FAQs

Q: What is  IIS ?

A: IIS stands for Indian Information Service which is one of the prestigious Group A Civil Services of India. Its cadre controlling authority is Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Q: How does one enter into Indian Information Service (IIS) Group ‘A’?

A: The entry in IIS group ‘A’ is through the civil services examination which is conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission.

Q: What is the role of IIS group ‘A’?

A: The IIS Group ‘A’ officers are posted in various media units of the Government of India, namely, Press Information Bureau, Directorate of Audio and Visual Publicity, Directorate of Field Publicity, Doordarshan News, All India Radio (News Service Division), etc. The chief task of these officers is to provide timely, accurate and unambiguous information to the citizens and the journalists about the policies, programmes and the activities of the Government of India as well as to provide feedback to the government about the general perception among the people regarding its activities.

Q: What is the structure of Indian Information Service Group ‘A’?

A: The senior most incumbent of the Indian Information Service is the Principal Director General who heads the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Government of India and who is an officer of the rank of Special Secretary to the Government of India. The hierarchy then consists of Director Generals, Additional Director Generals, Directors, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors.

Q: What does the training programme of IIS group ‘A’ probationers consist of?

A: The training schedule of IIS Group ‘A’ officers has a duration of 24 months: 3 months’ Foundation course organised by Department of Personnel and Training, 9 months’ Foundation course in communication at Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) New Delhi and 12 months’ attachment at various media units.

The 9 month course at IIMC covers theoretical and practical aspects required for good communication. The probationers are regularly provided guidance by teaching faculties of IIMC as well as outside experts that include senior IIS officers, senior members of All India as well as other Central Services and also specialists in the field of communication.

During their 9 months’ stay at IIMC the probationers undergo attachments at the Parliament of India, Institute of Secretariat Training and Management, Film and Television of India and National Film Archives of India. Also towards the end of the course at IIMC probationers go on a 15-days’ Bharat Darshan to know our country better and to experience her diversity.

After their 9-months’ stint at IIMC the probationers have to undergo attachment of a total duration of 1 year at various media units of the Government of India, namely, Press Information Bureau, Directorate of Audio and Visual Publicity, Directorate of Field Publicity, Doordarshan News, All India Radio (News Service Division), etc.

Q: How is the infrastructure at IIMC?

A: IIMC has excellent infrastructure for training facilities for probationers as well for their accommodation. The IIMC has 24×7 wi-fi connection across the campus, its own FM community radio station called Apna Radio, well equipped digital lab and recording and editing labs among other things.

As for accommodation, the probationers are provided air-conditioned single seated room in Officers’ Hostel which has in all 40 rooms.

Q: What are future prospects of this service?

A: The present age is the age of information. With the advent of modern channels of communication, especially the social media, management of information is becoming more and more challenging. Therefore the governments across the globe are making huge investments in enhancing their information generation and dissemination capabilities. In this light, the scope of IIS is far and wide. It is one of the most dynamic service and it is certainly very exciting.