Indian Statistical Service (ISS)

01. What is the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) in Govt?

The Indian Statistical Service (ISS) is a part of the Indian Civil Services. It involves the recruitment of candidates to work as statisticians in various central government ministries, departments, and organizations. They are responsible for handling statistical data collection, analysis, and implementation of statistical policies in India.

02. Education Eligibility:

To apply for the ISS, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree with Statistics/Mathematics/Commerce/Economics as one of the subjects or a Master’s degree in Statistics/Mathematics/Operations Research/Econometrics or a related subject. The detailed qualification depends on the specific year’s notification, but typically:

Bachelor’s degree in Statistics or Mathematics as a main subject, or equivalent.
Master’s degree is preferred for higher positions.

03. Handicapped Eligibility:

Candidates with disabilities (such as locomotor disabilities, hearing impairments, etc.) are eligible for the ISS exam under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category. The degree of disability and specific eligibility may vary based on the norms of the exam for that year.

04. Age:

The minimum age for the ISS exam is typically 21 years and the maximum age limit is 30 years. However, there are relaxations:

SC/ST candidates: Age limit can be extended by 5 years.
OBC candidates: Age limit can be extended by 3 years.
PwD candidates: An age relaxation of 10 years.

05. Physical Eligibility:

There are no specific physical standards or requirements for the ISS exam, as it is a desk job based on statistical and data analysis.

06. Pay Grade:

The pay scale for the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) officers is typically at Level 10 in the Pay Matrix of the 7th Pay Commission, which starts from ₹56,100 per month. It can increase based on promotions, seniority, and departmental regulations.

07. Ex-Soldier:

Ex-servicemen are generally given a relaxation in the upper age limit (by up to 5 years) and are also eligible to apply under the Ex-serviceman category. The exact details depend on the current recruitment guidelines.

08. Reservation:

There are reservations available for SC/ST, OBC, and PwD categories as per government norms. The exact reservation quotas are mentioned in the official recruitment notification.

09. Sportsperson:

The recruitment for the ISS does not have a specific quota for sportspersons, but candidates with sports achievements may get certain preferences for other government jobs as per the government’s sports quota, not necessarily for the ISS.

10. Promotion in Career:

Career growth in the ISS depends on seniority and performance. The promotion ladder typically includes:

Junior Statistical Officer
Senior Statistical Officer
Assistant Director/Deputy Director
Director (depending on the department and performance) Progression often depends on years of service and departmental exams.

11. Special Eligibility for Person:

If you belong to any specific category (e.g., PwD, Ex-serviceman), you may have special eligibility or relaxation in terms of age, exam marks, or interview scores. Check the specific notification for any such special considerations.

12. What Work Will I Have to Do at My Workplace?

As a part of the Indian Statistical Service, your work will involve:

Data collection and analysis for government departments.
Planning and conducting surveys related to economics, population, or health.
Creating statistical models and projections.
Reporting statistical findings to government bodies for policymaking.
Designing statistical tools and systems for data collection.

13. Which Department Does This Recruitment With Notification Original Website Link?

The recruitment for ISS is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). You can find the official notification for the Indian Statistical Service exam on the UPSC website: https://www.upsc.gov.in

14. In Which Department Do You Join?

Once selected, ISS officers are assigned to various central government departments based on their qualifications and performance. Some common departments include:

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI)
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog)
RBI, NABARD, and others related to economics and statistics.

For further details on eligibility, recruitment process, and notifications, please refer to the UPSC website mentioned above.