Indian Postal Service (Group ‘A’ posts) Recruitment Rules, 2017: Gazette Notification
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
(Department of Posts)
New Delhi, the 10th August, 2017
G.S.R. 1010(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution and in supersession of the Indian Postal Service (Group ‘A’ posts) Recruitment Rules, 2016, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the President hereby makes the following rules, regulating the method of recruitment and the condition of service to Group ‘A’ post of Indian Postal Service, namely:-
1 Short title and commencement.—(1) These rules may be called the Indian Postal Service (Group ‘A’ posts) Recruitment Rules, 2017.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2 Definitions.– In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:—
(a) “Commission” means the Union Public Service Commission;
(b) “Departmental Promotion Committee” in relation to any grade, means a Committee constituted to consider promotion in any grade as indicated in Schedule III to these rules;
(c) “Departmental Confirmation Committee” in relation to any grade, means a Committee constituted to consider confirmation in any grade as indicated in Schedule III to these rules;
(d) “Departmental Screening Committee” means a Committee constituted to consider placement in Junior Administrative Grade (Non-functional Selection Grade) as indicated in Schedule III and grant of Non-Functional Up-gradation as indicated in Schedule IV to these rules;
(e) “Examination” means the Civil Services Examination held by the Commission for recruitment to Central Services Group ‘A’;
(f) “Government” means the Government of India;
(g) “Grade” means a grade specified in column (2) of Schedule I;
(h) “Regular Service” in relation to any grade means the period of service in the grade rendered after selection to that grade according to the prescribed procedure, and includes any period or periods taken into account for purposes of seniority in the case of those already in service at the time of notification of these rules, during which an officer would have held that grade but for his being on leave or on training or on foreign assignment;
(i) “Scheduled Castes” and “Scheduled Tribes” shall have the same meanings as are assigned to them under clauses (24) and (25) respectively of article 366 of the Constitution of India;
(i) “Other Backward Classes” shall comprise the castes and communities notified by the Government from time to time.
(k) “Service” means the Indian Postal Service, constituted under rule 3.
(l) “Schedule” means the schedule annexed to these rules.
3 Constitution of Service.- (1) There shall be a constituted Service known as Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’ consisting of persons appointed to the service under rule 6 and 7.
(2) All the posts included in the service shall be classified as Group ‘A’ posts.
(3) The regular continuous service by the officers, as referred to in sub-rule 3 (1) in the respective corresponding Grades, rendered prior to commencement of these rules shall be counted as qualifying service for the purpose of seniority, confirmation, promotion, non-functional up-gradation and pension.
4 Controlling Authority.—The Government of India, Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts shall be the Controlling Authority of the Service.
5 Grades, authorized strength and its review.—(1) The authorised permanent strength of various Grades of the Service on the date of commencement of these rules, the number of posts in each Grade and the level in the pay matrix attached thereto shall be as specified in Schedule-I.
(2) On and from the date of commencement of these rules, the authorised permanent strength of various Grades of the Service shall be as may be determined by the Central Government from time to time subject to variation depending on workload.
6 Members of Service.— (1) The service, shall on the date of commencement of these rules, consist of officers who have already been appointed to the Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’ in the various grades specified in Schedule-I on a regular basis.
(2) A person appointed to any duty post in any grade after the commencement of these rules shall be a member of the Service in the corresponding grade, from the date of such appointment.
7 Appointments to the Service.—(1) After initial constitution of the Service, the vacancies in any of the grades shall be filled in the manner as hereinafter provided.
(2) Fifty per cent of the vacancies of Junior Time Scale shall be filled by direct recruitment on the basis of Civil Services Examination conducted by the Commission in accordance with rules framed and notified by the Government from time to time.
(3) Remaining fifty per cent of the vacancies in the Junior Time Scale shall be filled by promotion of Postal Service, Group ’13’ in level 9 in the pay matrix (Rs. 53,100 – 1,67,800) and Senior Postmaster Grade in level 8 in the pay matrix (Rs. 47,600 – 1,51,100), in accordance with the provisions specified in Schedule-II in consultation with the Commission on the basis of the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee constituted in accordance with Schedule-III.
(4) Appointments in the Service to the posts of Senior Time Scale and above except to the Junior Administrative Grade (Non-functional Selection Grade) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Schedule II, by ‘selection’ on the basis of the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee constituted in accordance with Schedule-III. Placement to the Junior Administrative Grade (Non-functional Selection Grade) shall be made on the basis of seniority subject to suitability on the basis of the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee constituted in accordance with Schedule-III.
