Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Author

DUBeat

Browsing
Campus Central

DUTA Releases Information About Ad-hoc Teachers and their Working in Recent Survey

By

Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) recently revealed a survey done on around 700 ad-hoc teachers, highlighting their demographic profiles and working conditions to revalidate ‘One-Time Absorption’ as the only way to alleviate the young teachers and their conditions. 

 

In a press statement released on 5th February 2020, DUTA revealed information about the demographic profiles and working conditions of the ad-hoc teachers of the University. According to the survey, over 4500 teachers at the University of Delhi are working on an ad-hoc or temporary basis, as permanent appointments haven’t taken place in over a decade. All the ad-hoc teachers fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria as per UGC regulations. 80% have higher qualifications and 88% are NET qualified. Nearly half the respondents have worked in one institution – this suggests that institutions are satisfied with the performance of the teachers and are benefitting from the contributions these teachers make to the academic and corporate life of the institutions. The data also shows that most Ad-hoc teachers are only able to pursue academic activities at great cost – without any leave or only during vacations, and nearly 25% are unable to pursue any academic activity at all.   

 

“Recruitment was done sporadically in two brief periods, first in 2014-15 and then in 2017, in few colleges/departments. The recruitment process, which started because of a High Court Order of December 2016, was brought to a complete halt because of the 5 March 2018 UGC notification for the implementation of Department/Subject-wise roster. It took over a year for the issue to get resolved. However, meanwhile, all advertisements for permanent appointments over 2700 posts lapsed. The change in screening criteria and recruitment process as per UGC Regulations 2018 now threatens the prospects of a vast majority of these teachers,” the Statement read. 

 

The ad-hoc teachers have the same qualifications as permanent teachers- fulfilling all the requisite academic qualifications like NET/JRF, M Phil, PhD, Post-doctorate etc. from prestigious Universities of India and abroad, and having teaching experience for years- and perform the same functions in their colleges and institutions as permanent teachers, and still, are denied job security. They receive no facilities like annual increments, medical benefits, maternity leaves, etc. and the duration of their tenure depends largely on the whims of the administration of their institutions, as stated by the press release. “This is also reflected in the findings as women constitute 57% of the workforce and most of them are either unable to plan their families or face extreme hardship during their pregnancies. Many are forced to leave their job – this is not reflected in the survey as only those who were able to get back their job figure in the survey.”

 

DUTA and the University’s teachers have been agitating for over 2 months now to press for demands related to their service conditions, including pensions, promotions, and permanency in jobs, claiming that these policies stand in stark violation of not only the Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Delhi but also of UGC Regulations which have stipulated maximum 10% for such vacancies and also go against the spirit of various court judgements and violates the fundamental rights of the affected teachers including the right to equal wage for equal work. “Various State Governments have initiated such processes of regularization for teachers in their State Universities through notified executive orders. Even the Government of NCT, Delhi, through the Governing Bodies in the colleges maintained by the Delhi Government, has shown willingness towards the process of regularization: many of these Governing Bodies have passed resolutions recommending a one-time absorption of all working temporary/ad-hoc teachers which now needs sanction from the UGC and the MHRD. In 2009, the UGC had asked Universities/Institutes to absorb UGC Research Scientists working in the units.

 

Today, when over 50% population is below the age of 25 years, it is important to strengthen public funded educational institutions. Infrastructure development and maintaining adequate teachers’ number are essential for quality education. It is important that University and its colleges, which serve lakhs of students from across the country, are stabilized through permanent faculty,” DUTA said. 

 

DUTA recommends that the UGC should frame a specific Regulation as a one-time measure for the absorption of the temporary/ad-hoc teachers in the University: a provision for teachers to be absorbed against vacancies which are approved and earmarked according to the DoPT Reservation Roster for teaching positions. Their ongoing struggle has led to the MHRD to recognize that no adhoc teacher be removed until permanent recruitment is done.

 

Feature image credits: Satviki Sanjay for DU Beat

Shreya Juyal

[email protected]

 

 

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

Of Language, Commas, and Paradoxes

By

 The english language is full of paradoxes and divisive nuances. Something as small as a comma can cost a company millions, and yet, the same may not even be recognised by the consumers. We look into possible causes behind this.

 

“Eats, shoots and leaves.”

“Eats shoots and leaves.”

