D/o Personnel & Training
M/o Personnel P.G. & Pensions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Central Staffing Scheme(CSS)?
2. How many services are included in the Central Staffing Scheme?
3. What are the eligibility criteria for JS level empanelment for AIS/Central Services etc. under Central Staffing Scheme?
4. How many years ACRs/APARs are required to be in the ACR dossier to become eligible for consideration?
5. Is the period of sanctioned study leave counted in the assessment towards JS level empanelment?
6. What is Average Weighted Score and how is it calculated?
7. What is the formula to calculate Weighted Average Score?
8. What are the numerical values assigned to gradings of Outstanding, Very Good, Good and Average for the purpose of JS level empanelment?
9. What is cut off score? Is it different for different batches for a given service?
10. What are the guidelines for Members of the Experts Panel regarding assessment of ACR dossiers of officers ?
11. What kind of relaxation inthe criterion is available to SC/ST officers?
12. How do the empanelment guidelines ensure adequate representation of SC/ST officers among the empanelled officers?
13. What kind of relaxation in the criterionis available to officers belonging to NE States?
14. What kindof relaxation in the criterion is available to women officers?
15. Is there age limit for consideration for JS level empanelment?
16. What is date from which age of an officer is counted towards JS level empanelment?
17. Is vigilance clearance needed for consideration for JS level empanelment?
18. When does an officer become eligible for First Review/Second Review ?
19. When does an officer become eligible for Special Review ?
20. How the ACR dossier of an officer is assessed?
21. Who are the members of the Experts Panel?
22. I belong to IRAS. I have got SAG in my cadre. Need I apply for JS level empanelment under Central Staffing Scheme? If yes, to whom?
23. I am on foreign deputation under AIS Rule 6(2)(ii). Am I eligible for consideration for JS level empanelment? I was on foreign assignment under AIS Rule 6(2)(ii). I have returned to cadre one year back. I want to know when will I be considered for JS level empanelment?
24. I am on deputation under AIS Rule 6(2)(i). Am I eligible for consideration for JS level empanelment?
25. I belong to 1995 batch of IAS. I have not yet got SAG in the cadre. Will I be considered for JS level empanelment? If not, when?
26. I was not empanelled because my CR dossiers did not have adequate ACRs at the time of assessment at initial stage held in 2011. However, now my dossier has been updated and has the requisite ACRs/APARs. I want to know when will my case be taken up for assessment?
27. At the time of initial assessment, my vigilance clearance was not available. I want to know when will I be empanelled?
28. I am going to superannuate in the next two and a half years. I want to know if I am eligible for consideration for JS level empanelment?
29. My ACR for the period from 2011-12 could not be written by the Reviewing Authority as he had superannuated/demitted the office. The Accepting Authority also could not grade my ACR for 2011-12. I want to know whether my ACR for 2011-12 would be taken into account for the purpose of JS level empanelment as this is the cut off year for my batch.
30. I had submitted my ACR for the year 2009-10, 2010-11 on time but the Reviewing Authority and Accepting Authority recorded their gradings much later and their gradings have become time barred. I want to know whether my ACR for these two years would be taken into account for the purpose of JS level empanelment.
31. I was empanelled for JS level four years back. Now, I want to apply for JS level posts at Centre. I want to know whether I am still empanelled or I have to be empanelled afresh to apply for JS level posts at centre.
32. I was not empanelled last year. I want to know if I am eligible for First Review, if yes, when?
33. I had submitted a representation against my non-empanelment at initial stage. I want to know if my representation would be placed before the Experts Panel at the time of First Review.
34. Can I submit a representation at initial stage for placing before the Experts Panel at the time of assessment?
35. While working on WTO issues in the Ministry of Commerce, a few research papers prepared by me were published in the international journals, with the permission of the Department. I want to know if the Experts Panel while making an assessment of my ACRs/APARs would take into consideration my research papers.

1: What is Central Staffing Scheme(CSS)?

The idea behind CSS is the Centre’s need for fresh inputs at middle/senior levels in the formulation of policy and implementation/monitoring of various programmes. These are from diverse sources, such as the All India Services and other participating organized Group ‘A’ services. The services of officers from the participating Group ‘A’ services having background in scientific/technological, economic, medical, legal, trade and other sectors/fields are obtained for a specified period on deputation. On completion of the tenure, such officers return to their parent cadre which also stands benefitted in the process by getting exposure at the Centre. Thus the two-way movement is of mutual benefit to the service cadres and the Government of India..

2: How many services are included in the Central Staffing Scheme?

3: What are the eligibility criteria for JS level empanelment for AIS/Central Services etc. under Central Staffing Scheme?