8 Probation.—(1) Candidates appointed to the Service either by direct recruitment or by promotion under sub-rule (2) or (3) of rule 7 shall be on probation for a period of two years:
Provided that the controlling officer may extend the period of probation in accordance with the instructions issued by the Government from time to time:
Provided further that any decision for extension of the probation period shall be taken ordinarily within eight weeks after the expiry of the previous probationary period and communicated in writing to the officer concerned together with the reasons for so doing within the said period.
(2) On completion of the probation or any extension thereof, officer shall, if, considered fit, for permanent appointment, be retained in his appointment on regular basis and be confirmed in due course against the available substantive vacancy, as the case may be.
(3) If, during the period of probation or any extension thereof, as the case may be, Government is of the opinion that an officer is not fit for permanent appointment, Government may discharge or revert the officer to the post held by him prior to his appointment in the service, as the case may be.
(4) During the period of probation or any extension thereof, candidate may be required by the Government to undergo such courses of training and instructions and to pass examination and tests (including examination in Hindi) as the Government may deem fit, as a condition to satisfactory completion of the probation.
(5) As regards other matters relating to probation, the candidates shall be governed by the orders or instructions issued by the Government from time to time in this regard.
9 Seniority.—(1) The relative seniority of the Members of the Service on commencement of these rules shall be the relative seniority in their respective grades as determined before the date of commencement of these rules:
Provided that if the seniority of any Member of the Service has not been determined before the commencement of these rules, it shall be determined by the Government in accordance with the general instructions issued by the Government from time to time.
(2) The seniority of the persons recruited to the Service after the initial constitution shall be determined in accordance with the general instructions issued by the Government from time to time in this regard.
(3) Seniority of officers not covered by the above provisions shall be determined by the Government in consultation with the Commission.
10 Non-Functional Up-gradation.—(1) Whenever an Indian Administrative Service Officer of the State of Joint Cadre is posted at the Centre to a particular grade carrying level 10 to level 15 except 13A in the pay matrix, the officers belong to batches of the Service that are senior by two years or more and have not so far been promoted to that particular grade, shall be granted the same level in the pay matrix on non-functional basis from the date of posting of the Indian Administrative Service Officers in that particular grade at the Centre.
(2) All the prescribed eligibility criteria and promotional norms including ‘benchmark’ for up-gradation to a particular level in the pay matrix shall have to be fulfilled at the time of screening for grant of higher level in the pay matrix.
(3) Grant of Non-functional Up-gradation referred to in clause (1) above shall be-
(i) in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time;
(ii) made on the recommendations of the screening committee as specified in Schedule-IV.
11 Conditions of Service.—(1) An officer appointed to the Service shall be liable to serve anywhere, including field service and in the Army Postal Service, in or outside of India.
(2) The conditions of service of the officer of the Service in respect of matters, for which no provision has been made under these rules, shall be the same as are applicable to the officers of Central Civil Services from time to time.
12 Disqualification.– No person, –
(a) who, has entered into or contracted a marriage with a person having a spouse living; or
(b) who, having a spouse living, has entered into or contracted a marriage with any person, shall be eligible for appointment to the service:
Provided that the Government may, if satisfied that such marriage is permissible under the personal law applicable to such person and the other party to the marriage and that there are other grounds for so doing, exempt any person from the operation of this rule.
13 Interpretation.—If any question arises relating to the interpretation of these rules, it shall be referred to the Government who shall decide the same.
14 Power to relax.—Where the Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient to do so, it may, by order, for reasons to be recorded in writing and in consultation with the Union Public Service Commission relax any of the provisions of these rules with respect to any class or category of persons.
15 Saving.—Nothing in these rules shall affect reservations, relaxation of age-limit and other concessions required to be provided for the Scheduled Castes, the Schedules Tribes, ex-Servicemen and other special categories of persons in accordance with the orders issued by the Government from time to time in this regard.
