Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM broadens administrative reforms

The Government of India have taken a series of initiatives during the year 2005 in the realm of administrative reform pertaining mainly to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The Prime Minister has asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Environment & Forests to examine these initiatives and adapt them to the members of the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS). The MHA and MoEF are the cadre controlling authorities in respect of IPS and IFS officers.

A. While constituting an Administrative Reforms Commission, to recommend larger reform measures, the Government has already notified reform initiatives with respect to IAS officers. This includes:

1. Introduction of Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) for career planning, training and promotion. PAR is a transparent assessment of work output, personal attributes and competencies, that enables feedback from the assessee. An independent Eminent Persons Group will provide inputs about the professional competence and reputation of an officer at various stages of his career.

2. An intensive review of performance of officers is to be undertaken at the end of 15 and 25 years of service, respectively. Promotion to senior grades will be based on these reviews. At both stages, officers who do not qualify will not be promoted to Selection Grade, or equivalent level, and Additional Secretary in Government of India, or equivalent level, respectively. They will have the option of choosing voluntary separation.

3. The new system will enable accelerated promotion of good officers so that they have a longer tenure of service in senior positions.

B. In order to ensure that positions in Government of India are open to the best and to remove subjectivity or arbitrariness, a set of guidelines have been approved regarding appointment under the Central Staffing Scheme. These include (a) Publicising vacant positions with all relevant details; (b) maintaining transparently a database of all qualified IAS officers to ensure fair selection process; (c) Civil Services Board, headed by Cabinet Secretary, would consider eligibility of the officer based on all relevant parameters, including seniority, quality of PARs, etc.

C. Government has decided to strengthen Mid Career Training of officers. Courses will be offered by the LBS National Academy of Administration and other selected institutions between the 14th and 16th year of service and again between the 26th and 28th year of service. Participation in these courses will be mandatory for further promotions. The Academy is being re-equipped to undertake this task, in consultation with reputed national and international institutions.