In India, Deputy Collector is one of the most prestigious careers one can aspire for. The process of becoming a Deputy Collector is not easy, but with hard work and determination, it is definitely achievable. In this blog post, we will discuss the necessary steps that need to be taken in order to achieve this goal.
So if you want to know how to become a Deputy Collector and all the relevant information like who is a deputy collector, the role & responsibility of a deputy collector, salary and facilities, etc. then read this complete blog.
Who is a Deputy Collector?
The Deputy Collector is an important state administrative officer in charge of revenue collection and administration.
They work under the direction of District Collectors, with and they assist him/her on daily basis tasks such as handling cases related to land disputes, Social security, criminal justice system issues at local levels below that of the district level.
The District Collector is in charge of the revenue department for a particular district. They act as Revenue Divisional Officers (RDO) who report to an Additional District collector, who is in charge of the revenue department. Then Additional District collector reports to the district collector
A deputy collector is an administrative officer who works within the Indian civil service.
Deputy collectors are responsible for assisting the collector in charge of their district in a variety of tasks, including maintaining law and order, overseeing the revenue collection process, and supervising various development programmes.
How to Become a Deputy Collector?
In order to become a deputy collector in India, you must first obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
After completing your degree, you must then clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE), which is conducted by the Public Service Commission of the respective states. Once you have cleared the CSE, you will be appointed as a deputy collector by the state government.
Now we will explain in detail about eligibility criteria, selection procedure & syllabus etc.
Eligibility criteria
As there is Public Service Commission in every state. The State Public Service Commissions conduct recruitment exams which act as an entry point for all types of services in state administration.
Every State Public Service Commission has its specific eligibility requirement, Syllabus, and exams pattern which is available on its official website. However, there are some significant similarities between State Public Service Commission Exams and the Union Public service commission exam
To make you aware of the standard norms of these PSCs exams, we are highlighting important information which you need to know. This information is not very specific to a particular state PSC as every PSC may have little different eligibility.
For more accurate information for your desired PSC, we are providing you with a list of major State Public Service Commissions and their official website detail.
All the PSCs exam eligibility criteria consist of these major criteria as follows
- The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
- The candidate should have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Candidates who are in their final year of graduation may also apply for this examination
- In most states, PSC minimum age required is 21 years and the maximum is from 32 years to 40 years in different states.
- There is age relaxation as well for SC: 5 years, ST: 5 years, OBC: 3-5 years, PwD 15 years. in a few states relaxation of age is provided for army personnel, state govt employees and for athletes & sports person for approx 5 years.
- In some PSCs, physical fitness standards may also be required.
Selection procedure
The pattern of the examination and the selection procedure will differ from PSC to PSC. The pattern and the selection procedure of some of the important State Public Service Commission Exams are given below
The selection process for State PSC exams usually consists of three stages:
- Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
- Stage 2: Main Examination (Written Test, Objective & Descriptive)
- Stage 3: Interview
The Preliminary Examination is generally an objective type examination consisting of multiple-choice questions. The Main Examination is a written test that is followed by an interview.
The interview is the final stage of selection and is conducted to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service.
After clearing the interview, the final merit list is prepared and the candidates are appointed to various posts in the state administration including deputy collector.
Exams Pattern of Deputy Collector?
Most of the state public service commission exams have four papers- two papers on general studies, one paper on an optional subject, and one paper on English.
Paper I & II will be general studies papers covering a variety of topics like Indian history, geography, Indian polity, economics, general science, current affairs, etc.
Paper III & IV will be on the optional subject chosen by the candidate.
The optional subjects usually offered are- history, geography, Political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, public administration, Management, Commerce, Mathematics, Statistics, etc.
Candidates can choose any two subjects from the list of optional subjects.
Paper III & IV will be of equal marks and candidates will have to score well on both the papers to qualify for the interview.
The interview is the final stage of the selection process and candidates will be selected on the basis of their performance in the interview.
Candidates must therefore start preparing for the exam well in advance and should focus on all the sections of the exam.
