How many of you are aware of the Indian defense estate services which is one of services options

for the candidates who have cleared the Civil services examination? Well if you are not then you'll
get to know all about this service in detail in this article. This article will provide all the information
related to the IDES UPSC structure, pay scale, recruitment and also about the facilities after
recruitment.

And if you are a UPSC aspirant preparing hard for the examination it is crucial to know about every
service in detail so you could a wise decision about where you want to invest your future into.
After cracking the civil services examination candidates gets to choose in which capacity they want
to serve the nation and to do so you should be aware of the aspects in which you would love to
serve the nation and in which service you can give your best.

Indian defense estate service (IDES)

Among the many services under the Directorate General of Defense Estate in the Ministry of
Defense, Indian Defense Estate Service is one of the group "A" service. The crucial responsibility of
the officers under this service is to manage and administer the defense and cantonment lands in
the country.

History of IDES

The IDES department traces its roots back to 16th December 1926 and it used to be originally
known as the Military Lands and Cantonments Service(1926-1983) and then as the Defence Lands
and Cantonments Service. In 1985, it was renamed to be formally came to be widely known as the
Indian Defence Estates Service. The selection procedure to the IDES, as provided by the Indian
Defence Estates Service (Group ‘A’) Rule 1985.

Structure Of IDES

IDES is a three-tiered structure with-

1. Directorate General is located at the Delhi Cantonment. IDES members work works in the
capacity of officers of the directorate general. The Directorate General is headed by the Director
General, who is the officer to be at the Apex scale.
The in charge of specific divisions are one Senior Additional Director General (HAG) and four
Additional Director Generals (SAG)

2. The Directorate General instructs 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.

3. Tier 2 includes six directorates at the regional headquarters supervising the field offices under
jurisdiction. With the 6 Army Commands there are 6 Directorates which are co-located . These are
mentioned below namely-
At Lucknow, Pune, Jammu, Kolkata, Chandigarh, and the youngest one recently born, the South-
Western Command established in 2006 at Jaipur.

Principal Directors (HAG) assisted by Directors (SAG) and other Staff officers, all from the IDES are
the ones who head the directorates.

4. 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.

5. The Chief Executive officer (CEO) is the executive head of the Cantonment and responsible for
the day to day administration. The Defence Estates Officer (DEO) is an agent of the Central
Government in the domain of land management. Both CEOs and DEOs are IDES
officers.

6.The National Institute of Defence Estates Management (NIDEM) is the training institute
of the department and provides induction-training to probationers and in-service training
to officers and staff of the department. It is headed by the Director (SAG) and assisted
by 02 Joint Directors (JAG).

Meaning of Cantonment Boards

Cantonment Board operates under the control of the ministry of defense. It looks into the
municipal administration of cantonment areas that include both military and civil populations.
India currently has 62 cantonment boards. They are not created by the state government they are
created and administered by the central government.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Defense Estates Organisation functions under the Ministry of Defense. The total
strength of the Organization is 18,251 approximately. The breakup of this manpower is mentioned
below-

a) The Indian Defense Estates Service (IDES) comprising 189 Group ‘A’ officers including 01 post at
the apex (Secretary) level, 07 posts at the HAG (Addl. Secretary) level and 19 posts at the SAG
(Joint Secretary) level ;

b) Cantonment Executive officers Group ‘B’, Assistant Defense Estates Officers, Senior Private
Secretary and Private Secretary, all in Group ‘B’, 78 posts.

c) Technical, Clerical and Support staff having 984 members, engaged with the function of land
management; and

d) Officials numbering staff approximately 17,000 working in Cantonment Boards

engaged in the civic administration of the Cantonments.

The Indian Defense Estates Service (IDES) Cadre, though small, is committed towards providing
responsive and accountable administration. The Vision Statement of the Organization, which
embodies the spirit of developmental administration, reads as follows: -
“The Vision of the Defense Estates Organization is to develop Cantonments as model townships
which offer a wholesome environment and urban living to its residents, both uniformed personnel
and civilians; to establish a system of land management that vigorously secures defence
land and ensures its optimum utilization; and to maximize satisfaction of
the public that comes in contact with it.”

Roles and responsibilities of IDES officer

1. Managing defense lands of about 17 lakh acres.

2. Administering the 62 Cantonment Boards.

3. To work for the development of cantonments and to ensure health care, and quality education,
making sure there is a proper system for the care of elders, differently abled and unprivileged
groups of society.

4. Performing a regular survey of defense lands.

5. Talent accession, Hiring, and requisitioning of the immovable properties for defense purposes.

6. To optimize utilization of defense lands conduct regular audits.

7. Updating and maintaining accurate and digitized records of cantonment land.

8. Preventing encroachments and unauthorized constructions.

9. Disposing of the defense land.

10. Also works by advising the Defense Ministry on issues regarding Cantonments and defense
land.

11. Administering the execution of the Cantonments Act 2006.

12. Looking after the litigation regarding defense lands arising out of ownership and land
acquisition.

IDES Recruitment and Training

The IDES UPSC posts is filled through the UPSC civil service examination. Around 75% of the
vacancies are filled by direct recruitment and the remaining 25% are filled by promotion.

