Today, most of the students in the country definitely dream of becoming a District Collector at some point in their life. This desire is more common among students who have completed their undergraduate examinations or are in the final year. District Collector is one of the most lucrative, responsible and prestigious jobs in India. Every year more than 8 lakh candidates appear for the Collector exam. Those of you who want to get ahead may be wondering how to become a collector. In this article we will discuss in detail about how to become a District Collector. Therefore, be sure to read till the end because each line can prove to be very important for you.
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Table of Contents
Who is a Collector?
The administrative head of the town i.e the colector is the person responsible for maintaining the law and order in the country. The post of collector is the highest authority in a particular state. His appointment is done by the Central Government, but the State Government supervises the working of a Collector. His key responsibilities are mentioned below.
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- He is the chief in charge of the general administration of that particular district.
- He is the highest Judicial Authority in the District.
- A collector is also known as the District Colector or Deputy Commissioner in several states.
- They are the highest Officer for the Revenue administration in their district.
Steps to Becoming a District Collector
A Collector plays an important role in the administration of tax and duty collection for his respective district. In terms of revenue, the District Colector reports directly to the government through the Divisional Commissioner and the Financial Commissioner. A Collector is the highest judicial authority of a district as they are in charge of the general administration of a district. In other words, a Collector is the owner of the district because all the law and order of the district related to him is in the hands of the Collector.
Step 1:- Eligibility Criteria
All the candidates who dream and prepare for District Collector must fulfill the eligibility criteria before appearing in the examination. We have mentioned the detailed criteria on how to become a collector further.
Step 2:- Apply for the UPSC Exam
The position of district collector is the highest-level judicial post filled through promotions from within the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Candidates will have to visit the official website of UPSC and apply online to appear for the UPSC exam.
- There is a UPSC OTR (One-Time Registration) process that students ought to know. This process involves creating a profile on the official website by providing details like category, age, educational qualifications, and other personal information.
- Candidates will be then directed to a page where they will find the notification for the Civil Services Exam. Read this thoroughly and ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria.
- To proceed further, click on the ‘Part I Registration’ link and fill in the details asked such as DOB, address, E-mail ID, phone number etc. Create a strong password and answer the security question and answer.
- Once you are done with this, use the login details and complete the Part II registration.
- In Part II, you will have to upload a photograph and signature in the prescribed format, select your nearest exam centre, and pay the application fee.
- Once the registration process is completed, take a printout of the page for future reference.
Step 3:- Appear for Civil Services Examination
After all the candidates have applied online for District Collector, you have to appear for preliminary and main examination followed by interview. The interview will test your fundamentals, critical thinking abilities, mental capacity and knowledge of various social concerns.
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Step 4:- Clear the Prelims and Mains Exam
The UPSC exam pattern for prelims consists of two papers namely, GS Paper 1 and GS Paper 2 (CSAT). Both of these papers will have objective-type multiple-choice questions. The GS Paper 1 will consist of 100 questions, while the GS Paper 2 will consist of 80 questions both for 200 marks.
Step 5:- Clear the Personality Test/Interview
After completing all the steps given below, the final UPSC interview will be a personality test of 275 marks. The interview panel will include subject matter experts, government officials, expert teachers and board chairpersons. The final marks will be based on the combined marks of main examination and interview. Candidates will be selected for IAS training on the basis of their marks.
Step 7: Complete the IAS Training at LBSNAA
All the direct recruits receive intensive training at the LBSNAA (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie). The LBSNAA training cycle lasts for approximately 2 years and is broken down into several sections.
There is a four-month foundation course conducted at LBSNAA is for all direct recruits. This course aims to instil a spirit of coordination and cooperation by promoting an esprit de corps.
The two-year-long training schedule for IAS probationers consists of the following phases.
- Foundation Course
- Phase-I
- District Training
- Phase-II
- Assistant Secretary-ship
Eligibility Criteria for Becoming a District Collector
Before knowing how to become a Colector in India, candidates should ensure that they fulfill all the eligibility requirements required to become a Collector. The eligibility criteria for UPSC exam are mentioned below:
1. Nationality of the Candidate
- Candidates must be Indian citizens.
- However, citizens of Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet can also appear for the UPSC exam.
2. Age limit of the Candidate
- Minimum age limit must be 21 years. Whereas, the maximum age limit should not exceed 32 years.
Relaxation in age limit(if any)
- 21-35 years (OBC)
- 21-37 years (SC/ST)
- 21-42 years (PWD)
3. Academic Qualifications Required
- Candidates must have completed their Bachelor’s Degree exam in any stream(Arts/Science/Commerce) from a Government recognized University.
- Candidates who are in their final year of Graduation exams are also eligible to appear for the Prelims exam. However, as you appear for the UPSC Mains exam, you must have done your graduation.
- Candidates who have done their graduation through the Distance Learning program are also eligible to apply.
- Candidates with a background in ICAI/ICSI/or any other technical qualification can also apply for the UPSC exams.
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4. Total Number of Attempts
- General category- 6 attempts.