As per DOPT OM No. 36/77/96-EO(SM-I), dated 5.1.1996, an officer should be drawing pay in the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) (Grade Pay of Rs. 10,000/ -) in their respective parent cadre/service or where an officer is on deputation, he should be on the panel approved by the ACC for the SAG in that service/cadre and an officer junior to him on that panel should have been appointed to a post in the SAG in that service/cadre. For All India Services, appointment of at least one officer of the service of any State Cadre in the SAG would be a pre-condition for consideration of the officers of a particular year of allotment. Officers belonging to Central Secretariat Service should have eight years of service in the Selection Grade (Deputy Secretary or equivalent) and should have been assessed suitable for the post of Director for a minimum continuous period of three years for being eligible to hold posts of Joint Secretary level under the Central Staffing Scheme.

4: How many years ACRs/APARs are required to be in the ACR dossier to become eligible for consideration?

ACRs/APARs during the 10 year period, immediately preceding and inclusive of the cut off year, would be taken into account.

5: Is the period of sanctioned study leave counted in the assessment towards JS level empanelment?

As per ACC approved guidelines, if there are gaps in the availability of ACRs during the period due to the officer being on study leave or for any other reason beyond the control of the officer, at least 8 years full ACRs would be taken into account by considering the ACRs for a maximum of 3 years immediately preceding the period.

6: What is Average Weighted Score and how is it calculated?

ACR Gradings (Outstanding/Very Good/Good/Average) for each year as recommended by the Experts Panel are converted into their numerical equivalents and this numerical value is multiplied with the number of months for which the grading has been given. The sum total of such multiplicands for all the ten years is then divided by the total number of months ACRs available in the ten year period. The dividend so obtained is the Average Weighted Score of the officer concerned.

7: What is the formula to calculate Weighted Average Score?

The following formula is used for this purpose:

                        Aggregate of Numerical Score* for each year obtained in 10 years upto the cut off year
Weighted Average score = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Total number of months for which valid ACR is available in 10 years upto the cut off year.

Numerical Score* = Number of months for which valid ACR/part of ACR is available in a year  X

                   numerical equivalent of the grading given by the  Experts Panel for that year or part of year.

8: What are the numerical values assigned to gradings of Outstanding, Very Good, Good and Average for the purpose of JS level empanelment?

A numerical value of 9, 7, 5 and 0 is assigned to ‘Outstanding’, ‘Very Good’, ‘Good’ and ‘Average’ gradings, respectively.

9: What is cut off score? Is it different for different batches for a given service?

The cut off score for a batch is the weighted average score of the last officer empanelled in that batch at initial stage. If the name of any officer is pulled up beyond the cut off score to provide for adequate representation to SC/ST and women categories or to a particular cadre, the score of such an officer is not taken into account for this purpose. It is normally different for different batches.

10: What are the guidelines for Members of the Experts Panel regarding assessment of ACR dossiers of officers ?

a) The Experts Panel is required to examine the ACRs, year-wise, in detail for the batch which is being assessed, to ensure that the gradings match the performace and the achievements of the officer in the light of the officer’s self-assessment and the remarks of the Reporting/Reviewing/Accepting Authorities. The Experts Panels give their own assessments of the gradings of officer for each year.

b) The Experts Panel also examine whether the assessment given in one or two years by a particular authority is out of line with the trend of other ACRs obtained by the officer from other superior authorities.

c) In case of officers, where Reviewing/Accepting Authority may have downgraded/ upgraded grading given by the Reporting/Reviewing Authority, the Experts Panel is required to give their assessment based on the justification given/not given by the Reviewing Authority/Accepting Authority.

11: What kind of relaxation in the criterion is available to SC/ST officers?

In case the selection process does not lead to adequate representation to categories like SC/ST, women, the North East and from particular State cadres in the panel, the criteria for empanelment would be suitably relaxed to give due representation to these categories.

12: How do the empanelment guidelines ensure adequate representation of SC/ST officers among the empanelled officers?

In case the selection process does not lead to adequate representation to categories like SC/ST, women, particular State cadres, the North-East, etc. in the panel, the criteria for empanelment would be suitably relaxed to give due representation to these. For this purpose, adequacy of representation would mean the cumulative representation in four batches, i.e. the current batch and the immediately preceding three batches being less than 66 2/3% of All India percentages of empanelment. The number of officers to be selected on this basis shall not exceed about 15% of the number included in the panel and these selections would follow the process outlined above albeit with suitably relaxed norms.

13: What kind of relaxation in the criterion is available to officers belonging to NE States?

Please refer to No.12.

14: What kind of relaxation in the criterion is available to women officers?

Please refer to No.12.

15: Is there age limit for consideration for JS level empanelment?

Officers having less than four years residual service on the 1st day of the year in which the empanelment takes place are not eligible for consideration.

16: What is date from which age of an officer is counted towards JS level empanelment?

Please refer to No. 15.

17: Is vigilance clearance needed for consideration for JS level empanelment?

Yes.

18: When does an officer become eligible for First Review/Second Review ?

