The full form of IDAS is the Indian Defence Accounts Service. Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) that simply comes under Group ‘A’, one of the career options available for successful candidates of the UPSC civil services examination. The defence department's accounting operations are handled by this service. The head of the Defense Accounts Department is the Controller General of Defense Accounts.
Idas' primary responsibilities to the Army, Air Force, Navy, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ordnance Factory, Canteen Operations, Border and Highway Authority, and other affiliated organisations include financial advice, payments, internal accounting and the user is to provide service. IDAS officials may be appointed to other national bodies in addition to ministerial posts. They are also sometimes deployed abroad by the Indian military as part of UN peacekeeping operations.
The eligibility to apply for Idas is that the Candidates must not only hold a Bachelor's Degree but that too from a well-recognised university. Moreover, the Candidates who must have appeared for the qualifying examination as well as those who are awaiting results or those who are yet to appear for the qualifying examination are also eligible for the Preliminary Examination.
The Civil Service exam, which is administered in three parts, including the Preliminary, Mains, and Interview process, must be passed by applicants who wish to join IDAS. The candidate will be qualified to join IDAS once he successfully completes all three phases.
At numerous places across India, the UPSC-selected applicants are currently receiving comprehensive training. At the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, students initially get foundation training alongside All India Services. This training will take place over the course of 4-6 months.
The candidates are appointed as Assistant Controlling Officers of Defence Accounts following the training phases. There are municipal towns with cantonments among the locations where the candidates are stationed.
The IDAS officer is considered the major department in terms of relying on advice from an expert officer. Seeing the post requirements and responsibilities, the Indian government has given them special powers to deal with the ministers and organisations.
The IDAS is a very different department from IAS because IDAS deals with finances while IAS deals with security.
Yes, it is mandatory to appear in the three interview processes to apply for the IDAS.
Yes there is a mandatory six months of training before joining.
Yes, the IDAS officers get many facilities and are highly respected. At times they do get a chance to even be part of the UN peacekeeping forces.