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: In an age where Mammon often decides the worth of an individual, there still remain a handful who choose to opt for the prestige, glory and job satisfaction of being a bureaucrat. The lure of an IIM degree and a cushy job don’t tempt them. At a time, however, when the sky’s the limit for IIM grad salaries, are serving officers in IAS still convinced about their choice?

In a switchover mode in 2006 was Chennai-based DIG (a 1988 batch IPS officer) Surya Prasad, 42, who graduated from the IIM-A this year. Prasad bagged the highest domestic salary offer of Rs 34 lakh per annum at RPG.

And on the other end there’s also Manish Kumar, an IIM-Lucknow graduate, ranked fifth in the Civil Services 2004 examination. Kumar had to choose between a New York posting and one that would help him serve his country. “Although the money was great, I wanted to do something here,” he said.

Brajesh Singh, additional deputy commissioner, who is personal security officr to the President of India, admits, “When you are 21, you are passionate about wanting to change the world. So what if the monetary rewards are lower? Once you spend the first 12-15 years handling challenges, it gives you a heady feeling. Very few IAS/IPS officers can make suitable switches without contacts in India Inc. The perks of the job – the support staff, free travel and medical expenses – makes up for the low pay.”

T Krishna Prasad, IGP and additional director, Andhra Pradesh Police Academy, an IIM-A alumni, joined the services after a few years in the private sector. “There are two countries. One is India and the other is Bharat. IAS is more popular in Bharat,” he says. Santosh Desai, president, McCann Erickson, also an MBA from IIM-A, feels youngsters opt for IIMs because “there is more professionalism in IIMs. IAS officers have social power and a more public role that gives them a sense of achievement. But it’s unfair to let IAS officers sacrifice a big pay pack which they richly deserve.”