration, oversees development projects, conducts elections and leads disaster response.
During crises like floods, communal tension or the Covid-19 vaccination drive, DMs are the face of government action. They also have special powers, such as issuing adoption orders under the Juvenile Justice Act. The post comes with a high pay band, starting at Rs 67,700 and rising to Rs 2,08,700.
Long climb to the top bureaucratic ranks
The IAS career ladder outlined by DoPT is designed to span three decades:
- 1-4 Years: SDM/Assistant Collector
- 5-8 years: ADM or Deputy Secretary
- 9-12 years: District Magistrate or Joint Secretary
- 13-16 years: Special Secretary or Director
- 16-24 years: Divisional Commissioner or Secretary in State Ministry
- 25-30 years: Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary
- Above 30 years: Chief Secretary or Cabinet Secretary, highest civil service post, reporting to PMO
Promotion depends on a combination of seniority, performance and Annual Confidential Report (ACR). Officials are also required to undergo mandatory mid-career training at the 10-, 20- and 30-year marks to stay abreast of emerging governance challenges. Retirement occurs at the age of 60, with lifelong pension benefits.
The journey from SDM to Cabinet Secretary is long, layered and often unforgiving. Yet each posting, from the dusty sub-divisional office to the marble corridors of Delhi, is designed to mold officers who understand India at every level.
November 28, 2025, 7:41 pm IST
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