The BCS Cadres Explained
বাংলায় পড়তে চাও? দেখো: বিসিএস ক্যাডার পরিচিতি
BCS is not one job but a collection of cadres, each with its own work, environment and promotion path. You submit your cadre preferences at application, so it pays to know what each actually involves first.
General cadres — what the main ones do
| Cadre | The nature of the work |
|---|---|
| Administration | Field administration and the secretariat — implementing policy, land, disaster response and coordination |
| Police | Law and order, investigation and crime control; physically and mentally demanding |
| Foreign affairs | Embassies and diplomacy; overseas postings, requiring language and protocol skills |
| Taxation and customs | Revenue collection, tax assessment and customs administration |
| Audit and accounts | Auditing government accounts and financial management |
| Education | Teaching as a lecturer in government colleges |
| Information, post, trade, co-operatives and others | Administrative and operational duties in the relevant department |
Technical and professional cadres
A technical cadre requires a specific degree — MBBS for health, an agriculture degree for agriculture, an engineering degree for the engineering cadre. In the written exam, a 200-mark paper in your own subject replaces general science.
The advantage is fewer competitors, since only graduates of that subject can apply. The drawback is that posts are limited and the work is narrower.
You may apply for both a general and a technical cadre, but then you sit additional written papers and your total rises accordingly.
Ordering your cadre preferences
- Consider your temperament and the life you want — field pressure, transfers and working hours differ sharply between cadres.
- Do not order the list by prestige alone — put at the top the work you could do for thirty years.
- Be realistic, but never omit a cadre you actually want — an omitted cadre cannot be allotted to you.
- If you hold a technical degree, weigh the pros and cons of applying for both.
- Talk to serving officers — they can tell you what a circular never will.
Frequently asked questions
The number varies with each BCS and the circular lists it cadre by cadre. Education and health usually have comparatively more posts, but it changes every year.
A degree in the relevant subject — MBBS for health, engineering for the engineering cadre. In the written exam a 200-mark paper in your own subject replaces general science.
Once the application is final, preferences generally cannot be changed — so think the order through before applying, and read the circular’s terms carefully.
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