National Institute of Defense Estates Management (NIDEM) located in New Delhi facilitates the six
months training program of recruited candidates.

Eligibility requirement of being an IDES officer-

1. The candidates need to be completed 10+2 in order to become eligible for taking admission in
graduation courses.
2. The aspirants will then need a graduation degree so they can appear for the civil service
examination.

3. Graduation in any discipline will be accepted.

4. The aspirants should have attained the minimum age of 21 years and maximum age of 30 years
as of August 1 of the year of examination.

5. Post cracking the UPSC civil service examination, the candidates will need to undergo training for
the period which may be specified.

Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) Officer Salary

POST NAME PAY BAND GRADE PAY

Junior time scale 15600-39100 5400
Senior time scale 15600-39100 6600
Junior administrative 15600-39100 7600
grade(ordinary)
Junior administrative 374000-67000 8700
grade(selection)
Senior administrative grade 374000-67000 10000
Higher administrative grade 67000-79000 Addl. Secretary level
Director general defense 80000/- (fixed) Secretary level
estates

Facilities of IEDS officers

IDES officers get many privileges immediately after six months of their academy training. The
receive facilities like government vehicle, household help, and a house are provided to IDES
officers quite early in their service as compared to the other services. No other service officers get
this kind of facility after 6 months of joining the service

Life of an officer trainee

After cracking the examinations 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, program officers are given the post of CEO/DEO. And when
the probation ends officers are called back again to NIDEM for "end of probation training". The
main emphasis of training is more on attaining the field exposure and job understanding rather
than what they have learned in prior academic curriculum. The exposure of these officers into the
initial posting locations will assist them in gaining the basal platform for a much more prosperous
IDES career in the near future.

Here are the few key areas on which the training at NIDEM will be focused-
1. Legislative laws
2. Accounting laws
3. Civil Engineering principles
4. Electoral rules
5. VIP protocols and much more

What are the job roles of the CEO/DEO?

CEO roles and responsibilities

IDES officers head as CEO and Member-Secretary of a Cantonment Board. They have administrative
and advisory roles regarding the Cantonment Board. He is also the Estates Officer for these lands
as per the Public Premises Eviction Act,1971. The everyday official duties of the CEO are:

a. To look after and do the management of healthcare services

b. Management of quality education and make sure there are proper sources of education in the
defense area.

c. To work on the creation and Maintainance of infrastructure such as roads and streets etc.

d. To collect and fix taxes like property tax, water tax, etc.

e. Developing non tax income.

f. Authorizing infrastructure plans and construction works.

g. Also CEOs have a say in administrative work.

h. They also look after water supply system management, and shopping complexes.

i. To look after, approve and deny the construction of sewage treatment plants, etc.

The list can go on and on and on but one thing that CEOs don't do is govern ‘Law and Order
situations they liaisons with DM/SSP for it.

Perks of being CEO

1. A more than mesmerizing accommodation- Many houses which are given to CEOs in an official
capacity are in form of a British-era bungalow with gardens and outhouses etc.

2. An official vehicle- Ambassadors are getting phased out for modern vehicles.

3. manpower- Cantonment Boards are human resource-intensive organizations

4. equation with Army- The CEO is the highest civil functionary in a Cantonment
5. best of civil and military- One gets access to the infrastructure of both civil and military
institutions such as clubs, recreation facilities, swimming pools, golf courses,s, etc.

Roles and responsibilities as DEO

Defense Estates officers have huge territorial jurisdictions comprising supernumerary districts.
Their roles as DEO include:

1. To survey the defense land for Army, Air Force, and Navy.

2. They advise LMA- Local Military Authorities in matters related toinfrastructure projects.

3. Maintaining the land registers and those registers also have evidentiary value in the court of law.

4. Plays a major role by disbursing service charges in the cantonment board.

5. They renew the lease and license.

6. Hiring/ Requisitioning land for the need of armed forces.

7. Their key role is also the land acquisition for the armed forces.

8. They also defend the Union of India in Courts of Law.

Perks of being DEO-

Well, it is not a lie that the life of a CEO is more lavish than that of a DEO.
Basic needs such as a Vehicle, Accommodation in the form of ‘Appointment Houses’ are being
provided. Manpower availability is very limited. They get the opportunity to travel far and wide
because of having large territorial jurisdictions.

Skills required for cracking ides UPSC

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 who are 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 defense services-

1. Leadership skills
2. Decision-making skills
3. Out-of-the-box thinking
4. Bravery and resilience
5. Patience in life
6. Calmness and wisdom
7. Optimistic attitude
8. The quality to adjust everywhere.