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A Collector is counted as one of the most prestigious government sector jobs. A Collector is an administrative officer who is responsible for maintaining the law and order of a particular district. In simple words, a Collector is the head of administration in a district. The job profile of a Collector is very fascinating but it requires a lot of learning, personality development and patience for a candidate desiring to become a Collector.
To become a Collector, candidates must either qualify the administrative service examinations conducted by the various state public service commissions like BPSC, UPPSC, MPPSC or the administrative service examinations conducted by the UPSC like UPSC (CSE), UPSC (IES). The minimum educational qualification which a candidate requires in order to become a Collector is a graduation degree from any university recognised by the UGC.
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Candidates can pursue Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree from any recognised university with a minimum aggregate of 45% and above. In order to get a bachelors’ degree from top universities in India, candidates must qualify the respective university entrance examinations. To become a Collector, candidates must not be of an age less than 21 years. The upper age limit for becoming a Collector is 32 years for general candidates, 35 years for OBC candidates and 37 years for SC/ST candidates.
The starting salary of a Collector in India is INR 5.2 LPA and the average salary which a Collector gets in India is INR 7 LPA. The maximum salary which a Collector earns in India is 14 LPA and in few cases even more. After retirement, a Collector is appointed by the various executive and government bodies which ensures a handsome salary throughout the life of a Collector.
Table of Content
How to Become a Collector: Quick Facts
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation |
| Competitive Exams | UPSC (CSE), UPSC (IES), BPSC, MPPSC, UPPSC, SSC |
| Starting Salary (INR) | 5.2 LPA |
| Average Salary (INR) | 7 LPA |
| Highest Salary (INR) | 14 LPA |
Who is a Collector
A Collector is the administrative head of the district whose prime responsibility is to maintain law and order. A Collector is appointed by the Union public service commission or the state public service commission in every district and its sub divisions for the smooth functioning of the democratic set up.
- The Collector is the chief in charge of the general administration of a district in India.
- They are the highest Officer of Revenue administration in the district.
- They are the highest Judicial Authority in the District.
- They are also known as District Collector or Deputy Commissioner in several Indian states.
What does a Collector do?
Being the administrative head of a district, Collectors are in charge of disposing duties such as maintenance of law and order within the territory, and maintaining internal peace and security. The major responsibilities of a Collector are listed below.
- A Collector has responsibilities for the collection of land revenue in a district, income tax dues, irrigation dues, excise dues.
- They are responsible for the maintenance of the consolidation of holding in the district.
- A Collector is an officer responsible for passing all the agricultural loans to people. Being the Chief Development Officer of a district, a Collector is also responsible for passing the development schemes for the betterment of the society.
- They have the authority to make any law which is not violative of the Indian constitution for the proper functioning of the states’ administration.
Courses to Become a Collector
To become a Collector, the minimum educational qualification which a candidate requires is an undergraduate degree in any stream. Candidates belonging from the Arts stream would have an edge over the candidates from other streams for the fact that the entrance exams usually has questions from subjects such as History, Geography and Sociology. However, some of the other undergraduate degrees which a candidate can pursue in order to become a Collector are tabulated below.
| Parameters | BA | B. Sc. | B.Com. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 from any recognised board | 10+2 from any recognised board | 10+2 from any recognised board |
| Top Colleges | BHU, DU, JMI | DU, JNU, Allahabad University | Delhi school of Economics, Shri Ram College of Commerce |
| Entrance Exams | CUET | CUET | CUET |
| Average Course Fees (INR) | 30,000 Per annum | 30,000 Per annum | 30,000 Per annum |
| Average Salary (INR) | 7 LPA | 7 LPA | 7 LPA |
Skills Required to Become a Collector
In order to perform their duties efficiently, Collectors need to have various administrative skills. Some of these skills are tabulated below.
| Leadership Quality | Stress Handling Skill | Decision Making Skill |
| Administrative Skills | Good Communication skills | Interpersonal Skills |
Salary of a Collector
Collectors are given job profiles on the basis of their experiences in the administrative and other relevant public services like Indian foreign service, Indian police service. The job profile of the candidates also depends on their ranks in state PCS and UPSC CSE exams. Job profiles of the Collectors become a factor in determining their salaries. The average annual salary of a Collector on the basis of their job profiles are tabulated below.
| Job Profile | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| District Magistrate | 13 L |
| Revenue Officer | 12.5 L |
| Income tax officer | 8.22 L |
| IFS Officer | 13 L |
| IPS Officer | 13 L |
How to Become a Collector: FAQs
Ques. What are the qualifications needed to become a Collector?
Ans. In order to become a Collector, the minimum educational qualification which an aspirant must have is a graduation degree in any stream.
Ques. What are the competitive exams for becoming a Collector?
Ans. To become a Collector, an aspirant must qualify either the exam conducted by the UPSC or exams conducted by the various state public service commissions like BPSC, UPPSC, MPPSC.
Ques. What is the minimum age for becoming a Collector?
Ans. The minimum age for becoming a Collector in India is 21 years.
Ques. What is the maximum age for appearing in the UPSC exam?
Ans. The maximum age for appearing in UPSC exam for general candidate is 32 years, for OBC 35 years and for SC/ST 37 years.
Ques. What is the salary of a Collector in India?
Ans. The starting salary of a Collector in India is INR 5.2 LPA. The maximum salary which a Collector gets in India is INR 14 LPA and even more in a few cases.
Ques. Can a girl become a district Collector?
Ans. Yes, a girl can become a district Collector. Becoming a Collector is one among the most prestigious government jobs.
Ques. What are the skills required to become a Collector?
Ans. The skills required to become a Collector are Leadership Quality, Stress Handling Skill, Administrative Skills, Good Communication & Interpersonal Skills, Decision Making Skill etc.
Ques. What are the stages of UPSC and State PCS exams?
Ans. The UPSC and state PCS exams take place in three stages ie. preliminary stage, Mains and Interview.
Ques. What are the allowances which a Collector gets?
Ans. A Collector gets allowances like Dearness allowances, House Rent Allowance, Medical Allowance, Traveling Allowance, Security, Bills etc. along with the salary.
Ques. What is the average annual salary which a Collector gets?
Ans. The average annual salary which a Collector gets in India is INR 7 L.
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