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UPSC_FAQ

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What happens if a candidate chooses a medium of the written examination other than English for the Indian Language Paper and fails to specify the medium for the interview?
If a candidate chooses a medium for the written examination other than English for the Indian Language Paper and fails to specify the medium for the interview, the Commission will consider that he/she has opted for the interview in the same medium as that of the Indian Language Paper.
What is the procedure for selection of optional subjects for the Civil Services (Main) Examination?
Candidates may choose any optional subject from among the list of subjects given in the official notification for the Civil Services Examination. The list of optional subjects may change from year to year, and candidates are advised to check the official notification for the most updated information.
Are there any restrictions on the choice of optional subjects in the Civil Services (Main) Examination?
There are no restrictions on the choice of optional subjects, except that the candidate should not choose the same subject for both Papers VI and VII.
What is the syllabus for the Civil Services (Main) Examination?
The detailed syllabus for the Civil Services (Main) Examination is provided in the official notification issued by the UPSC. Candidates are advised to refer to the notification for the specific syllabus of each paper.
What is the format of the Personality Test (Interview)?
The Personality Test (Interview) is intended to assess the candidate's suitability for a career in public service by judging his/her mental calibre, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, the balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity. The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination, but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation that is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
Is there any specific dress code for the Personality Test (Interview)?
There is no specific dress code mentioned for the Personality Test (Interview). However, candidates are expected to dress in a manner that reflects their seriousness and professionalism.
How is the final merit list prepared for the Civil Services Examination?
The final merit list for the Civil Services Examination is prepared based on the marks obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination and the Personality Test (Interview). The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not counted for determining the final order of merit.
What is the eligibility criteria for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other Group A and Group B Central Services/Posts?
The eligibility criteria for various services/posts are mentioned in the official notification issued by the UPSC for each year. Candidates are required to check the specific eligibility criteria for the services/posts they wish to apply for.
Is there any relaxation in age for candidates belonging to reserved categories?
Yes, there is relaxation in the upper age limit for candidates belonging to reserved categories such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and certain other categories as per government rules. The extent of relaxation varies depending on the category.
Can a candidate change his/her optional subject after submitting the application form?
No, once a candidate has submitted the application form, including the choice of optional subjects, no changes are allowed. Candidates are advised to carefully choose their optional subjects and review their choices before submitting the form.
What is the role of coaching institutes in the preparation for the Civil Services Examination?
Coaching institutes may provide guidance and support in the preparation for the Civil Services Examination, including study materials, test series, and guidance from experienced faculty. However, success in the examination ultimately depends on the candidate's dedication, self-study, and understanding of the examination pattern and syllabus.
Is there any reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in the Civil Services Examination?
Yes, there is reservation for candidates belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS) as per the government's rules. Candidates from EWS category are eligible for reservation in vacancies and relaxation in age criteria.
What are the key attributes or qualities assessed during the Personality Test (Interview)?
During the Personality Test (Interview), the UPSC assesses key attributes such as the candidate's mental calibre, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.
What is the procedure for requesting a change in the examination center?
The UPSC does not entertain requests for a change in the examination center. Candidates are advised to carefully choose their preferred examination center while filling out the application form, as the allotment is done based on the choices made by the candidates.
Is there any specific weightage assigned to the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test in the final selection?
The Preliminary Examination is a screening test, and the marks obtained in this examination are not counted for determining the final order of merit. The Main Examination and the Personality Test (Interview) carry weightage in the final selection. The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Main Examination and the Personality Test.
Are candidates required to submit any documents during the Personality Test (Interview)?
Candidates are required to submit certain documents in original along with a photocopy at the time of the Personality Test (Interview). The documents include educational certificates, age proof, category certificate (if applicable), etc. Candidates should refer to the official notification for the list of documents required.
How can candidates stay updated on the latest information and notifications related to the Civil Services Examination?