What differs in the sentences above is not just a comma but also the same words taking on an entirely different paradigm in meaning. Anyone who feels that punctuation is only for grammar nerds is under serious misconceptions, as can be reiterated through the infamous “Let’s eat Grandma” example. Punctuation doesn’t pertain only to grammar enthusiasts; it’s a necessity that demands seriousness to save money and embarrassment. When language was primarily spoken, pauses during speech indicated what the comma signifies in written pieces. Most grammar rules are acknowledged worldwide, sparing one which has been a bone of contention between several linguists: the Oxford comma.

The Oxford or serial comma, is the additional comma that follows after ‘and’ as well as ‘or’ in a list of more than 3 items. Many style guides abhor the use of this punctuation mark: The Economist, The New York Times, and AP (the style guide most newspapers follow). However, others like the Chicago Style Manual recognise its importance. In recent years, the Oxford comma has formed a niché for itself in popular culture and has increasingly found usage in modern day writings. Although it’s considered stylistic and unnecessary by many, the tiny mark carries immense significance in removing ambiguity and establishing fact. Supporters of the serial comma demand it to be made mandatory, especially after a court ruling that penalised the lawmakers who overlooked its applicability. In a hotly debated case from March 2017, a court in Maine, USA, charged a dairy to pay $10 million to five truck drivers. The sentence that resulted in this controversial ruling was:

“The canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of:

  1. Agricultural produce
  2. Meat and fish items
  3. Perishable foods”

The questions that arise from this statement are multiple, including whether or not packing for shipment was distinct from distribution, and if it was indeed overtime pay exempt. Addressing these questions, the judge ruled in favour of the truck drivers, and maintained that without the comma the distinction was not clear. The dairy had to pay an estimated amount of $10 million to the five truck drivers, as they were included in the overtime pay as per the judge’s ruling.

Similar errors have surfaced because of the absence of an oxford comma. But there have also been instances where the Oxford comma doesn’t exactly help in removing ambiguity. The article headline, “Encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector”, has successfully put Nelson Mandela’s reputation at stake. But an Oxford comma may not have solved it either. It’s best if such sentences are rephrased and reordered to avoid miscommunication and unnecessary inconvenience to the reader.

The English language is full of nuances and dichotomies. With the supporters for the comma growing, it’s advisable to recognise it despite its apparent downside. At least this way, next time, a lawmaker would not be held responsible for costing his company millions of dollars for vehemently refusing to add a comma where it was required.

 

Feature Image Credits: CNN

 

Vijeata Balani

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Uncategorized

Mental health facilities for students

By

According to a 2012 Lancet report, India has one of the highest suicide rates across the world for youth aged 15-29.

The reason for this is primarily the high cost associated with personal counselling sessions by professional psychologists. The stigma attached with resorting to professional facilities is another reason why students prefer easily accessible and cheaper methods. The following is a non-exhaustive list of sources that students can avail for free, or at very nominal rates-

 

  • The Delhi University Women’s Association (DUWA) offers counselling services ?through a toll-free helpline number(1800-3000-7303), where individuals can contact them from Monday-Friday, between 3 to 5:30 p.m. Students can also write to them at [email protected], the response to which would be delivered within 48 hours. The Mind Body Centre wing of DUWA also offers one-on-one counselling sessions to faculty members and female students, for an annual fee of 50 rupees. An appointment for the same can be booked by calling at 27667742.
  • Ehsaas, the psychotherapy clinic at Ambedkar University, Delhi, offers psychotherapeutic support for free to students and individuals out of AUD too. You can reach out to their psychologists and psychiatrists at [email protected]
  • Sanjivini Society for Mental Health: It is a non-profit organization that offers free counselling services since 1976. People with problems who seek intervention in their stressful lives can interact with the counsellors, who come from different educational backgrounds. The organisation has two main units- the crisis intervention centre and the rehab centre. The former unit aims to provide confidential psycho-social counselling, while the latter is a full time therapeutic facility for people with chronic illnesses. You can contact them at- 24311918/ 24318883(available between monday to friday).
  • You’re Wonderful project: This student-run organisation aims to reach out to people who are succumbing to depression or showing signs of a stressful lifestyle. It advocates the importance of mental health and is open to answering queries on their multiple virtual platforms. Though not a substitute to medical professionals, it acts as a supplement and guide to help students and individuals deal with mental health issues.
  • College level counsellors: A lot of colleges within DU have an in-house counsellor that offers counselling on issues other go beyond career. A few such colleges are- Daulat Ram College (open to students across DU), Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Jesus and Mary College, SRCC, Hansraj etc.

