The Central Civil Services (CCS) encompasses the various Civil Services of India that are exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Government of India. This is in contrast to the All India Services, which are common to both the central and state government entities, or the state civil services, which fall under the purview of individual states.

The services with the most personnel in the entire Civil Services of India and also the Central Civil Services are with the Central Secretariat Service and Indian Revenue Service (IT and C&CE).

The Cadre Controlling Authority for each established Service is controlled by the respective union government ministries of India. The higher-level positions in the Central Civil Services are classified into Group A and Group B, both of which are gazetted.

History

British India

With the passing of the Government of India Act 1919, the Imperial Services headed by the Secretary of State for India, were split into two – All India Services and Central Services.

The All India and Central Services (Group A) were designated as Central Superior Services as early as 1924. From 1924 to 1934, Administration in India consisted of 10 All India Services (including Indian Education Service, Indian Medical Service) and 5 central departments, all under the control of Secretary of State for India, and 3 central departments under joint Provincial and Imperial Control. The Central Services were headed by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.

Modern India

The Group A officers are appointed by the President of India, and appointments to Group B are made by the authorities specified by a general or special order of the President.

Nature, deputations and rules

Rules and regulations

The Central Civil Services (CCS) is run as per the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rule, and all service members work under restrictions and rules of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. The Indian Railway Services work under the Railway Services (Conduct) Rules of 1966.

The Central Civil Services also follows CCS (Commutation of Pension) Rules and has its own Recognition of Service Associations Rules 1993 and Leave Travel Concession Rules 1988. The University Grants Commission (UGC), in a circular released in October 2018, directed central universities to adopt the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1964 for professors at the university.

Deputations

The members of Central Civil Services are eligible for deputation to state governments either on personal grounds or official approval from both Government of India Staffing Scheme of Government of India.

Performance review and dismissal

The employees performance review is conducted under the Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (J) and 56 (I), and also under Rule 48 (1) (b) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, that gives "absolute right" to the appropriate authority to retire a government servant, "if it is necessary to do so in public interest".

A government servant can be retired "in public interest" under Central Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1965, as a penalty for possession of assets disproportionate to known source of income or for accepting gratification as a reward for doing or forbearing to do an official act.

Recruitment

The recruitment of the CCS (Group A) is made through Civil Services Examination, Engineering Services Examination, Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Examination, I.E.S./I.S.S. Examination, Combined Medical Services Examination, Central Armed Police Forces of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). All promotions or empanelment in the CCS are either by the Civil Services Board or by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Central Civil Services (Group A)

The Central Services (Group A) are concerned with the administration of the Union Government. All appointments to Central Civil Services (Group A) are made by the President of India.

Organised Service

The attributes of an Organised Group 'A' Service (OGAS) are as follows:

