---
title: "Indian Administrative Service (IAS): Role & Cadre"
description: "The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is India's top civil service, crucial for senior government roles, and recruited through the UPSC exam."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/indian-administrative-service"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Indian Administrative Service is the premier All India Service that staffs the senior administrative and policy posts of the Union and state governments of India.
- How does the IAS differ from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS)?
- What is the constitutional and statutory basis of the IAS?
- What is the cadre and deputation system?
- What is lateral entry and why is it controversial for the IAS?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In August 2024, T.V. Somanathan, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, was appointed Cabinet Secretary of India, the senior-most civil servant coordinating the entire Union government.

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