Online portals: If you want to avoid face-to-face sessions, online services like YourDost connect you to experienced counsellors and psychotherapists, whom you can talk to anonymously.

 

The stigma around mental illnesses is still so strong that most individuals are reluctant to seek external help. Mental health helplines can, however, bridge the gap between patients and professionals. If you are, or know someone who is feeling suicidal, contact the following helplines immediately:

Vandrevala Foundation- 1860-266-2345,

Aasra- 91-222-754-6669

 

 

Feature Image Credits: mbc.du.ac.in

Vijeata Balani

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Life at Delhi University

What NOT to do When You are in a Hostel!

By

3Ds of hostel life: Discipline, Duty, Devotion. Hostel life isn’t just about the midnight Maggi and coffee. Life, there, is almost a parallel culture, an experience that takes you out of your comfort zone and exposes you to several experiences. It is a very memorable period in one’s life, but due to lack of knowledge or a casual attitude or just irresponsible behaviour, you may have problems of adjusting to the hostel environment, thus affecting your overall development. So watch your steps and hold yourself up carefully. Here are a few things you should not do when you are in a hostel: [caption id="attachment_51067" align="alignnone" width="300"]Hostel life can be tough, but it's fun too! Hostel life can be tough, but it’s fun too![/caption]

  1. First precaution: Don’t keep your money within easy reach!
There will be a lot of people visiting you, and you can’t point at a single person after a theft, should it take place. Better take precautions on this matter.
  1. Take care of your belongings
You aren’t at home anymore and you can’t let things like cell phones and laptops just lie around. In the same spirit, respect others’ belongings too.
  1. Do not use others’ things
Sharing may be a show of love, but it is also a show of bad manners. People have different needs. Are you sure you want to use their things, or allow them to use yours?
  1. Do not play loud music
Well, students have to maintain a regular study routine- you better consult others before playing loud music.
  1. Do not always speak your mind!
Just in case, remember that freedom of speech is not to be exercised anywhere and everywhere.
  1. Try not to break the rules of your hostel
Curfew time, hygiene and etiquettes are a few decrees of a disciplined hostel that must be upheld at any cost.
  1. Don’t be the late-night rustler
A rustling sound breaks the silence that finally descended in your room, right when you leaped off the bed and started performing a series of tasks, that too at the ungodly hour of 4 in the morning. [caption id="attachment_51068" align="alignnone" width="300"]Keep your room neat Keep your room neat[/caption]
  1. Don’t lounge with laundry
Hanging newly-washed laundry around the room, looping clothes around bedposts and stringing socks over the windowsill: enough!
  1. Do not keep the garbage in the room
Hostel rooms are usually tiny. In such an enclosed space, pages and packets littered around are a nuisance.
  1. Don’t keep weeping when you are homesick!
Keep in touch with your parents and try to adjust to the new place. A cry-baby does not give good vibes. The hostel is where you are adulting, so enjoy the stay and be responsible! Image credits: DU Beat, and Backpack and Bunkbeds Radhika Boruah [email protected]      ]]>

Keep Reading
By
Uncategorized

Busting the myth of societies leading to poor semester scores

By

Do societies really make your grades hit rock bottom, or is it time to turn the finger towards yourself? Often, the will to get the best of both worlds is all you need.

Usually academic fulfillment is the primary motive of school, while holistic development is that of a college. For the purpose of grooming an individual on an all-round basis, colleges across the university harbor a wide array of cultural and non-cultural societies open for participation to all students, irrespective of course and credentials. The selection procedure entails a rather long drawn-out audition cycle that is necessary for evaluating the credibility of a potential entrant.

Both cultural and non-cultural societies engage in a lot of work that essentially requires a high degree of commitment. Being a part of a college society demands undivided attention, free from external influence of any kind. A likely situation may arise prior to and during the annual festival season. The cream societies of the university are under pressure to maintain their legacy, and the budding societies face dire stress of making it to the top. In the face of these difficult circumstances, students usually find themselves in a fix. It gets utterly impossible to be able to keep a stable record of lectures and remain wary of the repercussions. But then again, that is precisely how student-run organisations, societies and clubs function. They base their working on the acquired, sometimes innate, ability of their members to multitask well. The least that can be expected from an undergraduate student, willfully a part of some society, is efficient management.

