All India Services

All India Services are civil services common to both the Centre and the States, recruited and trained by the Union government but deployed to serve in State administrative cadres under the constitutional framework of Article 312.

Under Indian Polity & Governance

• They preserve a uniform standard of administration across the country while serving as an administrative bridge between the Centre and the States.
• Article 312 grants the Rajya Sabha the exclusive power to initiate the creation of new All India Services, reinforcing its role as the custodian of federal interests.
• They balance national integration with regional governance needs, making them a central theme in Indian federal administrative dynamics.

UPSC frequently examines All India Services through the lens of federal relations, particularly focusing on conflicts between Central cadre control and State administrative autonomy. Questions regularly probe the constitutional mechanics of Article 312, including debates around establishing an All India Judicial Service. Candidates are expected to critically evaluate recent amendments to cadre rules and their implications for cooperative federalism.

• Role of civil services in democracy GS2