SCHEDULE — I
[See Sub Rule 6 (1)]
Grades. Designations. Level in the nay matrix and Authorised Strength
| SI. No. | Grade | Designation | Level in the pay matrix | Authorised Strength |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) |
| 1 | Apex Scale | Director General Postal Services | Level 17 (Rs. 2,25,000) | 1 |
| 2 | Higher Administrative Grade + | Member, Postal Services Board or Additional Director General (Coordination) | Level 16 (Rs. 2,05,400- 2,24,400) | 7 |
| 3 | Higher Administrative Grade | Chief Postmaster General or Chief General Manager or Senior Deputy Director General, Director, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy or equivalent. |
Level 15 (Rs. 1,82,200- 2,24,100) | 27 |
| 4 | Senior Administrative Grade | Postmaster General or Deputy Director General or General Manager or Additional Director, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy or equivalent. |
Level 14 (Rs. 1,44,200- 2,18,200) | 78 |
| 5 | Junior Administrative Grade (Non- Functional Selection Grade) | Director or Director Postal Services or Additional General Manager or Joint Director, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy or equivalent. |
Level 13 (Rs. 1,18,500- 2,14,100) | 30% of senior duty posts (i.e. posts in Senior Time Scale and above), provided the total strength including that in Administrative Grade shall not exceed the authorised strength of Junior Administrative Grade. |
| 6 | Junior Administrative Grade | Director or Director Postal Services or Additional General Manager or Joint Director, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy or equivalent. |
Level 12 (Rs. 78,800- 2,09,200) | 109 |
| 7 | Senior Time Scale | Assistant Director General or Deputy General Manager or Senior Superintendent of Post Offices or Senior Superintendent of Railway Mail Service or Assitant Postmaster General or Chief Postmaster or Deputy Director or equivalent. |
Level 11 (Rs. 67,700- 2,08,700) | 102 |
| 8 | Junior Time Scale | Assistant Director General or Deputy General Manager or Senior Superintendent of Post Offices or Senior Superintendent of Railway Mail Service or Assitant Postmaster General or Chief Postmaster or Deputy Director or equivalent. |
Level 10 (Rs. 56,100- Rs. 1,77,500) | 151 |
| 9 | Reserve | 86 | ||
| Total | 561 |
SCHEDULE – II
[See Rule 7]
Method of Recruitment, field of Promotion and Minimum Qualifying Service in the
next lower grade for appointment of officers on promotion to duty posts included
in the various grades of the Indian Postal Service
| SI. No. | Grade | Method of Recruitment | Whether selection or non-selection post | Field of selection and the minimum qualifying service for promotion |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) |
| 1 | Apex Scale Level 17 in the pay matrix (Rs. 2,25,000) | By Promotion | Selection | Officers of the Service in Higher Administrative Grade+ in level 16 in the pay matrix (Rs. 2,05,400 – 2,24,400) with one year’s service in the grade. rendered after appointment thereto on regular basis. |
| 2 | Higher Administrative Grade+ Level 16 in the pay matrix (Rs. 2,05,400- 2,24,400) | By Promotion | Selection | Officers of the Service in Higher Administrative Grade in level 15 in the pay matrix (Rs..1,82,200 – 2,24,100) with one year’s service in the grade, rendered after appointment thereto on regular basis. |
| 3 | Higher Administrative Grade Level 15 in the pay matrix (Rs. 1,82,200 2,24,100) | By Promotion | Selection | Officers of the Service in Senior Administrative Grade in level 14 in the pay matrix (Rs. 1,44,200- 2,18,200) with three years’ service in the grade rendered after appointment thereto on regular basis; or with twenty five years’ regular service in Group ‘A’ posts in the service out of which at least one year’s regular service should be in Senior Administrative Grade, who have successfully completed minimum two weeks’ Advanced Development Programme or Departmental Induction or prescribed in-service Training. |
| 4 | Senior Administrative Grade Level 14 in the pay matrix (Rs. 1,44,200- 2,18,200) | By Promotion | Selection | Officers of the Service in the Junior Administrative Grade in level 12 in the pay matrix (Rs. 78,800 – 2,09,200) with eight years’ combined service in Junior Administrative Grade and Non-Functional Selection Grade, if any, rendered after appointment thereto on regular basis, or with seventeen years’ regular service in Group ‘A’ posts in the service out of which at least four years’ regular service should be in Junior Administrative Grade including Junior Administrative Grade (Non-Functional Selection Grade), who have successfully completed minimum two weeks’ Management Development Programme or Departmental Induction or prescribed in- service Training. |
| 5 | Junior Administrative Grade (Non- Functional Selection Grade) Level 13 in the pay matrix (Rs. 1,18,500 – 2,14,100) |