As is very rightly said, with great power comes great responsibility. It is time that students start understanding the severity of the same. Whilst being a part of a college society is an accomplishment in itself, maintaining a decent grade point average stands at equal footing. A society, no doubt, requires its members to sometimes miss lectures and it may, in worst cases, result in loss of both attendance and conceptual knowledge. But that should not make room for ready acceptance of ill fate. In scenarios like these, wisdom lies in putting in an extra effort to make up for all the lost time, by personally requesting teachers in-charge to take tutorials in their free time. This will ensure steady growth, both academically and professionally, and will also leave a positive impression on the teacher.

The ingrained blueprint of school days takes less than a month to wear off in the face of collegiate novelty. It is, in fact, true that college students study most of the text on their own and need little help with the rest. The days of incessant pampering and spoon-feeding have long gone, and it is imperative to let that fact sink in. It is not as difficult, as it is laborious, to make notes on one’s own and clarify doubts. There is no better way of keeping track than to take notes on a routine basis and reach out to the professors in case a doubt arises.

College societies are a professional arena and follow precise modus operandi, in accordance with which practice timings are determined. Their functioning is such that it leaves ample room for attending certain lectures. Also, considering the final score sheet carries a weightage of 5% attendance in each paper, colleges provide to their society members a compensation bill which helps settle the attendance score card for all the classes missed. A benefit of this kind is like ambrosia for ECA students and should not, in any way, make allowance for excuses regarding a dilapidated academic score.

The societies are as much a part of the educational institution as any scholarly establishment is, and consequently, bound to follow the university calendar, which stands witness to the various events and examinations throughout the year. And the societies do suspend work for almost a month and a half before semester-end examinations. The preparatory leave is also bountiful and makes for a wholesome study environment.

The benefits that a person reaps from working actively for a society prove fruitful in the long run. But it should also be kept in mind that it is not so at the cost of academic forfeiture. There are people who manage their score, their professional pledge, and work simultaneously with ease and meticulousness. It is only intention that helps these students function tirelessly.

So the next time you find yourself brainstorming on an idea to use ‘commitments’ as an excuse for not scoring well, remember that good management, coupled with a strong intent to fare well in exams, can make all the difference in the world!

 

Image credits: Gargi College

Lakshita Arora

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Features

Igniting Potential: Project Aarzoo, Teach For India

By
TFI Aarzoo

Aarzoo has reached into Delhi’s communities and ignited the untapped potential of many women and children. Nidhi Lamba and Deeganta Datta (Fellows) were shocked by what they found in their classrooms. The children were never encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. Yet plenty of students were inclined towards the arts. Many kids were interested in dance, theatre and performing arts, but their mothers seemed wary of allowing participation. The pair were taken aback, but realized that many of the mothers stayed home alone and were restricted to the meagre income earned by their husbands (if anything). The community also suffered from rampant domestic violence and substance abuse. For a group that didn’t have the chance to complete school, learning dance or theatre provided a welcome creative, productive outlet. “Most of them felt they were dependent on their husbands and also wanted to learn skills that could be used to get a job or earn money,” says Nidhi. “They were so intrigued, they said: ‘even we want to do it!” So, Project Aarzoo began as a performance showcase of 40 kids in Shahdara (and their mothers), which grew to a production featuring 350 students and aims to reach 6500 kids in the future!

 

Applications for the 2017-2019 Teach For India Fellowship program are now open. Please visit apply.teachforindia.org to submit your application by March 21st, 2017.

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

A pledge for misogyny? St.Stephen’s ANGA comes under fire for V-Day oath promoting misogyny

By
ST Stphen

The latest video, showing the members of St. Stephen’s College’s ANGA taking a pledge on Valentine’s Day to promote misogyny, has caused a furore on the internet.

 

A video making the rounds of social media since 14th February, showing the members of St. Stephen’s College’s Alnutt North Gentlemen’s Association (ANGA) taking a pledge, has been grabbing a lot of eyeballs lately. The oath is taken in the Alnutt North men’s residence block alongside the block tutor every year, and has been a part of ANGA’s V-Day tradition for quite some time now. It is a ritual not unlike Hindu College’s Damdami Mayi Puja of the Virgin Tree on every Valentine’s Day. An eyebrow-raising aspect of it, however, lies in the fact that the men, in the name of “Liberty” and building a “paramount egalitarian fellowship”, simultaneously pledge “to philander exclusively with men” and to “promote among them all misogyny”.