Candidates can stay updated on the latest information and notifications related to the Civil Services Examination by regularly checking the official website of the UPSC (https://www.upsc.gov.in/) and reading the Employment News/Rozgar Samachar. The official notification and updates are also published in leading newspapers.
Non-filling up of Part II/Non-submission of fee.
If only PART-I of the application is submitted without submitting PART-II, the application remains incomplete and candidature cannot be registered. The application is incomplete even in cases where the applicant has submitted PART-I and paid fee as well, but has not completed PART-II (i.e. failed to submit Centre, photograph, signature and photo ID card).
What are the steps in PART-II registration?
Part II registration comprises of following steps:- 1. Fee payment (only for candidates not exempted from payment of fee). 2. Choosing of the Examination Centre from the available drop down menu. 3. Uploading of photograph, signature and photo ID card. 4. Agreeing to the Declaration.
Not submitting the choice of Centre.
The online system will not allow the candidate to submit the form if he/she has left the choice of Centre blank in Part II and status of the application will remain “not submitted”. Thus, he/she will not be the candidate of that particular Examination. Therefore, candidates are advised to click on the “submit” button after selecting the Examination Centre.
Non Payment of Fee.
Non-payment of Fee (if not exempted from Fee payment) will lead to cancellation of the candidature.
Entering wrong TID in case of payment through Bank Challan.
It is seen that some candidates who submit their fee through Bank Challan either enter the wrong TID or submit an old TID. It has also been observed that submission of multiple applications is followed by either nonpayment of fee OR fee particulars (TID) of one application (RID) being mentioned against another application with a different RID. This leads to rejection of the online application.
Swapping of Photograph and Signature or their poor quality.
Poor quality of uploaded photograph and signature or swapping of the same will lead to complications in future. Therefore, candidates are advised to peruse the relevant instructions carefully regarding acceptable photograph/ signature in the application module at the time of application.
What is the structure of the Civil Services Examination?
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) comprises of two successive stages: the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (CSP) and the Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview).
What is the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination?
UPSC conducts Preliminary Examination of the Civil Services Examination for recruitment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and other Central Services and posts in accordance with the Rules published by the Government (Department of Personnel & Training) in the Gazette of India Extraordinary. This Examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates, who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination, are not counted for determining their final order of merit. Only those candidates, who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in the year, will be eligible to appear at the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.
Is an attempt at the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination counted as an attempt at the Civil Services Examination?
(i) An attempt at a Preliminary Examination shall be taken as an attempt at the Civil Services Examination. (ii) If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination, it shall be taken as an attempt at the Examination. (iii) Notwithstanding the disqualification/ cancellation of candidature, the fact of appearance of the candidate at the Examination will count as an attempt.
If a candidate has applied for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination but has not appeared at any paper in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will it be counted as an attempt?
No, an attempt is counted only if a candidate has appeared in at least one paper in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.
What is the scheme of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination?
The Examination is comprised of two compulsory papers of 200 marks each. (i) Both the question papers are of objective type (multiple choice questions). (ii) The question papers are set in Hindi and English. (iii) Details of the syllabi are provided in the Examination Notice and Gazette Notification published by the Government. (iv) Each paper is of two hours duration.
Is the General Studies Paper-II of qualifying nature? What are the Cut-off Marks for this Paper?
Yes, the General Studies Paper-II is of qualifying nature. The minimum qualifying standards in this Paper is indicated in the Examination Rules and at present, it is 33%.
Is there any negative marking at the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination?
Candidates should note that there is penalty (negative marking) for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. There are four alternatives for the answers to every question. (i) For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted as penalty. (ii) If a candidate gives more than one answer, it is treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and there will be same penalty as above for that question. (iii) If a question is left blank, i.e. no answer is given by the candidate; there will be no penalty for that question.
What are the minimum educational qualifications prescribed?
The candidate must hold a degree of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or any other educational institution established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.
What are the eligibility criteria in terms of physical requirements/ functional classification required for a Service/ Post?
The Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates shall also be required to meet eligibility criteria in terms of physical requirements/functional classifications (abilities/disabilities) consistent with the requirements of the identified Service/Post as may be prescribed by its Cadre Controlling Authorities. The details of physical requirements and functional classifications are given in the Rules/Notice of the Examination.
What information should be given by persons already in Government Service to their Head of Office?
Persons already in Government Service, whether in a permanent or temporary capacity or as work charged employees other than casual or daily rated employees or those serving under the Public Sector Enterprises, are required to submit an undertaking that they have informed their Head of Office/Department, in writing, that they have applied for the Examination. Candidates should note that in case a communication is received from their employer, by the Commission, withholding permission to the candidates applying for/appearing at the Examination, their applications will be liable to be rejected/candidature will be liable to be cancelled.
What are the provisions regarding community reservation and change of community?
A candidate will be eligible to get the benefit of community reservation only in case the particular community/ caste / tribe to which the candidate belongs is included in the list of reserved communities issued by the Central Government. If a candidate indicates in his/her application form for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination that he/she belongs to General category but subsequently writes to the Commission to change his/her category to a reserved one, such request shall not be entertained by the Commission. Similar principle will also be followed for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates. However, in some exceptional cases where a particular caste/tribe is included in the list of reserved community within 3 months from the date of submission of application, the Commission may consider a request of change of community as a special case. In case of a candidate unfortunately becoming physically disabled during the course of the examination process, the candidate should produce valid document showing him/her acquiring a disability to the extent of 40% or more as mentioned in the relevant rules to enable him/her to get the benefits of PwBD reservation.
What are the provisions for reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD candidates?
Reservation will be made for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates in respect of vacancies as may be fixed by the Government.
Can a candidate choose an optional subject, which he has not studied at graduate/post graduate level?
Yes.
Which is the language / medium of question papers?
The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) are set in Hindi and English.
Can a candidate write different papers of Civil Service (Main) Examination in different languages?
No, the Candidates have the option to write their answers either in English or in any one of the Eighth Schedule languages except the Qualifying Language papers Paper-A and Paper-B, which they have indicated at the time of filling up of their online application form for the Civil Service (Preliminary) Examination.
How are the Question Papers for the Civil Services (Main) Examination structured? What is the duration of each paper?
The question papers for the examination are of conventional (essay) type. Each paper is of three hours duration.
Can a candidate write the Civil Service (Main) Examination in English and take the interview in Hindi or any other Indian language?
The candidates, opting for Indian Language medium for the written part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination may choose either the same Indian Language or English or Hindi as the medium for the interview. The candidates, opting to write the Civil Services (Main) Examination in English, may choose either English or Hindi or any other Indian Language opted by them for the compulsory Indian Language Paper in the written part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination, as the medium for interview. The candidate has to indicate the language medium of interview at the time of filling up of the Detailed Application Form (DAF) However, the candidates, who are exempted from the compulsory Indian Language Paper, will have to choose either English or Hindi as medium of Interview or Personality Test.
What are the Cut-off Marks for the compulsory language Papers?
The minimum qualifying standards in each of the two Qualifying Papers i.e. English and Indian Languages is indicated in the Examination Rules, is at present 25%.
Is the Indian language Paper compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim?
The Paper A on Indian Language is not compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim. In the Online Application, if a candidate hails from these North-Eastern States, the option for Indian Language will automatically be disabled in the Online Application.
Is the Indian language Paper compulsory for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities categories?
Yes, Paper A on Indian Language is compulsory for candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category. However, it will not be compulsory for the candidates suffering from Hearing Impairment provided they have been granted such exemption from 2nd or 3rd language courses by the concerned education Board/University. The candidate needs to provide an undertaking/self declaration in this regard in order to claim such an exemption to the Commission.
What marks are reckoned for merit ranking in the written part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination?
