Life after UPSC: Training at LBSNAA and Bharat Darshan

LBSNAA Foundation Course Training 

The FC is mandatory for Trainee Officers of the All India Services. These include the IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service),  IFS (Indian Forests Service), (Indian Foreign Service), and other Group A Central Services.

The LBSNAA Foundation Course is run for a duration of 15 weeks and usually from the months of September to December. The FC marks the commencement of the training for fresh recruits. 

The focus of the LBSNAA Foundation Course is to familiarise the newly recruited officers with the political, social, economic, and administrative issues through a well-defined syllabus. Through this training, the new officers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitude to shoulder the responsibilities of being a public servant. 

But that is not the only point of this training. The LBSNAA Foundation Course is by design kept common for all civil servants regardless of service, so that there is a shared understanding of how the government works. Further, it is a boost to inter-departmental relations and highlights the challenges and opportunities existing within civil services.

OTs are taught various subjects of social, economic, and political importance such as political science, law, management, public administration, and history and culture.  Eminent scholars and subject experts from all walks of life deliver lectures and take classes on different subjects. 

Next, the All-India service officers have to learn the language of the state they are allotted to. The languages offered for learning at LBSNAA include: Assamese, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Manipuri, Oriya, Punjabi, French, and English.

According to the LBSNAA’s official website, here is a list of co-curricular activities that are arranged within the Foundation Course.

Short weekend treks are undertaken during the first four weeks including a high-altitude trek that spans one week. 

In addition to this, OTs are taken on a village visit. Other activities organized for OTs are the following, as per the official website of LBSNAA:

• Fete (a public function organized for the OTs)
• India Day  (The culture, cuisine, arts, and crafts of diverse regions are displayed by officers through various indoor and outdoor activities on this day) 
• Athletics Meet
• AK Sinha Memorial One Act Play
• Homi Bhaba Science Debate
• Extra-Curricular Module
• Activities by Clubs and Societies
• Literary Festival. 

That is everything about the Foundation Course for Officer Trainees at LBSNAA. Now let us move on to the next exciting activity, that is, the Bharat Darshan. 

But before we do that, here is a video you must watch. Get yourself inspired with our Legends of LBSNAA series. 

In this episode, watch ex-UPSC Chairman Mr. Deepak Gupta as he takes you through everything you need to know about being an IAS officer including about the life of an IAS officer, how IAS officers work, the qualities of an IAS officer, and everything else about being in the civil services. 

Bharat Darshan (Winter Study Tour, Phase-I)

Bharat Darshan is a 21-day study tour inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Bharat Yatra. It is a fundamental aspect of the training program for future civil servants and offers an exclusive chance to learn about the rich diversity of the country and discover the underlying unity within. 

During this time, the future-IAS officers also familiarize themselves with the public and private undertakings, NGOs, armed services, media, and parliamentary proceedings. 

The entire Bharat Darshan study tour is designed in such a manner that young civil servants get a comprehensive understanding of what makes India’s diversity so rich and see for themselves the rich cultural heritage and geographical treasures that make us proud of our country.

The Bharat Darshan is part of the Winter Study Tour in the phase I training session. The OTs are divided into groups of 18-20 each and they travel together to different parts of the country covering almost 20,000 kilometers across the length and breadth of the country. Usually, this tour starts in the month of December and ends in February. 

During that time, the trainees have an opportunity to visit the different institutions of national importance across the country such as the RBI, the SEBI, and NGOs functioning in sync with the government.

The OTs also have different attachments that add to the incredible experience of Bharat Darshan. They are as follows:

Bureau of Parliamentary Studies (BPST) Attachment 

The OTs undergo a week-long attachment under BPST at the Lok Sabha Secretariat in New Delhi. Future-IAS officers get familiar with the parliament and its proceedings. 

Indian Air Force (IAF) attachment

For this attachment, the trainees are taken to an Indian Air Force station within the country to learn about its functioning and daily routine. The primary goal of this attachment is to create awareness about the capabilities of the IAF. 

Army Attachment 

During the Army Attachment, the officers get to experience the ground realities in which the Indian Army operates. The trainees are taken to Jammu and Kashmir for a week where they experience the routine life of the army officers. 

Another goal is for the OTs to understand how the Indian Armed Forces function and their role in the civil administration and defense service. 

Naval Attachment 

During the Naval Attachment, the OTs are taken to a naval base within the country for 2-3 days where they get to experience how the Naval force works. 

NGO Attachment 

The OTs are taken to visit an NGO where they understand how the NHO works, what it does, and its role in helping society. 

Naxal-Affected District Attachment

With the goal of understanding insurgency problems in the Naxal-affected districts and how governance is carried out in these areas, the OTs are usually taken to tribal villages or Naxal-hit areas. 

Public Sector Attachment

During this attachment, the OTs are taken to major public sector organizations such as RBI, SEBI, or NTPC among others to know about the functions of these institutions and their practices. 

District Administration Attachment 

Here the OTs are taken to a district to understand the welfare schemes and administration practices at the district level. 

Forest and Island Attachment 

India has many island territories, hills, and disturbed areas under influence of militant groups. These are called complex terrain regions and their administration is a difficult task. This attachment is to help OTs to understand how governance is carried out in these difficult areas. 

Special Task Force (STF) and NSG Attachment

OTs have the privilege to meet the National Security Guards (NSGs) and STF members who take care of the country’s security. 

So there you go. That is everything you need to know about IAS LBSNAA Foundation Course and Bharat Darshan for IAS Officer Trainees at LBSNAA. 

Exciting isn’t it?

The immersive experience you will get to have during your training as an IAS officer is unlike any other training for any other service. LBSNAA training and Bharat Darshan have been designed keeping in mind the job requirements of an IAS officer and are enriching experiences for all future-IAS officers of the country. 

So if you want to experience the training at LBSNAA and serve your country as an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, prepare with everything you have. Think of studying for UPSC CSE as the first part of your training. 

And if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask for it. After all, what are we here for? Download the PrepLadder App and access a multitude of free resources to enhance your preparation. Attend lectures by India’s top-notch UPSC faculty like Vivek Singh, Hemant Jha, and M.Puri who have helped thousands of aspirants become IAS officers. 

So don’t wait. Start your UPSC CSE preparation with PrepLadder now. 

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