A) Central Staffing Scheme is a provision to man posts in the Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India at DS/Director and above levels. It draws officers from all the State Governments and participating Group-A services. Each year the Establishment Officer, Department of Personnel & Training issues a circular to all the Chief Secretaries of the State Governments and the Secretaries of Ministries which are cadre controlling authorities of the participating Group-A services, requesting them to send names of suitable and willing officers for the Central Staffing Scheme. Among the names so sponsored, an ‘offer list of names of officers is prepared each year. Appointments to vacancies filled under the Central Staffing Scheme are made from this ‘offer list’.

Q.2) Am I eligible to participate in the Central Staffing Scheme?

A) If you belong to any of the services participating in the Central Staffing Scheme, you are eligible.

Q.3) What is the minimum service requirement?

A) The minimum service requirement is 9 years as on the 1st of July of that year.

Q.4) How do I apply for the Central Staffing Scheme?

A) You will have to fill an online application form available on the Department of Personnel & Training’s website www.persmin.nic.in. Click on the link online services in the left-hand corner and then click on Central Staffing Scheme. For 1AS officers, the intra-ias user name and password would be required. If you don’t remember the user name and password send an e-mail to [email protected] requesting for your user name and password. Your application has to be forwarded ‘online’ to the DOP&T by the designated Nodal Officer in respect of your Cadre Controlling Authority along with your CR Dossier for consideration of DOP&T.

Q.5) Will I get my choice of stations?

A) Officers are normally considered only for those stations for which they have applied subject to availability of vacancies for the particular station. It may be noted that most of the vacancies filled under the Central Staffing Scheme are located at Delhi.

Q.6) What is the tenure under Central Staffing Scheme?

A) The tenure is 4 years at Deputy Secretary level and 5 years for Director and Joint Secretary levels.

A) The approving authority for appointments under the Central Staffing Scheme is the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. However, the ACC has delegated the powers for issuing appointment orders in respect of Deputy Secretary/Director rank officers to the Establishment Officer after obtaining recommendations of the Civil Services Board and approval of the Minister in-Charge of the concerned Ministry.

Q.8) What is the Civil Services Board?

A) The Civil Services Board comprises the Cabinet Secretary, Secretary (Personnel) and the Establishment Officer among others. It meets at regular intervals (presently fortnightly) to discuss the names of officers in the panels provided by the Establishment Officer for being considered for posting to various Departments/Ministries. The Secretary of the concerned Ministry/Department where the vacancy is to be filled up is also invited.

Q.9) I wish to come to the Centre under the Central Staffing Scheme but my Cadre Controlling Authority is not forwarding my name. Can I be considered?

A) No, names can be considered for Central Staffing Scheme only when they are duly sponsored by the cadre controlling authority.

Q.10) What is debarment?

A) If an officer after appointment under Central Staffing Scheme does not join, or the State Govt./cadre controlling authority refuses to relieve him, he is debarred from coming on deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of five years. He is also debarred from being given cadre clearance for going on foreign assignments.

Q.11) What is cooling off requirement?

A) There is a provision of mandatory cooling off period of three years between two stints of deputation for DS/Director and JS level officers. The officers are required to work in their cadre during this period of ‘Cooling off. For officers belonging to the North-East and al( cadres, the cooling off period is two years.

Q.12) I am working under the Central Staffing Scheme. 1 have got promotion in my cadre. Can I go back to my cadre?

A) On getting promotion to the next level of grade pay, officers are allowed to take premature repatriation to avail of the benefit of promotion. The provision of extended cooling off is not applicable in such cases. For this, a proposal has to be sent to the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) by the concerned Ministry with the approval of the Minister in-charge along with a copy of the promotion order.