By Placement on the basis of seniority subject to suitability | – | Officers of the Service in the Junior Administrative Grade in level 12 in the pay matrix (Rs. 78,800 – 2,09,200) who have entered the 14th year of the service on the lst January of the year calculated from the year following the year of examination on the basis of which the member of the Service was recruited, or the year of inclusion in the select list of Junior Time Scale on promotion. |
| 6 | Junior Administrative Grade Level 12 in the pay matrix (Rs. 78,800- 2,09,200) | By Promotion | Selection | Officers of the Service in the Senior Time Scale in level 11 in the pay matrix (Rs. 67,700 – 2,08,700) with five years’ service in the grade rendered after appointment thereto on regular basis, who have successfully completed minimum two weeks’ Executive Development Programme or Departmental Induction or prescribed in-service training. |
| 7 | Senior Time Scale Level 11 in the pay matrix (Rs. 67,700- 2,08,700) | By Promotion | Selection | Officers of the Service in the Junior Time Scale in level 10 in the pay matrix (Rs. 56100 — Rs. 1,77,500) with four years’ service in the grade rendered after appointment thereto on regular basis, who have successfully completed minimum two weeks’ Departmental Induction or prescribed in- service Training. |
| 8 | Junior Time Scale Level 10 in the pay matrix (Rs. 56,100- Rs. 1,77,500) | (i) 50% by Direct Recruitment | (i) Selection | (i) Through Civil Services Examination conducted by the Commission. |
| (ii) 50% by Promotion | (ii) Selection | (ii) Officers of Postal Service, Group ’13’ in level 9 in the pay matrix (Rs. 53100 — 1,67,800) and Senior Postmaster Grade in level 8 in the pay matrix (Rs. 47600 — 151100) with two years’ service in those grades rendered after appointment thereto on regular basis, who have successfully completed minimum two weeks’ Departmental Induction Training. |
Note 1: In all the grades, the crucial date for determining the eligibility of
the officers for promotion to various grades shall be as per the instructions
issued by the Government from time to time.
the officers for promotion to various grades shall be as per the instructions
issued by the Government from time to time.
Note 2: Where juniors who have completed their qualifying or eligibility service
are being considered for promotion, their seniors would also be considered
provided they are not short of the requisite qualifying or eligibility service
by more than half of such qualifying or eligibility service or two years,
whichever is less and have successfully completed their probation period for
promotion to the next higher grade along with their juniors who have already
completed such qualifying or eligibility service.
SCHEDULE – III
[See Sub Rule 7(3) and (4)]
Composition of Departmental Promotion Committee and Departmental Confirmation
Committee for considering cases of promotion and confirmation of Group ‘A’
officers of Indian Postal Service
| SI. No. | Grade | Group ‘A’ Departmental Promotion/ Screening Committee (for considering promotion) consisting of:- |
Group ‘A’ Departmental Confirmation Committee (for; considering confirmation) consisting of:- |
||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Apex Scale Level 17 in the pay matrix 2,25,000) |
|
Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Higher Administrative Grade+ Level 16 in the pay matrix 2,05,400-2,24,400) |
|
Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Higher Administrative Grade Grade Level 15 in the pay matrix 1,82,200 -2,24,100) |
|
Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Senior Administrative Grade Level 14 in the pay matrix 1,44,200- 2,18,200) |
|
Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Junior Administrative Grade Functional Selection Level 13 in the pay matrix matrix 1,18,500 2,14,100) |
|
Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Junior Administrative Grade Level 12 in the pay matrix (Rs. – 2,09,200 |
|
Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Senior Time Scale Level 11 in the pay matrix (Rs. – 2,08,700) |
|
Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Junior Time Scale Level 10 in the pay matrix ( Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500) |
|
|
SCHEDULE – IV
[See Sub Rule 10 (3) (ii)]
Composition of Departmental Screening Committee for considering grant of
Non-Functional Up-gradation to the officers of Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’
| SI. No. | Grade | Screening Committee for Non-Functional Up-gradation consisting of:- | |||||||||
| (1) | (2) | (3) | |||||||||
| 1 | Higher Administrative Grade |
|
|||||||||
| 2 | Senior Administrative Grade |
|
|||||||||
| 3 | Junior Administrative Grade (NFSG) |
|
|||||||||
| 4 | Junior Administrative Grade |
|
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| 5 | Senior Time Scale |
|
[F. No. 4-14/2016-SPG]
G. RAJEEV, Director (Staff/SPN)
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