Central Secretariat Service

Central Secretariat Service

Service overview
Abbreviation	C.S.S.
Formed	1946
Country	India
Training ground	Institute of Secretariat Training and Management, New Delhi
Controlling authority	Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, Department of Personnel and Training
Legal personality	Governmental: Government service
General nature	Policy Formulation Policy Implementation Civil administration Advisors to Ministers Continuity of administration in the Cabinet Secretariat
Preceding service	Imperial Secretariat Service (1919-1946)
Cadre Size	11,400 posts (2013) [1] (Group A - 2321; Group B - 9079)[1]
Association	CSS Group A Officers Association[2]
Head of the Civil Services
	Cabinet Secretary Current: Ajit Seth

Central Secretariat Service (Hindi: केंद्रीय सचिवालय सेवा) (abbreviated as CSS) is the administrative civil service under Group A^[3] and Group B^[4] of the Central Civil Services of the executive branch of the Government of India. They are governed by Central Secretariat Service Rules of 1962,^[5] which has been issued under the powers of Article 309 of the Constitution of India.^[5]

The service provides permanent bureaucracy and functionary staff in the Central Government of India.

History

In the year 1919, the Imperial Secretariat Service came into being as one of the off-shoots of the Lewllyn-Smith Committee which had been set up on the eve of the introduction of the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms.^[6] The posts of Assistant and Assistant Secretary/Under Secretary were filled by officers drawn from the Imperial Secretariat Service.^[7]

In 1946, after India gained independence from Britain, the Imperial Secretariat Service was replaced by Central Secretariat Service. Thus, the CSS became one of the earliest organized services^[6] in India.

Recruitment

From 1946 until 2003, the direct recruitment into CSS was through the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.^[8] However, after the cadre restructuring, the direct recruitment into CSS through the Civil Services Examination has been stopped and now happens through the Combined Graduate Level Examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission.^[9]

Allocation and placement

After appointment by President, the officers (Entry grade) are allocated to different Ministries/Departments under Government of India. The Group B officers work in the levels of Assistant and Section Officer/Assistant Director (For Directorate). The Group A officers work in the levels of Under Secretary/Deputy Director (For Directorate), Deputy Secretary/Joint Director (For Directorate), Director, Joint Secretary^[10][11] and Additional Secretary^[10][12] under Central Staffing Scheme of Government of India. The officers are generally posted in various Ministries and Departments, intelligence agencies,^[13] Apex /Autonomous organizations of Government of India located at different places in the Secretariat in New Delhi. Also, officers are posted in Attached offices of Ministries/Departments outside Delhi and also at various places of the country in other offices on deputation. They can also be appointed in personal staff of Union Ministers.^[14]

The officers can also be deputed for service under an international organization, an autonomous body not controlled by the Government, or a private body under Rule 6 (2)(ii) of IAS (Cadre) Rules.^[15]

Designations and Pay grade

Reforms

1st Cadre Restructure of 2003

In 2003, a committee was formed under the leadership of Additional Secretary (GOI). The direct induction of CSS officer through Civil Services Examination was permanently stopped. Also a new level G training program was organised for those in line of promotion in the rank of Joint Secretary (GOI) in the SAG level.^[9]

2nd Cadre Restructure of 2010

The Government had set up a Committee on Cadre Restructuring of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) in June, 2008. The Committee submitted its report in November, 2008 for further reforms in the service. The report was finally accepted in 2010 and the number of posts at various levels including Deputy Secretaries and Directors were increased following the review ^[16]

3rd Cadre Restructure of 2013

A committee was formed under the leadership of Additional Secretary (GOI) in 2013 for further reforms in the service.^[17] The report is currently pending with Prime Minister's Office and is expected to improve the service conditions by increasing the number of posts at the level of Joint Secretaries.

Mandatory Training Program for CSS Officers

In addition to these, the Government has also introduced mandatory training programs at every level of promotion, as is being done in the case of IAS and other organised Group A services. The CSS officers are mandatorily trained within India and abroad^[18] in various institutions starting at Level E onwards.^[19][20]

Notable members

• Arun Kumar
• Gautam Sanyal
• Unnikrishnan Thiruvazhiyode

See also

• Civil Services of India

References

Books

• Singh, Hoshiar (2011) Indian Administration. Pearson Education India ISBN 9788131761199.

External links

Official

• CSS Public Service Profile at Government of India Portal.
• The Central Secretariat Division at Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (DOPT)
• CSS Service Rules 2009 - Gazette of India
• First Report of the Committee on Cadre Restructuring of CSS - 2002
• FAQ CSS RTI, DOPT
• Central Civil Services: Group A, B, C and D
• Complete Executive Record List of CSS
• 2013 Civil List (Group A Officers)
• CSS officers Website Official Officers Website

Others

• Powers and Duties of Officers and Employees as defined in the Manual of Office Procedure
• Prime Minister to oversee postings of Joint Secretaries by The Times of India