They should also keep themselves updated with current affairs and general knowledge.
The above is the general exam pattern to become a Deputy Collector in India. However, there may be some variations in the selection process and syllabus from state to state. For more accurate information, we advise you to visit the official website of your desired State Public Service Commission
Role & responsibility of deputy collector
The deputy collector is a fairly senior position in the Indian administrative hierarchy. Deputy collectors are responsible for the revenue collection of their assigned district, and also for maintaining law and order.
Conducting fair elections and implementing government schemes are some of the other important duties of a deputy collector.
Deputy Collectors are also expected to work as important liaisons between the state government and the public. They are responsible for communicating the policies and schemes of the state government to the public and solving their problems.
They also play an important role in the implementation of development schemes in their respective areas.
Deputy collectors also take care of disaster management like flood earthquakes and also acquire land for development, infrastructure & urbanization in the district.
Issuing caste certificates, residential certificates & income certificates, etc are also a part of the deputy collector’s responsibility.
Salary of Deputy Collector
The pay scale for a deputy collector in India will vary from state to state. In most states, the starting salary will be in the range of Rs.15,600-39,100 with grade pay of Rs.5400.
The government has announced a new pay structure for employees under which correspondingly, the 7th Pay Commission rationalized entry-level hires will receive a salary between 56100 to 177500.
So deputy collector’s gross monthly earnings range will be from Rs 81500 – 91500 per month, while cash in hand will be around 74500 – 85500 without income taxes.
Facilities Provided to the deputy collector
Apart from a very good salary, authority, power & reputation, Deputy collectors are provided with a government accommodation, a vehicle, and a driver. They are also given special allowances for fuel, newspapers, and telephone expenses.
They are also given a special allowance for entertaining visitors. Deputy collectors are also provided with medical facilities and life insurance cover. After retirement, they are also entitled to a pension as well.
Career progression of the deputy collector
The deputy collector is a fairly senior position in the administrative hierarchy.
Deputy collectors who have performed well in their jobs can be promoted to the post of a collector. Collectors are the district heads of administration and are responsible for the overall development of their districts.
They also have the power to recruit lower-level staff. Deputy collectors can also be promoted to other senior posts in the administration such as Joint Collector, Divisional Commissioner, and Secretary to the Government.
With experience and good performance, deputy collectors can also move into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The IAS is the topmost echelon of the Indian civil service and is considered to be one of the most prestigious jobs in the country.
IAS officers are responsible for implementing the policies of the government at the highest level and enjoy a great deal of power and authority. They also have very good career prospects and can rise to the highest levels of the civil service.
Deputy Collector promotion Chart
How to Prepare for the state public service commission
State public service commission exams are one of the toughest exams in India. With such an intense test like this, there are many tips that will help candidates improve their chances of success
Get the latest news from newspapers and subscribe to online information sessions.
Read informative magazines such as The Hindu, Indian Express, etc., for preparing knowledge on current affairs topics that will be appearing in PSC exams or study materials created by them like NCERT books which can also help you prepare properly with valuable tips on improving your weak points before taking the test!
There’s no better way than solving previous question papers so it is highly recommended to practice if possible at least once more after making any changes/modifications during exam time itself because this gives an idea about accuracy levels one may have while answering under stress.
Understand the syllabus and make a schedule to complete it before the exam.
Don’t mug up things, try to understand the concepts.
Revise whatever you have studied at least 2-3 times before the exam.
A few of the good books for preparation could be Laxmikanth, History by Bipin Chandra, Indian Constitution by DD Basu, etc.
Focus on state-related topics events & sections, especially for particular state PSC.
Don’t read any new topics just before the exam. It will only make you more confused.
In the end, just be confident and give your best shot!
Final Words
Deputy Collector is one of the most prestigious jobs in India for which you can aspire for.
In this post, we have explained in detail how you can become a Deputy Collector, their role & responsibility, Salaries & facilities provided to them.
Hope this guide will help you in planning & preparation for state PSC and finally, you can start your career as a Deputy collector.
All the best!
