The ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions has proposed an amendment to the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 which would enable it to post Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers on central deputation bypassing reservations of the state governments.

The ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions is responsible for the management of the cadres of All India Services (IAS, IPS, and IFS) and all three Secretariat Services namely Central Secretariat Services (CSS), Central Secretariat Stenographers’ Services (CSSS) and Central Secretariat Clerical Services (CSCS). 

It frames and also revises Rules and Regulations regarding conditions of the All India Services, such as Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS), in consultation with the ministry of home affairs and ministry of environment, forest and climate change respectively.

The Services & Vigilance Wing handles matters relating to administration of Rules on all the service matters in respect of All India Services (AIS). 

Why Centre plans to bring in amendment?

Last year, the Centre had asked all state governments to nominate more officers for central deputation at the level of deputy secretary, director and joint secretary, citing their shortage.

Officers of the level of deputy secretary/director and above are usually appointed in central government ministries/ departments (on central deputation) under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS).

Every cadre — a state/states or states and Union Territories — is allowed a deputation reserve to ensure that officers have the opportunity to work on deputation including that under the Central Staffing Scheme, which adds to their experience.

The new proposal, which will give greater say to the Centre, came as various state/joint cadres were found to be not sponsoring an adequate number of IAS officers as part of the central deputation reserve, even though the ministry had flagged the issue several times.

As a result of this, the ministry said, that the number of officers available for central deputation is not sufficient to meet the requirement at Centre.

What is the main change?

In its amendment, the Centre has proposed to insert a provision in Rule 6 of IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, which stated that any IAS officer could be posted on central deputation with the concurrence of the state government concerned.

The Centre has proposed to keep this part of the rule intact, but to add: “Provided that each state government shall make available for deputation to the central government, such number of eligible officers of various levels to the extent of the Central Deputation Reserve prescribed under Regulations referred to in Rule 4(1), adjusted proportionately by the number of officers available with the state government concerned vis-a-vis the total authorised strength of the state cadre at a given point of time."

The actual number of officers to be deputed to the central government shall be decided by the Centre in consultation with the state government concerned, the new rule proposes.

In case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the central government and the state government or state governments concerned shall give effect to the decision of the central government “within a specified time”.

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