Archive · 1 Jan 2026
Ex-Finance Secretary Critiques IAS Expectations vs Reality
Subhash Garg, a former Finance Secretary of India, talked about how many people who join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) don't really know what the job is like.
They think they will become big officers, but they don't understand the real work.
Garg said that officers learn their roles only after joining.
He also talked about how idealism doesn't always work on the ground.
For example, giving land to poor farmers sounds good, but in reality, big farmers already occupy much of it, leading to legal battles.
Garg had to find practical solutions, sometimes even bending the rules, to help people and reduce disputes.
He believes that if you can't turn idealism into reality, you shouldn't insist on it.
Subhash Garg, former Finance Secretary of India, discussed the gap between expectations and realities of IAS officers.
Many IAS aspirants have a superficial understanding of the service, focusing only on becoming big officers.
Officers often learn their roles and responsibilities only after joining the service.
Garg cited land allotment under ceiling laws as an example of the clash between idealism and reality.
He adopted unconventional approaches to reduce disputes and prevent harm to vulnerable farmers, sometimes going beyond the rules.
- Who
- Subhash Garg, former Finance Secretary of India
- What
- Critiques the gap between expectations and realities of IAS officers
- When
- During a podcast with Raj Shamani
- Where
- India
- Why
- To highlight the lack of understanding among IAS aspirants about the actual responsibilities of the service
- Person
- Subhash Garg
- Position
- Former Finance Secretary of India
- Podcast Host
- Raj Shamani
- Service
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Key Issue
- Gap between expectations and realities of IAS officers