A source, not wishing to be named, clarifies that though most of the boys participate in the ritual and head out for an ice-cream afterwards, it is nota compulsory oath. They are even told in advance, ‘supposedly’, that the pledge is all in good fun. It is not meant to be taken seriously under any circumstance, and the issue was never given such publicity or brought under the limelight before. With social media providing instant access these days and the video going viral, however, ANGA has come under direct attack from various student groups, some of which even claim to have been protesting in vain against the ritual for quite some time.

Responding to the immense backlash, ANGA states, “We as members of the ANGA family and the larger Stephanian family have always upheld its values actively, supporting the ideas of gender equality. The ANGA oath has traditionally been a mockery meant to take a dig at the institutionalised inequality that exists in our society. It was a clear expression of sarcasm… we believe that it is not right to exaggerate it to such a large extent… at the end of the day, we all belong to the larger Stephanian family. We will, in the future, continue to fight for issues of gender inequality. We are extremely saddened by this kind of misinterpretation of our intentions… [This was] never intended to start a war against the other gender.”

Caught between a battle of interpretations by DU’s various feminist students and women’s groups, and a round of clarifications by ANGA itself, the ritual stands contested. Whether this, or even the rituals like the one followed by Hindu College, ought to be followed or not, is an entirely separate debate altogether. As of now, the spotlight is on ANGA.

 

Deepannita Misra

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Arts & Culture

Nobel Prize 2016 for Literature : A Pandora’s box?

By

Bob Dylan, the singer – songwriter won the Nobel in the Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song traditions”. With that the earth came to a halt, figuratively of course.  The Pandora’s box that opened included two important issues – limitation of the current definition of literature and lack of diversity of Nobel laureates.

The whole community had their views regarding this event, while some people like Philip Pullman, Salman Rushdie and Joyce Carol Oates welcomed the decision, others were flabbergasted at the possibility of a songwriter being placed in the category of literature. Ruskin Bond called it a “great insult to all the writers who have already received the award and also to those who rightly deserve it” Jodi Picoult tweeted “I’m happy for Bob Dylan. #ButDoesThatMeanICanWinAGrammy?”.

Did Bob Dylan really deserve the Nobel Prize for literature? The answer to this question may vary, but can a songwriter bag a prize for literature? I think yes.

What is literature? Literature, as I understand is not just written text but a combination of lyrics and art as well wrapped around in a light thread, the definition of which is still expanding. When discussing the aspects of a century or a particular time frame, the lyrics and the discourse caused by them is also discussed.

It does not have a well bounded definition and it should not. In earlier times, there was no collective definition of literature. During pre literature, literature mainly constituted of oral traditions like folklore, folk songs etc which were an amalgamation of the societies history, their culture. It is an expansive art that continues to grow in all directions as we speak.

Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s song lyrics have been a part of the academic syllabus where themes, motifs, structure etc is discussed just like other literature pieces are examined and the lyrics have been a platform for research and academic papers as well.

The other, more recent conversation is questioning the whole Nobel Prize establishment itself. With 867 awards distributed since 1901, just 46 have been awarded to women. The demographics show that western countries have received a disproportionately high number of awards igniting a conversation about the lack of diversity and the reinforcement of hierarchy especially when the rumoured list of nominees for literature included Ngugi wa thiono’o from Kenya and Ali Ahmad Said Esber (Adonis) from Syria which have received one and zero Nobel Prize for Literature respectively.

The Nobel Prize this year has not been without controversy but it has opened up important discussions about the boundaries of a category, whether there is a need to have more categories, questioning of the procedure and decision making that goes on when deciding the nominee for the Nobel and why there is a large disparity in the awards.

Adarsh Yadav

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

What lies in your future? To Be or Not To Be- a Civil Servant

By

In October 1949, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in his speech to the members of the Constituent Assembly, said “You will not have a united India if you do not have a good All-India Service which has an independence to speak out its mind.” Ever since then, civil services have known to play a crucial role in all the administrative systems of the state, with its persistent influence affecting all the citizens, in some way or another. Today, as a result, millions of ambitious students aspire to make their voices heard, and are determined to create a difference in the society by contributing towards the betterment of the Indian governance system in whichever way they can, and as much as possible.

