Engineers have emerged as the dominant force in the All India Civil Services with a majority representation of 63.6% between the years 2017 and 2021. While engineers traditionally come from the science stream, a significant shift has been observed as many of them have opted for subjects like political science, international relations, and sociology as their optional choices for the civil services exam. This revelation stems from data shared by Union junior minister for personnel Jitendra Singh, in a written reply to BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi in the Rajya Sabha.
During the period between 2017 and 2021, 76% of the recommended candidates for the civil services came from the science stream, which includes candidates from engineering as well as the fields of sciences and medicine. In contrast, only 23.6% of the successful candidates hailed from the humanities stream. However, it is interesting to note that humanities subjects were the most preferred as optional subjects among the candidates. Minister Jitendra Singh also highlighted that over 650 candidates who emerged successfully in the civil services examination had chosen political science and international relations as their optional subjects. Sociology and geography followed suit with 577 and 514 candidates respectively.
Apart from the dominance of engineers and the shift in optional subjects, the data also sheds light on the representation of women in the civil services. The percentage of women candidates who were selected fluctuated between 24% and 28% from 2017 to 2021.
The civil services examination is considered one of the toughest competitive exams in India and serves as the gateway to prestigious positions like Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). It is commendable to see engineers breaking barriers and excelling in this domain, bringing a diverse skill set and perspective to the civil services. The trend of science stream candidates opting for social sciences as optional subjects reflects a broader inclination towards a multidisciplinary approach and the increasing value of interdisciplinary knowledge in public administration.
In conclusion, the dominance of engineers in the All India Civil Services, along with their choice to pursue subjects beyond their original stream, signifies the evolving landscape of the civil services and the emergence of a more diverse and inclusive cohort of successful candidates.