Marks obtained by the candidates for the Papers I-VII only will be counted for merit ranking (of those candidates who obtain the specified minimum marks in the qualifying papers). However, the Commission has the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all of these papers.
What is the Disclosure Scheme?
This Scheme for disclosing the scores and other details of the nonrecommended candidates was implemented with the Combined Medical Services Examination-2017. The Scheme covers non-recommended willing candidates, who appeared at the Interview/SSB Stage of a Commission’s Examination. Details of such candidates which are disclosed at the Commission’s Website (further linked to the NCS Portal of the M/o Labour & Employment) are - Name of the candidate, Father’s/Husband’s name, Date of Birth, Category, Gender, Educational Qualifications, Total marks etc, arranged in Roll Number order. The objective of the Scheme is to provide a useful database to other employers to enable them to identify good employable candidates. This information of an Examination remains available for one year from the date of disclosure.
What is the Representation Portal of the Commission on the questions asked in an Examination?
(a) For each Examination, a time frame of 7 days (a week) i.e. from the next day of the Examination Date to 6.00 p.m. of the 7th day is fixed for the candidates to make representations to the Commission on the questions asked in the Papers of that Examination. No representation shall be accepted under any circumstances after this window of 7 days is over. (b) In case of Single Day Examinations, for example, if the Examination is held on 1st March, then the representations can be submitted from 2nd March to 8th March (till 6:00 p.m.). (c) For Multi-Days Examinations, the date on which the last Paper of that Examination is held, will be the crucial reckoning date for making representations on the questions asked in all the Papers of that Examination. For example: if last Paper of a Multi-Days Examination is conducted on 1st July whereas the first Paper of that Examination is held on 29th June, then the candidates can submit representations from 2nd July to 8th July (till 6:00 p.m.) for all the Papers of that Examination. (d) Such representation must be submitted through the “Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep)” only by accessing the URL: http://upsconline.nic.in/miscellaneous/QPRep/ This Portal will be available for submitting representations from the next day after the Examination is concluded. No representation by email/post/hand or by any other mode shall be accepted.
After the written examination, on what criterion is the answer books sent for evaluation? Is it on Roll No. basis or based on centre of examination? That is, will a particular examiner/ set of examiners get to evaluate answer books only of a particular centre or a particular group of Roll Nos.?
Mixing of the answer books received from different venues is done before sending them for evaluation. Computer-based randomized fictitious code no. is given to each answer-book before evaluation.
Are answer books segregated/ sorted based on community of the candidate?
This is not done at any stage of the evaluation process.
Is it likely that my evaluated performance suffers because my answer books were evaluated by a ‘strict’ examiner, while another candidate benefits as his answer books were evaluated by a ‘liberal’ examiner?
To achieve uniformity in valuation, where more than one Examiner is involved, the Commission arranges a meeting of the Head Examiner with the Additional Examiners after the Examination is over. At this stage, they discuss thoroughly the question paper, the appropriate answers and decide the standard of evaluation. To further bring about uniformity of assessment inter se the Examiners, the following procedure is undertaken: The Head Examiner conducts a sample survey of answer books of each Additional Examiner to verify whether the uniform standards of evaluation evolved in the meeting of Examiners have actually been followed. Depending on the standard adopted by the Additional Examiner, the Head Examiner may confirm the awards without any change if the Examiner has correctly followed the standard decided upon, or may carry out upward/ downward moderation as considered necessary to ensure maximum possible degree of uniformity in the evaluation process. Therefore, the aspect of inter-examiner variation in standards of evaluation in a Paper affecting candidates’ performance is taken care of adequately.
Can I know the ‘question-wise’ marks awarded to me for a paper?
The evaluation process does not end after initial evaluation by an Examiner. Moderation, wherever applied, is on the total award initially given (the so-called ‘raw marks’) and not on question-wise basis. Therefore, once the evaluation process is complete, neither ‘raw marks’ nor ‘question-wise marks’ subsist. What subsists is the candidate’s total score in a paper awarded at the end of the evaluation process and this award is normally made available to the candidate in due course on the Commission’s website through a query-based application software. Further, in a competitive examination, what is relevant is not the absolute performance of a candidate, but his/ her relative performance that in fact determines whether the candidate qualifies and, if so, his/ her position in the merit list.
