PCS Full Form

Provincial Civil Service or PCS is generally a state-level civil service under Group A and Group B of the state service of the executive branch of the Government of UP (Uttar Pradesh). It is a multi-layered exam to select the employees of the State Civil Service. The PCS exam is conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC). The PCS notification is announced as a Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services Examination.

PCS: Posts and Duties

Administrative Service under the Group A state service of the executive branch of the Government of Uttar Pradesh state, the Provincial Civil Service, is also known as the feeder service for Indian Administrative Service or IAS in the state.

PCS officers are often posted as additional divisional commissioners of the state. Two to three such posts are common in most departments, the most popular of them are:

• Additional Commissioner (Development)
• Additional Commissioner (Revenue)
• Additional Commissioner (Executive) level.

Collecting land revenue and functioning as the court itself in matters of revenue and crime is the duty of the PCS officer. It is upon him/her to maintain law and order, prevent any criminal offence from happening around the state, and implement Union and State Government policies so that the strict regulations can be followed by the common people.

Handling and dealing with the administration and daily proceedings of the government happening in the court, including the formulation and implementation of policy in consultation with the additional chief secretary/principal secretary, specific Minister-in-charge, and secretary of the concerned department of any state.

PCS: Academic Qualification

1. A Bachelor's Degree from any recognised University or equivalent qualification must be completed by the candidate.

2. Twenty-one (21) years is the minimum age limit, and the maximum age is 40 years.

3. Physical Measurements/Fitness are also required for certain posts. After the interview, there will be some medical tests for the candidates.

These are the posts that need these physical measurement exams:

• Assistant Conservator of Forest
• Range Forest Officer
• Dy. Superintendent of Police
• Superintendent of Jail
• District Commandant Home Guards
• Excise Inspector.

IAS and PCS Officers: Differences

There is often confusion between the IAS and PCS officers as their duties seem to resemble the same but there are differences.

• Appointed by the President of India, IAS officers work under the State Government whose cadre is allocated to them according to the prevailing conditions.
• PCS officers, on the other hand, are appointed by the Governor of the State directly. Thus they are under the total control of the State Government.
• IAS officers have a greater weightage over a PCS officer in terms of power, functions, salary, and operations as an IAS officer is posted to take care of operations all over India while a PCS officer is posted within its particular state boundaries to look over his own state alone.