When we hear “UPSC,” most of us think only of IAS, IPS, or IFS. But the Union Public Service Commission is far more than that. It’s the backbone of India’s governance, silently selecting the engineers, doctors, economists, and officers who keep the nation’s infrastructure, health, and security running.

Take Harishit Pandey, who secured AIR 2 in the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) in 2024. His relatives assumed he was joining the IAS. Instead, he is set to work on India’s roads, bridges, railways, and power systems — work that directly affects millions of lives.

Apart from the Civil Services Examination, UPSC conducts a wide range of competitive exams: Engineering Services (ESE) for technical roles, Combined Medical Services (CMS) for doctors, Indian Economic Service/Statistical Service (IES/ISS) for policy and data experts, Combined Geo-Scientist (CGS) for geologists, Indian Forest Service (IFoS) for environment and wildlife officers, and CAPF for paramilitary forces.

Each of these cadres plays a critical role in nation-building, often away from the spotlight. Together, they form the invisible workforce that ensures India’s development, safety, and sustainability.