Although mostly considered as a ‘dream career’, the road to success to this safe haven is anything but a dream ride. It does not only require a significant show of talent, intelligence and ambition to get it, but also an enormous amount of passion, dedication and perseverance to make it (Or break it!) for a career which is just as challenging and attractive in the beginning, as it is rewarding and satisfying in the end.

The aspirants of Indian civil services thus, favor the top three services such as IAS, IPS and IFS for which UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducts an exam for recruitment. These services are much sought after due to their recognition of being bestowed with great power to bring about societal development, and encompassed by all means one can ever aspire for such as prestige, status, honor, salary amount, job security, foreign tours, etc.

Before we take you through the Top Services, read about these 5 Amazingly Badass Bureaucrats You Would Be Proud To Know.

However, every now and then, speculations abound and one reels under confusion. Thus, in an attempt to remove this uncertainty of whether or not to choose civil service as a career, following is a brief comparison between the 3 main kinds of services and why each of them should ever be considered by different kinds of people.

IAS (Indian Administrative Service):-

http://www.civilsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/u-sagayam.jpg
http://www.civilsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/u-sagayam.jpg

Being an IAS officer, one is entrusted with the responsibility of administering laws of the land, development schemes and each and every affair of the district. They are the policy makers and executors of all final decisions of the state. This service also provides them with an opportunity to work in a tremendous variety of fields such as social sector, security, law and order, agriculture, finance, etc. Thus, this service is best suited for aspirants who like working in different spheres and love interacting with all kinds of people, as compared to those who are limited in their area of work and get satisfied by excelling in one particular field only.

However, the job’s routine is pretty unpredictable. Along with long durations of travel postings, one also always needs to be on his/her toes in the times of any unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, intellectually sharp people with a tough and reflexive attitude would make for some great IAS officers.

IPS (Indian Police Service):-

http://www.civilsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ajit-doval.jpg
http://www.civilsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ajit-doval.jpg

Being an IPS officer, one is entrusted with the authority to look after some of the most essential issues of the state such as public safety and security, law and order, traffic control, crime detection and prevention, etc. IPS officers can also go on to work with many central police organizations or head intelligence agencies such as CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) or CID (Crime Investigation Department) to solve crime investigations, provide security for VIPs or tackle counter-terrorism.

In the wake of increasing terrorist threats, criminal attacks and trafficking, a job of an IPS officer may seem like the most dangerous one of all. However, after solving an unpredictable case or serving justice to the wrong doers, the satisfaction brought to their soul is unmatched to any other feeling in the world, and worth all the efforts and dangers put in to complete their job. Therefore, those who are incredibly goal oriented, intellectually stimulating, can think ‘outside the box’ and possess a burning desire to serve the people of the society in the best possible way, will be the ones considered for this type of career.

IFS (Indian Foreign Service):-

http://www.civilsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/syed-akbaruddin.jpg
http://www.civilsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/syed-akbaruddin.jpg


As an IFS officer, one deals with all the external affairs of the country that involve framing and implementation of foreign policies, and issues related to diplomacy, trade and inter-cultural relations. An IFS officer spends most of his/her time abroad (almost two-third of his/her entire career) and only one third of career in India to serve at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs. IFS officers get to chose three places of their choice out of the number of vacant posts circulated, and are also allowed to take their parents abroad with them.

By being given a full opportunity to travel the world, embrace new cultures and enjoy life to the fullest, the job of an IFS officer may actually turn out to be tons more exciting and life-changing than it sounds. However, it is both equally strenuous and time constraining as well, therefore highlighting the qualities of being extremely punctual and responsible with all the work, and giving more than hundred percent in every task. Therefore, this proves to be the most difficult and performance-oriented career out of all the three services, and if one feels confident and strong willed enough to handle it, then they should definitely go for it.

Nevertheless, one also needs to be extremely fluent in English-both spoken and written, for IFS officers are always required to handle lots of delegations from various countries, and therefore constantly involve having easily understandable communications between people of different embassies of the world.

Therefore, this was our selective take on the top 3 services (IAS, IPS, IFS) of civil services. We hope that we could do some justice with the content and your expectation setting. For more information on how to start preparing for Civil Services while juggling college, then, we suggest you to start with the Civilsdaily’s Android App to get a daily dose of IAS-Exam specific newsfeeds to build on your current affairs, and any further help in the future. Good luck!

Image Credits: www.civilsdaily.com

Shagun Marwah

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By