What do IAS officers generally do post retirement?
The officers of IAS, IPS, IRS or other services spend almost 35-38 years in Government. They retire at the age of 60 years. The children of most officers usually complete their education by this time and even get married. Hence most officers have already fulfilled their social obligation before retirement. IAS officers spend most of the time in a state and almost 2/3rd officers are posted outside their home states. They also get frequent transfers and they work with a hectic schedule. Hence, they wish to take rest and lead a peaceful retired life playing with their grandchildren, walking in the morning, reading books and enjoining the company of their friends and relatives.
However, some officers prefer to work rather than rest. They can find several opportunities to engage themselves in various activities. In fact, the opportunities to IAS, IPS or IRS officers are so much in different sectors that many of them are taking Voluntary Retirements after 20-25 years and exploring the world even before superannuation. Let me state some such opportunities to the IAS and other officers.
1: Statuary Positions
There are many positions outside the government like CAG, CIC and CVC which are manned by retired officers. IAS officers also join as Members of CAT, Tax Tribunals and UPSC post retirement. In this way they can work for 2-3 more years after their retirements.
2: Politics
The IAS and IPS officers deal with politicians from very close distance. Throughout their career, they work in coordination with politicians and ministers. Hence, they learn politics and know many politicians. Many officers join politics post retirement and become MLA, MP, Governor, CM or Cabinet Ministers.
3: Private Sectors
There is a huge demand of IAS and other officers in private sectors. The private sector people hardly know the functioning of government. Yet they have to deal with government on day to day basis. They want government officers to guide them and help them dealing with government. The IAS officers join these companies after retirement as directors and other important positions.
4: Consultancy
The civil services officers occupy senior positions in centre and state governments and know the laws of the country much better than other experts. Such expertise and knowledge is of high value to the businesses. The IRS officers often join a consultancy company and sometime open their own company dealing with tax issues. They make much more money as consultant than what they made as officers during their service.
5: Business
Many IAS officers start their own business using the money saved during their service. They open hotels, restaurants and even factories post retirement. It is sometime difficult for these officers to sit idle as they had been used to work 10-12 hours a day. They find it difficult to work under others and hence they start their own business.
6: Social Work
There are also a few officers, who wish to pay back to the society by doing social work. They start some NGO and serve the people through it. You will find many IAS officers in the Board of NGOs in India. They sometime join universities as VC or Professors to share their knowledge and experience.