Lateral Entry into Administrative Services

The upper age limit for appointment on direct recruitment to various central services is prescribed in the respective recruitment/service rules. As far as recruitment through Civil Services Examination is concerned, a candidate must have attained the age of 21 years must not have attained the age of 30 years on the 1st August of the year of examination to be eligible to appear in the examination. This upper age limit is relaxable up to a maximum of five years for a candidate belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe; up to a maximum three years for a candidate belonging to OBC; up to a maximum five years to the domicile of J&K; up to a maximum three years in the case of Defence Service Personnel, Disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in disputed areas and released as a consequence; up to a maximum of five years in the Ex-service man; up to a maximum of five years in the case of Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs)/Short Service Commissioned Officers (SCCOs), as per rules. Further, the upper age limit is relaxed up to a maximum of 10 years for a candidate belonging to PH category and this relaxation is cumulative to the relaxation mentioned earlier, as per rules. 

(c): No guidelines have been issued for lateral recruitment in the Central Services. As far as recruitment to All India Services is concerned, no such term as ‘Lateral recruitment’ has been used in the concerned regulations. However, the State Civil Service officers/ non State Civil Service officers are appointed to all India Service by promotion/ selection as per the Appointment Regulations and Selection Regulations applicable to three All India Services. In addition, Indian Police Service (Appointment by Limited Competitive Examination) Rules, 2011 have been notified, which provide for appointment through a limited competitive examination to IPS of Deputy Superintendent of Police in /States, Assistant Commandants in Central Para Military Forces and officers of the rank of Captain or Major or equivalent in the Armed Forces, having 5 years of service. 

(d): The promotion quota of a cadre of an All India Service is determined on a pro rata basis, which is equal to the one third of the total of ‘senior duty posts’ in the cadre, ‘Central Deputation Reserve’, ‘State Deputation Reserve’ and ‘Training Reserve’ of that cadre. The Central Government every year determines the number of vacancies in the promotion quota of each cadre, which is equal to the difference between the authorized promotion quota and the number of officers in position. The officers so appointed in the All India Services have an experience of eight years or more in the State Services on the posts equivalent to or above the post Deputy Collector/Deputy Superintendent of Police/in State Forest Service. 

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3012

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2012

(a) whether there exist an age cap for individuals for applying to administrative and bureaucratic services; 

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; 

(c) whether there are any guidelines for lateral recruitment for entry into these services; 

(d) if so, the details thereof and the total number of appointments through lateral recruitment along with the steps taken by the Government to promote experienced talent for its services; 

(e) if not, whether the Government has any plan to allow for appointment of lateral recruitees; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)