Government jobs in India offer stability, good pay, and benefits like retirement and insurance. However, acquiring most government positions requires candidates to have degrees.
But which degrees are most lucrative?
If you are entering university or considering returning to school mid-career, you are well placed to improve your chances of landing a government job. Now is the time to choose the degree best suited for public service recruitment.
Below is a discussion of the best degrees that provide access to specific and lucrative government jobs.
The Best Degrees for Landing Jobs in Public Service
The government offers essential job roles across a wide range of industries. As a government employee, you will be offering vital services, such as infrastructure development, researching treatments for diseases, and ensuring food supplies are safe.
Degrees in government positions in India cover multiple niches, providing professionals the added flexibility to choose a most exciting field. Here is a snapshot of 5 degrees worth considering and the jobs you can get.
| Degree | Government Jobs |
| Bachelor of Arts | Civil Services
Banking Railways Administrative Officer Research Assistant Legal Assistant Public Relations Officer Teacher |
| Public Administration | Legislation
Public Relations Management Human Resources Management Medical and Health Services Community Association Management |
| International Relations | International Diplomacy
Foreign Affairs Analyst Archivist roles Demographer |
| Business Administration | Financial Analysis
Budget Management Accounting Business Management Logistics Auditing |
| Economics | Actuarial Analysis
Economics Consultancy Market Research and Analysis Financial Risk Management Economics |
| Civil Engineering | Civil Engineering
Structural Engineering Urban Planning Project Engineering Transportation Engineering |
Below is a detailed analysis of these study programs and the best positions where they apply.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is a course that takes about three years to complete. Candidates with a class 12th or intermediate can pursue the degree with any specialization, including Hindi, English, History, and Journalism.
Getting into a B.A. program is based on merit or the basis of an entrance exam. Students can pursue the degree part-time, through distance learning, regular courses, and correspondence.
The government provides an inventory of jobs for candidates with a B.A. degree. However, candidates have to complete government exams such as:
- Railway exams
- Staff Selection Commission Graduate Level Combined Examination (SSC CGL)
- State Bank of India Probational Officer (SBI PO)
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Lucrative government jobs that require a B.A. are:
- Sub-inspector – police
- Assistant Section Officer (ASO)
- Teacher
- Probationary Officer (PO) in banks
- Research Assistant
- Content writer and editor
- Social worker
Public Administration Degree
A B.A. in Public Administration is suitable if you are curious about the creation, implementation, and engagement of public policies. The course covers diverse administrative ideas, public services, the constitutional framework, and public organizations.
After the course, you can pursue jobs in hospital management, government organizations, non-government organizations, and more. The B.A. is one of the sought-after programs in India with multiple advantages.
Some of these benefits include:
- Fostering the expansion of knowledge by providing multiple career progress prospects
- Strong communication abilities, an eye for detail, excellent computer skills, and a working knowledge of administrative regulations and laws
The Indian central and state governments provide several lucrative opportunities in roles relevant to public administration. These include:
- Civil Servant
- State Provincial Civil Service (PCS) Officer
- Assistant Audit Officer
- State Bank of India (SBI) Public Officer (PO)
- Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Public Officer (PO)
- Public Relations Management
International Relations
A degree in International Relations in India provides exciting opportunities if you are interested in building bridges between countries and fostering a more prosperous and peaceful world.
International Relations is a political science branch studying the interactions between non-state actors, governments, and nations. It explores many topics, including economic development, international law, diplomacy, globalization, and foreign policy.
Professionals in the field are committed to promoting cooperation, stability, and peace between nations. They also address global challenges such as inequality, poverty, and climate change.
The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) offers lucrative careers for International Relations candidates. The IFS officers are representatives of India in various embassies and consulates worldwide.
Other opportunities for candidates in this field include:
- Diplomats representing the government in foreign lands with their primary objectives to maintain positive relations between the nations, assisting Indian citizens, and promoting commerce and trade
- They can also find opportunities at think tanks providing policy recommendations to the government of India and private sector organizations
- The ministries of Defense and Commerce and Industry are also looking to bring in International Relations professionals
Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is one of the most sought-after programs in India. The course focuses on company, organization, or business management strategies and planning.
A BBA is also a requirement for many jobs in the government. Some of these include:
- Bank Public Officer and clerk positions related to banking operations, cash management, account management, branch management, and customer service
- Civil service jobs such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) but you need to complete a competitive examination conducted by the UPSC or state-level bodies
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC) positions such as data entry and clerical jobs
- Police sub-inspector
- Defense Services jobs in the Indian Air Force, Army or Navy, but you need to complete the Combined Defense Service (DFS) exam
- In the Railways as a Senior Time Keeper, Station Master, Traffic Assistant, and many other positions with postings in zonal and central placements
Economics
Economics is an excellent course for anyone with good accounting, mathematical, and logical skills along with excellent communication skills. The program opens you to a versatile and dynamic field with many job opportunities.
A Bachelor of Science in Economics enables students to identify issues related to society, public policy, business, and economy. Rigorous training equips you with the skills to objectively and critically examine and assimilate information applied to core and interdisciplinary learnings.
Students have the option to specialize in specific economics areas, including:
- Economics development
- Labor economics
- Science economics
- Organization behavior
- Industrial economics
Leading job positions that require a degree in economics include:
- Accounts Auditor
- Indian Economics Service Officer
- RBI Grade B Officer
- PGT Economics
- SBI PO
Civil Engineering
A degree in Civil Engineering prepares you for career positions focusing on overseeing, designing, and planning the construction of building facilities and infrastructure. Depending on your specialization, there are opportunities in the construction and development of power plants, harbors, pipelines, and much more.
These jobs are usually in local and national government agencies. Some government careers open to you as a civil engineer include:
- Project Engineering
- Urban planning
- Transportation engineering
- Civil engineering
Conclusion
Your degree makes a real difference with the best jobs in the Indian government. While the market is competitive, having the relevant degree will help you succeed. Engineering and law positions require a highly specialized degree but a bachelor’s degree in public administration, international relations, economics, and arts will open up many more opportunities.