  • The highest cadre post is not below the Senior Administrative Grade (Level 14).
  • The service has all standard grades, such as Junior Time Scale (Level 10), Senior Time Scale (Level 11), Junior Administrative Grade (Level 12), Non-Functional Selection Grade (Level 13), and Senior Administrative Grade (Level 14).
  • At least 50% of vacancies in Junior Time Scale (Level 10) are filled through Direct Recruitment.
  • All vacancies above Junior Time Scale (Level 10) and up to Senior Administrative Grade (Level 14) are filled by promotion from the next lower Grade.
CLASSIFICATION OF CENTRAL GROUP 'A' CIVIL SERVICES
Sl. No.Name of the ServiceOrganised / Non-OrganisedParticipation in Central Staffing Scheme (CSS)Cadre Controlling AuthorityTotal Cadre Strength (officially sanctioned)
NON- TECHNICAL SERVICES
1Central Secretariat ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (DOPT)13,016 (A,B)
2Indian Foreign ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of External Affairs3,556 (A,B)
3Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise)OrganisedYesMinistry of Finance5,583
4Indian Revenue Service (IT)OrganisedYesMinistry of Finance4,192
5Indian Audit & Accounts ServiceOrganisedYesComptroller and Auditor General~ 616
6Indian Railway Management Service (Technical and Non-Technical)OrganisedYesMinistry of Railways~ 8,458
7Indian Civil Accounts ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Finance
8Indian Defence Accounts ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Defence~ 1000–1200 (A,B)
9Indian P&T Accounts and Finance ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Communications
10Indian Postal ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Communications~ 574
11Indian Defence Estates ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Defence~ 189
12Indian Information ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Information & Broadcasting~ 2350–2900 (A,B)
13Indian Trade ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Commerce191
14Railway Protection ForceNon-OrganisedMinistry of Railways~ 600–950 (A,B)
TECHNICAL SERVICES
15Research and Analysis ServiceOrganisedCabinet SecretariatClassified
16Defence Research & Development ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Defence~ 7256
17Indian Telecommunications ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Communications~ 1690
18Indian Ordnance Factories ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Defence~ 1760
19Central Engineering Service (Roads)OrganisedYesMinistry of Road Transport & Highways
20Central Water Engineering ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Jalshakti
21Indian Defence Service of EngineersOrganisedYesMinistry of Defence
22Central Engineering Service (CPWD)OrganisedYesMinistry of Urban Development
23Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service (CPWD)Organised
24Border Roads Engineering ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Defence
25Central Power Engineering ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Power
26Indian Supply ServiceOrganisedYes
27Indian Inspection ServiceOrganisedYes
28Indian Naval Armament ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Defence
29Indian Broadcasting (Engineering) ServiceOrganisedYes
29P&T Building Works ServiceOrganised
31Central Architect Service (CPWD)OrganisedMinistry of Urban Development
32Indian Radio Regulatory ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Communications
33Indian Skill Development ServiceNon-OrganisedMinistry of Skill Development263
HEALTH SERVICES
33Central Health Services (General Duty Cadre)OrganisedMinistry of Health
34Indian Ordnance Factory Health ServiceOrganised
35Indian Railways Health ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Railways
NATURAL SCIENCES (TECHNICAL) SERVICES
36Central Geological Service Group 'A'OrganisedMinistry of Mines
37Geological Survey of India Chemical Service Group 'A'Organised
38Geological Survey of India Geophysical Service Group 'A'Organised
39Geological Survey of India Engineering Service Group 'A'Organised
40Indian Meteorological ServiceNon-Organised
OTHER SERVICES
41Indian Legal ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Law & Justice
42Indian Economic ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Finance~ 538
43Indian Statistical ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Statistics & Programme Implementation~ 814
44Indian Cost Accounts ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Finance
45Indian Corporate Law ServiceOrganisedYesMinistry of Corporate Affairs~ 291
46Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Defence
47Survey of India Group 'A' ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Science & Technology
48Defence Quality Assurance ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Defence
49Indian Broadcasting (Programme) ServiceOrganisedYes
50Central Labour ServiceOrganisedMinistry of Labour & Employment~ 340
CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCES – SECURITY SERVICES
51Indo Tibetan Border PoliceOrganisedMinistry of Home Affairs~ 1207
52Central Industrial Security ForceOrganisedMinistry of Home Affairs
53Border Security ForceOrganisedMinistry of Home Affairs~ 4065
54Central Reserve Police ForceOrganisedMinistry of Home Affairs
55Sashastra Seema Bal (Combatised cadre)OrganisedMinistry of Home Affairs

In 2019, based on the Bibek Debroy committee report of 2015, the Cabinet of India approved the plan to merge eight railway services. In 2022, the government released a gazette notification about the merger of the existing eight services, which fall under the Central Civil Services, into a new Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS). The eight services includes Indian Railway Accounts Service, Indian Railway Personnel Service, Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers, Indian Railway Stores Service, and Indian Railway Traffic Service. The merged Indian Railways Management Service was again demerged into various specific services as of 2024.

Central Government Services (Group B)

For Group B civil service posts only, the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). All appointments to Group B are made by the authorities specified by a general or special order of the President.

Corruption, challenges and reforms

Corruption and challenges

In 2016, the Ministry of Finance for the first time, dismissed 72 and prematurely retired another 33 Indian Revenue Service officers for non-performance and on disciplinary grounds. In 2019, Government of India dismissed 12 (IRS IT) and 15 (IRS Customs and Central Excise) officers for corruption and bribery charges. In 2019, Department of Personnel and Training in Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions listed 284 Central Secretariat Service officers for performance audit by review panel headed by Cabinet Secretary of India.

Reforms

In December 2019, as per a decision approved by Union Cabinet of India, a new Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) was created by merging eight existing Group A Indian Railway services in the Central Civil Services. A new Indian Skill Development Service was created as a technical cadre within the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Supreme court cases, directions, and verdicts

In May 2025, Supreme Court of India upheld the organised service status of the Central Armed Police Forces. The judgement clarified that "for all intent and purposes, CAPFs belong to OGAS [Organised Group-A Services],"

See also

Notes

External links

  • ,
  • 14th Edition by Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

News

  • by The Times of India
  • by CNBC