While still in service, a civil servant is not allowed to become a:

A serving civil servant holds an office of profit under the government and is bound by conduct rules that forbid taking part in politics, so a civil servant cannot become a Member of Parliament while in service.

Constitutional basis:

Article 102(1)(a) disqualifies a person from being a member of either House of Parliament if they hold any office of profit under the Government of India or a state government, other than an office declared by Parliament by law not to disqualify its holder.

Article 191(1)(a) contains a similar provision for state legislatures.

A government servant's post is clearly an office of profit, because the government appoints, pays and can remove the holder.

Service conduct rules:

• The All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 prohibit government servants from being members of any political party or taking part in any political activity.
• A government servant cannot canvass for or use influence in an election.
• They may vote, but must not reveal how they voted.

What a civil servant must do to contest an election:

They must resign from service, and the resignation must be accepted before filing the nomination.

Representation of the People Act, 1951:

Section 9 disqualifies a government servant dismissed for corruption or disloyalty to the state for five years from the date of dismissal.

Purpose of these rules:

• To keep the civil service politically neutral and impartial.
• To ensure that officers serve every elected government equally, whichever party is in power.
• To prevent misuse of official position for political gain.

Why not the other options?

• ✗A civil servant may become a member of a cooperative housing society, a recognised service association or a public library, as these are not political bodies, subject to the conduct rules.