Is the job of an IAS officer impactful? Can an officer bring about change for the better?
When we think of transformative change, we often envision a rapid and dramatic impact during an officer’s tenure. We all aspire to make a significant, positive difference in our domain, but it’s essential to recognise that immediate results are not the norm.
Think of the last time you wanted to change some aspect of yourself for the better. It might be exercising every day or eating healthy or cutting down on social media use. How difficult was it? We try to inculcate good habits, but we often relapse. And then we try again. It’s a long struggle against ourselves.
Now imagine how difficult it would be to change a set of populace for the better. It is possible, but it is often slow, painful, and difficult.
Throughout history, meaningful and lasting change has always taken time. We have not eliminated polio in one day or one year. It took the relentless effort of countless health workers across the country to reach that milestone. No one invented the iPhone from nothing. It was a yearly refinement of ideas that led to Steve Jobs unveiling the smartphone.
It’s the same in the government. Radical changes and cult personalities happen only in the movies. If you enter the service and think you can transform everything overnight, you are going to be disillusioned. To be an effective public servant is to understand the limits of one’s power.
Rather on a day-to-day basis, what you need to work on are the small wins. It can be about solving a chronic land acquisition problem that’s been pending for years. Or ensuring 100% safe, institutional deliveries in a Gram Panchayat. Or it’s about providing a digital classroom for a remote school that improves the learning outcomes of 50 children. That’s 50 lives transformed.
It’s about notching these small victories along the way. I have immense respect for the countless and invisible officers who are working their way towards these improvements. Like a river that cuts through a mountain, it’s the collective push over years that results in meaningful change.
You may not be able to overhaul the entire system, but you can transform the lives of people in your limited sphere of influence. The impact might not be felt by everyone, but for those lives you touch through your work, it’s deep.
Personally, I keep a running note of all my accomplishments that I am proud of, no matter how small or insignificant. Every now and then, I go through the list and it inspires me. It’s these little successes that make the job of an IAS officer impactful and fulfiling.
Always
I read all of these writing, it is so much inspiring me, i accept that what i thinking to change all when entering in civil services it is different practically when will be entering in service, there will be process step by step improvement to the big change for the wellfare of the nation…
Thanks for sharing this beautiful and down to earth experience with us sir..
Thank you so much for writing about this Sir. This question lingers in the minds of aspirants all the time, before they start the journey and even throughout the preparation. This was inspiring and a reality check as well. Every word that you write speaks volumes and you always explain complex topics with such simple narratives. Please always keep writing!
Lakhs of student are willing to become IAS. If you would have failed in the exam, someone else would have taken your seat. He/She would have done similar things to what you do. Thus, impact on society of a PARTICULAR person becoming IAS is limited. On the other hand there are careers which not many people want to choose but are very important like making AI safe, teaching underprivileged kids etc. I believe these careers are more impactful for the society then becoming IAS.
Hello Sir, Glad to see ur post after a long time…Sir,From few years we aspirants are hearing it so much that Uspc has become a matter of Luck more than Hardwork…Even after studying 10-12 hrs. It has become pure Gamble,and aspirants are just wasting their time,youth,money,emotions..What’s your take on this? Please reply.. Thanks
I hope you are doing great sir… What you said is very true.. It applies to both in field and out of the field.. Thnku for this reminder 😇
Really inspires a lot sir especially the noting process of all your accomplishments for a motivation towards your aspirations.
Thank you for the insightful blog sir. This makes you different from other toppers of UPSC. The way you like to change the outlook of an aspirant and the will to guide us is what makes you different.
A nice reminder sir, for us aspirants. Things take time
Thanks you so much sir for the great motivational line