If the overall marks of two or more candidates are equal, how is relative merit between such candidates decided?
‘Tie-breaking’ principles are applied to decide inter se merit among candidates having the same overall marks.
Wherever evaluation standards are set or moderation is applied, are these different for different mediums (languages) in which a particular subject/ paper Examination is written?
No. The evaluation standards/ moderation for a Paper are not medium specific. In other words, if the Rules of the Exam provide that a Paper can be written in any of, say, English/ Hindi/ a recognized Indian language, then the medium in which a candidate writes the Paper will not be a factor in determining evaluation standards or the moderation to be applied.
Is it possible that evaluation/ assessment could be affected by the knowledge of a candidates’ identity?
No. Before evaluation, the Roll No. written on every answer book is detached and computer-based randomized fictitious code no. is given. At no stage of the evaluation process (including the moderation stage) is the actual Roll No./ identity of the candidate known to any of the Examiners/ officials associated in the process.
What are the number of attempts available (category-wise) to the candidates of the Civil Services Examination?
a) General/EWS – 6 b) SC /ST – Unlimited c) OBC – 09 d) PwBD - 09 for General/EWS/OBC and Unlimited for SC/ST
How an ‘attempt’ is counted in the Civil Services Examination?
An attempt at the Preliminary Examination is considered an attempt at the Civil Services Examination: (I) If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination. (II) Notwithstanding the disqualification/cancellation of candidature, the fact of appearance of the candidate at the examination is counted as an attempt.
How would an aspirant know the number of attempts already availed by him/her in the Civil Services Examination?
It is the primary responsibility of the candidate to keep a record/track of the number of attempts availed by him/her.
What is the procedure followed by the Commission in verifying that the candidate has not exceeded the attempts allowed in the respective category in the Civil Services Examination?
The number of attempts availed by a candidate in the Civil Services Examination is checked/verified from the available data/records with the Commission at the appropriate stage of this Examination.
What action the Commission takes against a candidate who has exceeded the permissible number of attempts by concealing or furnishing incorrect information in the application form?
In the relevant provisions under Disqualification, Debarment, Disciplinary Action, Criminal Prosecution of the extant Civil Services Examination Rules, it has been provided that “A candidate who is or has been declared by the Commission to be guilty of - (f) making statements which are incorrect or false or suppressing material information; in addition to being liable to criminal prosecution, shall be disqualified by the Commission from the Examination held under these Rules; and/or shall be liable to be debarred either permanently or for a specified period by the Commission, from any examination or selection...” Therefore, in accordance with this Rule, in all such cases of misleading information on the number of attempts availed by the candidates, the Commission cancels the candidature of the said erring candidates for that particular Civil Services Examination and also debars them for 10 years in respect of all future Examinations/Selections of the Commission.
What is the main function of the All India Services (AIS) Branch?
The main function of the All India Services Branch of the Commission is to assist the Commission in the induction of State Services Officers into the All India Services through Promotion or by Selection.
Does the AIS Branch deal with the regular promotion cases/disciplinary cases/other service matters of the All India Services?
No. AIS branch deals only with the appointment by promotion of State Civil Service (SCS)/State Police Service (SPS)/State Forest Service (SFS) Officers to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS)/Indian Police Service (IPS)/Indian Forest Service (IFS) respectively and appointment by Selection of Non-State Civil Services (NSCS) Officers to the IAS.
What are the different modes of recruitment to the All India Services?
There are two modes of recruitment to the All India Services; (i) Direct Recruitment: Through the Civil Services Examination for IAS and IPS and the Indian Forest Service Examination for the IFS. These Examinations are conducted by UPSC. (ii) Promotion/Selection: By way of promotion of the SCS/SPS/SFS officers to the respective All India Service and by way of selection of Non-State Civil Services (NSCS) Officers to the IAS.
