At Indian Masterminds, we are running a special series on the not-so-commonly known all India services that UPSC offers. The Commission offers more than 20 services through its joint CSE exam, of which, we have already written about Indian Audit & Account services and Indian Civil Account Services, Indian Corporate Law Services and Indian Defense Account Services, Indian Defence Estate Service and Indian Information Service.
Today, we bring to you details about the Indian Ordnance Factories Services (IOFS) and Indian Communication Finance Services (ICFS).
INDIAN ORDNANCE FACTORIES SERVICE
This service works under the Department of Defence & Production (Ministry of Defence). Constituted during colonial times in 1935, only four officers were recruited then. In 1954, the service was reconstituted, and the size was also increased. Now, more than thousand officers, specialised in various fields, from science to technology, are recruited in this service. Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) is a multi-disciplinary composite cadre service and have technical and non-technical officers.
Mainly, the recruitment is done through UPSC CSE and Engineering Services Exam. The hierarchy goes from Assistant Works Manager to Additional General Manager, Principal Director, Senior General Manager and Senior Principle Director. They undergo training at the National Academy of Defence Production (NADP), Nagpur.
The major role of IOFS officers is to administer the Ordnance Factories, which are responsible for providing and enriching defence capabilities of the country. The officers’ responsibilities include product research and development, project management, materials management, production planning and control, quality control, supplies management, industrial safety, labour welfare, personnel management, industrial relations, management and maintenance of residential estates, etc. To complete these tasks, they have to work and interact with ARAI, BARC, BPRD, CSIR, ISRO, DRDO, IIT, IISc, IIM and several other ministries.
INDIAN COMMUNICATION FINANCE SERVICE
Established in 1973, Indian Communication Finance Services (ICFS) was earlier known as the Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS). The major role of this service involves providing accounting and financial services to the Indian Post and Telecommunication Department.
After completing their foundation course at LBSNAA, the officers of ICFS goes to the National Institute of Communication Finance, New Delhi, and National Institute of Finance Management, Faridabad, for further training.
The hierarchy includes Assistant Chief Accounts Officer, Assistant Chief Accounts Officer to Director, Joint Controller of Communication Accounts, Deputy Director-General/Joint Administrator, Controller of Communication Accounts, Senior Deputy Director-General or Principal Controller of Communication Accounts. The postings are mainly confined to capital cities, but officers can also be posted to state and Union governments. Besides this, they can also be posted in PSUs and autonomous organisations.