- OBC candidates- 9 attempts
- SC/ST candidates- No such limitations
Salary of A Collector
The salary of an IAS officer ranges from INR 94,000/- to INR 1,72,000/- per month. A Collector is entitled to several benefits like House Rent Allowance (HRA), Vacations, Dearness Allowance, Security bills, Travel Allowance, Medical Allowance, and Pension. Let’s discuss the annual CoIIector salary based on their job profiles is mentioned in the table below.
| Factor | Average Salary Range (INR) |
|---|---|
| Freshers | ₹0.8 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh per annum |
| Experience (1 – 3 yr) | ₹1.8 lakh to ₹7.9 lakh per annum |
| Experienced Collectors (Above 5 year) | Above ₹7.9 lakh per annum |
| Additional Perks and Benefits | Accommodation allowance, travel allowance, medical benefits, leave encashment, pension plan |
How to become CoIIector with UPSC (Civil Services Exam)?
There are 3 steps to become a Collector. These are Preliminary( Prelims) or the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), Mains and Interview. You have to qualify all the 3 steps to become a Collector.
Step 1 – Prelims Exam
The Prelims Exam has 2 papers- General Studies I and General Studies II.
General Studies I has objective type questions of 200 marks. The Paper has a duration of 2 hours and has objective type questions. The total number of questions is 100.There is a negative marking of 0.33 marks for each wrong attempt.
General Studies II has objective type questions of 200 marks.The duration of the Paper is 2 hours and has objective type questions. The total number of questions is 80.There is a negative marking of 0.33 marks for each wrong attempt.
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Step 2 – Mains Exam
Candidates who qualify the Prelims exam must verify documents on the UPSC website. The documents required for verification include Class 10 Certificate, Category Certificate and Graduation Certificate.
The Mains exam consists of 9 papers and the total marks is 1750. There are a total of 9 papers with subjective questions. Out of these, 7 Papers are compulsory and 2 Language Papers are optional. One Optional Paper is English and you can choose the other Paper. The marks obtained are qualifying in Nature.
Only those candidates who get top ranks will qualify the Mains exam.
Step 3 – Interview
Candidates who qualify the Mains exam with top ranks will be called for the Interview. Only 400-500 candidates will be called for the Interview round.The total marks for the Interview round is 275 and will be added to the final cut off list. Those of you who are thinking how to become Collector, it is mandatory to qualify the Interview round.
How to become Collector with SPSC exams?
You can become a CoIIector by appearing for the SPSC exams conducted by the States of India. But you will not become a Collector directly by qualifying the SPSC exams. It will require several years of service and few promotions to become a District CoIIector on qualifying the SPSC exam.
The syllabus and pattern of SPSC will be almost similar to UPSC. The State history paper will be added in the SPSC exams. Also, the total number of Papers will be much lesser than that of UPSC.
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How to become Collector after 12th?
The minimum qualification required to become a CoIIector is Graduation from a recognized University, You can complete the Graduation Degree in any stream(Arts/ Science/Commerce) to become a District Collector. So those of you who are thinking how to become CoIIector after 12th let me tell you, one can become a Collector only after completing Graduation from a recognized Institute.
But you can start your preparations after your 12th Board exams by reading books, newspapers and keeping yourself updated with the current affairs. Start reading NCERT books for History, Environment and Social Science. Keep yourself updated with Current Affairs by reading newspapers. You must also have knowledge in International Relations, Economy and Constitution of India.
What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Collector?
Being the administrative head of a district, the CoIIector is in charge of handling duties such as maintaining law and order within the area and maintaining internal peace and security. In this article, we have explained in detail the major responsibilities of a collector.
- Maintain law and order in the District.
- He controls the tax and revenue collection of his/her district.
- Act as the Chief Development Officer of the District(CDO) and Grievance Redressal Officer.
- Act as the Rural development and Human Resource Development Officer of a District.
- A collector has to manage the election process of the State Legislature.
- He can act as the Officer in charge in Emergency situations.
- Play an important role in the Disaster management and Crisis management of the State.
- Implement land reforms and look after the well being of the farmers.
FAQs
1. How to become collector after 12th commerce?
Commerce stream in 12th grade shouldn’t make any difference. Any stream is good in 12th grade followed by bachelor degree in any stream.
2. How can I become a Collector?
To become a CoIIector, candidates must either pass the administrative service examinations administered by several state public services commissions like UPPSC, BPSC, and MPPSC, or the UPSC administrative service examinations.
3. Which degree is best for Collector?
The field of study is flexible, and you can choose any discipline based on your interest. However, many aspiring coIIectors choose subjects such as History, Political Science, Public Administration, or Law.
4. Is Collector equal to IAS?
The District Collector is the highest Officer of Revenue administration in the district. A district magistrate, often abbreviated to DM, is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who is the senior-most executive magistrate and chief in charge of the general administration of a district in India.
5. What is a salary Collector?
Collector salary in India ranges between ₹ 0.2 Lakhs to ₹ 8.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 5.7 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 82 latest salaries received from Collectors. Finance & Accounting. Collector Salary. 1 – 8 years exp.
6. Is collector bigger than DM?
DM vs Collector. A District Collector is the highest officer for revenue management in any district. A District Magistrate, often abbreviated as DM, is the highest executive magistrate officer in the district. The power of the district collector is given by the Land Revenue Code 1959.
7. Who is the rank 1 IAS post?
Chief Secretary
This is the highest-ranking post in the state cadre of the IAS, and the officers at this rank are responsible for managing the affairs of the state government.
8. Which is the toughest exam in India?
UPSC is the toughest exam in India. It is an exam to select the candidate for various civil services of the government of India like Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). It is highly prestigious and competitive among Indians.
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