>>Do people aspire to join the civil services because it opens up this wide possibility to be corrupt and wield power
Yes.
Leave a few rare ones every few years - who eventually turn up dead at some petrol pump or end up destitute - almost everyone joins to earn millions in bribe. The way they talk - "kya maila?" - "revenue?" - "Are koi nahi. Power toh nahi but paisa kisi se kam nahi hai isme bhi" ("what cadre did you get?" - "revenue" - "Oh, it's ok. There's no power but money is no less than anywhere else". This is what they plan before joining from toppers to tail-enders. I used to believe their topper's interviews in those magazine, before I personally came to know some in college and after.
Yes. Leave a few rare ones every few years - who eventually turn up dead at some petrol pump or end up destitute - almost everyone joins to earn millions in bribe. The way they talk - "kya maila?" - "revenue?" - "Are koi nahi. Power toh nahi but paisa kisi se kam nahi hai isme bhi" ("what cadre did you get?" - "revenue" - "Oh, it's ok. There's no power but money is no less than anywhere else". This is what they plan before joining from toppers to tail-enders. I used to believe their topper's interviews in those magazine, before I personally came to know some in college and after.