What is the quantum of promotion quota?
The number of persons recruited by way of promotion/selection in any State or group of States shall not, at any time, exceed 33.33% of the total cadre strength of the All India Service in that State or group of States.
Is there any restriction on the number of Non-State Civil Service (NSCS) Officers who can be inducted into the IAS in a given year?
For any State or group of States, the number of persons recruited by way of selection shall not at any time exceed 15% of the number of persons recruited against the promotion quota which is 33.33% of the cadre strength.
What are the Rules and Regulations governing the promotions to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
Promotions to the three All India Services viz. IAS, IPS, and IFS are governed under the respective Recruitment Rules viz. Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules 1954, Indian Police Service (Recruitment) Rules 1954, and Indian Forest Service (Recruitment) Rules 1966 and the respective Promotion Regulations viz. IAS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations 1955, IPS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations 1955, and IFS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations 1966. The selection of Non-State Civil Service (NSCS) Officers for appointment to IAS is governed by the IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations 1997.
What are the eligibility conditions for consideration for promotion to All India Services?
In terms of the provisions of Promotion Regulations, a State Civil/Police/Forest Service Officer is eligible to be considered for promotion to IAS/IPS/IFS, provided on 1st January of the year for which the Select List is to be prepared, if he/she- (a) is a member of the State Civil/Police/Forest Service, as the case may be; and (b) has completed not less than eight years of continuous service (whether officiating or substantive) in the post of Deputy Collector or in any other post or posts declared equivalent thereto by the State Government for IAS/ Deputy SP or in any other post or posts declared equivalent thereto by the State Government for IPS/ post(s) included in the State Forest Service for IFS; and (c) is confirmed in the State Service; and (d) is within the zone of consideration which is equal to three times the number of vacancies in the order of seniority; and (e) has not attained the age of 54 years (The cut-off age has been increased to 56 years which shall come into effect from the Select List of 2015, that is for the vacancies which may arise between 01.01.2015 and 31.12.2015, as per the amendments to the IAS/IPS/IFS Promotion Regulations dated 17.03.2015 and the clarification issued vide OM No. 14015/30/2015-AIS-I dated 20.03.2015 by the Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India).
What are the eligibility criteria for consideration for selection of Non-State Civil Service Officers to the Indian Administrative Services?
In terms of the provisions of IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations 1997, a Non-State Civil Service Officer is eligible to be considered for selection to the Indian Administrative Service, provided he/she- (a) is of outstanding merit and ability; and (b) holds a Gazetted post in a substantive capacity; and (c) has completed not less than 8 years of continuous service under the State Government on the first day of January of the year in which his/her case is being considered in any post which has been declared equivalent to the post of Deputy Collector in the State Civil Service; and (d) has not attained the age of 54 years on the 1st day of the January of the year for which the Select List is to be prepared. (The cut-off age has been increased to 56 years which shall come into effect from the Select List of 2015, that is for the vacancies which may arise between 01.01.2015 and 31.12.2015, as per the amendments to the IAS Selection Regulations dated 17.03.2015 and the clarification dated 20.03.2015 issued thereto by the DoP&T, Government of India).
What is the crucial date for reckoning the eligibility of Officers for the vacancies of a particular year?
The crucial date for reckoning the eligibility of Officers for inclusion in the zone of consideration is to be taken as the 01st January of the year in which the promotion quota vacancies arise.
What is the notional date for reckoning the availability of the eligible Officers?
The notional date for reckoning the availability of eligible Officers in the State Services for consideration for promotion is to be taken as 31st December of the vacancy year.
Who are the Cadre Controlling Authorities for the IAS/IPS/IFS?