As per para 10 of Central Staffing Scheme, 1996, the cases of such officers who were not included in any panel in a particular year would be reviewed together after a period of two years i.e. when two more annual confidential reports on their performance have been added to their CR dossiers. Another such review may be conducted after a further period of two years.

19: When does an officer become eligible for Special Review ?

An officer can be considered for Special Review in case his ACR/APAR undergoes a material change as a result of his representation being accepted against recording of adverse comments on his ACR/APAR. The ACR which underwent change should have formed part of those ACRs which were taken into consideration in the empanelment decision.

20: How the ACR dossier of an officer is assessed?

Please refer to No. 10.

21: Who are the members of the Experts Panel?

Members are Secretary to the Govt. of India or equivalent level retired officers appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

22: I belong to IRAS. I have got SAG in my cadre. Need I apply for JS level empanelment under Central Staffing Scheme? If yes, to whom?

It is the cadre controlling authority of the service who has to send the proposal for JS level empanelment to this Department. Officers need not apply directly.

23: I am on foreign deputation under AIS Rule 6(2)(ii). Am I eligible for consideration for JS level empanelment? I was on foreign assignment under AIS Rule 6(2)(ii). I have returned to cadre one year back. I want to know when will I be considered for JS level empanelment?

An officer who is or was on foreign assignment for a period of two years or more under AIS Rule 6(2)(ii) will be considered for empanelment at the level of Joint Secretary only if on return from such assignment he/she has served for a period of at least two years in his/her cadre and has earned two ACRs/APARs thereon. Besides, he would also have to meet the requirement under para 3 & 4.

24: I am on deputation under AIS Rule 6(2)(i). Am I eligible for consideration for JS level empanelment?

Yes.

25: I belong to 1995 batch of IAS. I have not yet got SAG in the cadre. Will I be considered for JS level empanelment? If not, when?

As per Para 6 of the Central Staffing Scheme issued vide No. 36/77/94-EI(SM-I), dated 5.1.1996, officers drawing pay in the scale of Rs. 5900 – 6700 (now revised as Rs. 37400 - 67000(Senior Administrative Grade) in their respective parent cadre/service are eligible for consideration. However, if an officer is on deputation, he should be on the panel approved by the ACC for the SAG scale in the cadre/service and an officer junior to him on that panel has been appointed to a post carrying pay in the SAG. For the All India Services, appointment of at least one officer of the Service of any State Cadre in the scale of SAG is a pre-condition for consideration of officers of a particular year of allotment.

26: I was not empanelled because my CR dossiers did not have adequate ACRs at the time of assessment at initial stage held in 2011. However, now my dossier has been updated and has the requisite ACRs/APARs. I want to know when will my case be taken up for assessment?

Yes, your case can be considered if a proposal in this regard is sent by the cadre controlling authority.

27: At the time of initial assessment, my vigilance clearance was not available. I want to know when will I be empanelled?

The consideration of an officer is deferred if his vigilance clearance is awaited/deferred. He is eligible for consideration once his vigilance status becomes available.

28: I am going to superannuate in the next two and a half years. I want to know if I am eligible for consideration for JS level empanelment?

Please refer to No. 15.

29: My ACR for the period from 2011-12 could not be written by the Reviewing Authority as he had superannuated/demitted the office. The Accepting Authority also could not grade my ACR for 2011-12. I want to know whether my ACR for 2011-12 would be taken into account for the purpose of JS level empanelment as this is the cut off year for my batch.

Yes, ACR for the period 2011-12 would be taken into account if self appraisal was submitted within the prescribed time limit.

30: I had submitted my ACR for the year 2009-10, 2010-11 on time but the Reviewing Authority and Accepting Authority recorded their gradings much later and their gradings have become time barred. I want to know whether my ACR for these two years would be taken into account for the purpose of JS level empanelment.

Yes, if the self appraisal and comments of the Reporting Officer are in time.

31: I was empanelled for JS level four years back. Now, I want to apply for JS level posts at Centre. I want to know whether I am still empanelled or I have to be empanelled afresh to apply for JS level posts at centre.

An officer once empanelled for JS level need not be empanelled again.

32: I was not empanelled last year. I want to know if I am eligible for First Review, if yes, when?

Please refer to No.18.

33: I had submitted a representation against my non-empanelment at initial stage. I want to know if my representation would be placed before the Experts Panel at the time of First Review.

Yes.

34: Can I submit a representation at initial stage for placing before the Experts Panel at the time of assessment?

No. ACC guidelines provide that representations received from non-empanelled officers need to be placed before the Experts Panel at the time of review.

35: While working on WTO issues in the Ministry of Commerce, a few research papers prepared by me were published in the international journals, with the permission of the Department. I want to know if the Experts Panel while making an assessment of my ACRs/APARs would take into consideration my research papers.

The Civil Services Board while recommending name of any officer for JS level empanelment, takes into account officer’s reputation, academic record, etc. besides Experts Panel recommendations.