Indian Defence Estate Service [IDES]: Eligibility, IDES Officer Salary, IDES Full Form
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
The Indian Defence Estates Service is one of the Group ‘A’ services under the Union Public Service Commission. IDES full form is Indian Defence Estate Service. A cadre of IDES officers works for the Defence Estates Organization (DEO), an organization responsible for managing the country’s cantonments and defense land. IDES officers are recruited through the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC.
This article will provide all the information related to IDES recruitment, exam pattern, pay scale and salary, and the life of an IDES Officer.
Table of content
Indian Defence Estate Service (IDES)
Among the many services under the Directorate General of Defence Estate in the Ministry of Defense, the Indian Defense Estate Service is one of the group’s “A” services. The crucial responsibility of the IDES officers under this service is to manage and administer the defense and cantonment lands in the country.
- The IDES Department was formed on 16th December 1926.
- From 1926 to 1983, it was known as the Military Lands and Cantonments Service and then as the Defence Lands and Cantonments Service.
- The Indian Defence Estates Service was formally renamed in 1985. Currently, 75% of IDES officers are recruited through recruitment and 25% through promotion.
IDES Exam – Eligibility
To appear for the IDES Exam, candidates must appear for the UPSC CSE. The IDS Officers are recruited through the UPSC Exam only. The allocation of services in the CSE is based on the marks obtained by the UPSC Toppers in their UPSC Mains and Personality Test.
The following educational criteria must be met by a candidate in order for them to be considered for the IDES Exam:
- The aspirants need a graduation degree to appear for the UPSC civil service examination. Graduation in any discipline will be accepted.
- The aspirants should have attained the minimum age of 21 years and maximum age of 32 years as of 1st August of the year of the IDES examination.
- Those who have successfully completed any professional training from prestigious boards like the ICAI, ICSI, and ICWAI may also be considered eligible for the exam.
- Post cracking the IDES Exam, the candidates need to undergo training for the period which they may be specified.
Structure Of IDES
IDES is a civil service within the Indian government. The Ministry of Defense is the Cadre Controlling Authority (CCA) for it. A gateway to this service is provided by the Union Public Service Commission’s annual Civil Services Examination.
IDES is a three-tiered structure, with the Director-General of Defense Estates as the head of the IDES. IDES Directorate General is located at Delhi Cantonment, which is also the IDES headquarters. In charge of various divisions are one Senior Additional Director General and four Additional Director Generals.
There are 62 cantonments in the top tier of the IDES system, each of which is led by a Chief Executive Officer.
- The Directorate General instructs the Ministry of Defence and Services Headquarters on all the defense land and cantonment matters. It oversees the execution of the Cantonments Act 2006, including its rules and regulations, all government policies, and administrative instructions.
- The Directorate General also deals with the land and building requirements of the citizens of the cantonment area through acquisitions, requisitions, or Hiring.
- Tier 2 includes six directorates at the regional headquarters supervising the field offices under jurisdiction.
- In the final tier of the IDES structure, there are 62 cantonments, each of which is headed by a Chief Executive Officer and 37 Defense estate Circles, and four Assistant Defense Estate offices headed by Defense estate officers, all located at the cutting edge of administration.
- Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the cantonment. The Defence Estates Officer (DEO) is an agent of the Central Government.
IDES Recruitment and Training
The IDES UPSC posts are filled through the UPSC Exam. Around 75% of the vacancies are filled by direct recruitment, and the remaining 25% are filled by promotion.
It is the National Institute of Defence Estates Management (NIDEM) that conducts training for the department. It provides induction training to probationers and in-service training to officers. It is headed by the Director (SAG).
Life of an IDES Officer Trainee
After cracking the examinations, IDES officers join the training program at LBSNAA, thereafter they go for six months training program in NIDEM- National Institute of Defence Estates Management in New Delhi. After this stage of the training, IDES officers are given the post of CEO/DEO. And when the probation ends, officers are called back to NIDEM for end-of-probation training.
The main emphasis of training IDES officers is more on attaining field exposure and job understanding rather than what they have learned in a prior academic curriculum. The exposure of these IDES officers to the initial posting locations assists them in gaining the basal platform for a much more prosperous IDES career in the near future.
The training at NIDEM focuses majorly on:
- Legislative laws
- Accounting laws
- Civil Engineering principles
- Electoral rules
- VIP protocols and much more
IDES Officer: Roles and Responsibilities
The Union Public Service Commission selects the IDES officers. Every year, the proportion of IDES vacancies changes. After consulting the Ministry of Defense, the cadre controlling authority, the Department of Personnel and Training of the Government of India determines the number of openings each year.
The roles and responsibilities of IDES officers are as follows:
- Managing defense lands of about 17 lakh acres, and performing a regular survey of defense lands.
- Administering the 62 Cantonment Boards.
- Administering the execution of the Cantonments Act 2006.
- Talent accession, hiring, and requisitioning of the immovable properties for defense purposes.
- Disposing of the defense land.
- To optimize the utilization of defense lands, conduct regular audits.
- Updating and maintaining accurate and digitized records of cantonment land.
- Preventing encroachments and unauthorized constructions.
- Also works by advising the Defense Ministry on issues regarding Cantonments and defense land.
- Looking after the litigation regarding defense lands arising out of ownership and land acquisition.
IDES Officer Salary
IDES has a highly structured grade and corresponding pay scales. The salary of the IDES officer depends on their rank. The Director General Defence Estates has the highest salary among the IDES Officers.
Also, read:
Below candidates can check out the pay band, and grade pays for each post.
| Post Name for IDES Officers | Pay Band | Grade Pay for IDES Officer |
| Junior time scale | 15600-39100 | 5400 |
| Senior time scale | 15600-39100 | 6600 |
| Junior administrative grade(ordinary) | 15600-39100 | 7600 |
| Junior administrative grade(selection) | 374000-67000 | 8700 |
| Senior administrative grade | 374000-67000 | 10000 |
| Higher administrative grade | 67000-79000 | Add. Secretary level |
| Director general defence estates | 80000/- (fixed) | Secretary level |
IDES Officer Promotion
IDES officers get many privileges immediately after six months of their academy training. IDES officers receive facilities like government vehicles, household help, and a house quite early in their service compared to the other services.
Salary and promotion increases for IDES officers are determined by Performance Evaluation Reports, vigilance clearances, and examination of the officer’s entire record by a committee of senior civil servants from the Ministry of Defence. Director General Defence Estates, a position at the Secretary level in the Indian government, is the top position within the Indian Defense Estate Service.
IDES officers may be hired on deputation by the Central Government (CG), State Governments (SG), PSUs, and under the Central Staffing Program.
Skills Required For Cracking IDES Officer Exam
Every profession demands a certain set of skills to complete the responsibilities offered by that position. It is most justifiable that these honorable positions go to those capable and deserving and have successfully proved it.
Below are the few mentioned sets of skills that are required by the aspirants willing to make a career in IDES-
- Leadership skills
- Decision-making skills
- Out-of-the-box thinking
- Bravery and resilience
- Patience in life
- Calmness and wisdom
- Optimistic attitude
- Quality to adjust everywhere
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