The Central Government is the Cadre Controlling Authority for the three All India Services. In terms of the provisions of the respective IAS/IPS/IFS Promotion Regulations, the Central Government means Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training for IAS, Ministry of Home Affairs for IPS and Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change for IFS. The vacancies to be filled under the Promotion Quota for each year are determined by the Central Government in consultation with the respective State Government and the final appointments are also made by the Central Government.
Who does play the role of State Government for Union Territories (UT)?
For promotions to UT segment of Joint AGMUT Cadre the State Government means Ministry of Home Affairs for IAS and IPS and the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change for IFS.
What is the role of the UPSC in promotion/selection to the All India Services?
Once the vacancies for promotion/selection to the All India Services have been determined by the respective Cadre Controlling Authorities in consultation with the State Governments concerned, the State Government forwards the proposal for promotion/selection for the relevant year(s) to the Commission through the Single Window System. Thereafter, the proposal is examined by the Commission in detail and deficiencies, if any, are communicated to the State Government concerned for rectification of such deficiencies. After the proposal is complete in all respects, the meeting of the Selection Committee is convened by the Commission for preparation of a list of Officers as are suitable for promotion/selection. Upon receipt of the observations of the State Government and the Central Government on the recommendations of the Selection Committee, as required under relevant Regulations of respective Promotion/Selection Regulations, the recommendations of the Selection Committee are placed before the Commission for approval. The list as finally approved by the Commission forms the Select List of the members of the State Service Officers. Appointments to the All India Services are then made by the respective Cadre Controlling Authorities.
What are the documents required to be sent by the State Government while sending proposals to the Commission for convening the Selection Committee Meetings?
a) Latest Seniority List duly notified. b) Eligibility List(s) of Officers to be considered. c) Integrity Certificate duly signed by the Chief Secretary. d) Statement of Disciplinary/Criminal proceedings pending against the Officers with the date of issue of charge sheet/filing in the Court of law. e) Statement of adverse remarks in the ACRs – which are yet to be communicated; ACRs communicated but the time limit to represent is not yet over; a representation against the adverse remarks is submitted but the decision of the State Government is pending. f) Statement of penalties imposed during the last 10 years with brief particulars, date of penalty and the currency period of penalty. g) Statement of Court cases having a bearing on the preparation of the Select List. h) Complete ACR dossiers containing original ACRs with ‘Non Recording Certificates’ indicating valid reasons for missing ACRs. i) A statement of available ACRs with reasons for missing ACRs.
When can a meeting of the Selection Committee for a particular year be convened for promotion to IAS/IPS/IFS?
A meeting of the Selection Committee for the vacancies of a particular year can be convened at any time after the vacancies have been determined by the Central Government, provided a proposal, complete in all respects, is furnished by the State Government concerned to the Commission. However, Commission advises the State Governments from time to time, to complete this exercise as early as possible during the year.
What is the composition of the Selection Committee?
Composition of the Selection Committee is specified in the Schedule of the Promotion Regulations which are available on Website of Government of India, Department of Personnel & Training (DoP&T) viz. www.persmin.gov.in. The absence of a Member, other than the Hon’ble Chairman or Hon’ble Member of the Commission, shall not invalidate the proceedings of the Committee if more than half of the members of the Committee have attended the Meeting.
What is a Select List?
The list of the Officers recommended for induction into the All India Services for a particular year vacancy by the Selection Committee forms the Select List for that year after it is finally approved by the Commission in terms of the relevant provisions of the Promotion/Selection Regulations. The number of officers in the Select List cannot exceed the number of vacancies notified for that year by the Cadre Controlling Authority concerned.
Whether year-wise Select Lists can be prepared if the Selection Committee does not meet for a year?
Yes, in case, the Selection Committee Meeting could not be held by 31st December of the previous year(s), year-wise Select Lists can be prepared as and when the Selection Committee meets again, in terms of proviso to Regulation 5(1) of the Promotion Regulations.
What is the validity period of the Select List?
In terms of Regulation 7(4), the validity period of the Select List is up to 31st December of the year in which the Selection Committee Meeting is held or 60 days after the Select List is approved by the Commission, whichever is later.
An Officer has retired from the service/expired. Can he/she still be considered for inclusion in the Select List?
Yes. If an Officer was eligible for the Select List of a particular year and also available for consideration on the 31st December of that year, he/she will be considered for inclusion in the Select List for that year even if he/she has retired from the service / expired in the meanwhile. For example, if an officer who was eligible for the Select List of 2010, retired/expired in, say, 2012 and the Selection Committee Meeting was conducted in 2013, this Officer would be considered for the Select List of 2010 as he was available for consideration on 31st December of the vacancy year, which is 2010.
Is there any provision to give extended Panel in lieu of officers included in the Select List who are retired or not available for appointment by promotion?
No.
Can an Officer whose representation for expunction of adverse remarks from his ACRs is pending with State Government be included in the Select List?
Yes, if he is otherwise found suitable by the Selection Committee by ignoring such adverse remarks. However, his inclusion will be provisional subject to expunction of such adverse remarks in terms of proviso to Regulation 5(5).
Can the Officers against whom disciplinary proceedings/ criminal proceedings are pending, be included in the Select List? What will be the position if they are subsequently exonerated? Will ‘Sealed Cover Procedure’ be followed in their cases?
Yes, they can be included provisionally if otherwise found suitable. However, in the event of their exoneration or if the conditions leading to their provisional inclusion no longer subsist, their names can be made unconditional by the Commission in the Select List provided a proposal is received from the State Government within the validity period of the Select List. There is no ‘Sealed Cover Procedure’ in promotions to the All India Services.
Whether an eligible Officer whose Integrity Certificate has been withheld by the State Government can be included in the Select List (other than Non-SCS category)?
Yes, the name of the Officer, whose Integrity Certificate has been withheld by the State Government may be included in the Select List by the Selection Committee provisionally, subject to grant of Integrity Certificate, if the Selection Committee finds the Officer otherwise suitable for promotion on the basis of an overall assessment of his/her ACRs.
Whether an Officer whose integrity certificate is withheld by the State Government or against whom disciplinary/ criminal proceedings are pending is eligible to be considered for selection to IAS (Non-SCS)?
No.
When can a disciplinary/criminal proceedings be treated as pending against an Officer?
A disciplinary/criminal proceedings shall be treated as pending only if a charge sheet has been issued to the Officer or filed in a Court as the case may be.
What is meant by the categorization of Officers by the Selection Committee Meeting?
In accordance with Regulation 5(4) of the Promotion Regulations, the Selection Committee shall classify/categorize the eligible Officers as ‘Outstanding’, ‘Very Good’, ‘Good’ and ‘Unfit’ as the case may be on an overall relative assessment of their service records.
Is there any ‘bench mark’ grading, like in DPCs, in the preparation of the Select List?
No. There is no concept of ‘bench mark’ or assessment as ‘fit/unfit’ in the preparation of Select List by the Selection committee. The Select List is prepared by including the required number of names first from amongst the Officers finally classified as ‘Outstanding’ then from amongst those similarly classified as ‘Very Good’ and thereafter from amongst those similarly classified as ‘Good’ and the order of names, inter-se, within each category are in the order of their seniority in the State Service.
What records are assessed by the Selection Committee?
The Selection Committee makes an assessment of the ACRs (and other service records) of the eligible Officers furnished by the State Government with special reference to the performance of the Officer during the last five years including the vacancy year.
In case of unavailability of ACR of a year within the matrix of five preceding years, how is the assessment done by the Selection Committee?
As the overall assessment of the Officer cannot be withheld because of non-availability of ACRs, the Selection Committee makes the categorization on the basis of available ACRs. Thus, where one or more ACRs of an Officer have not been written for a year or more on account of his/her being on leave, training or because no officer supervised his/her work for more than three months or for any other valid reason during the relevant period, the Selection Committee considers the ACRs of the years preceding the period of five years.
How are the assessments made by the Selection Committee?
Selection Committee is independent to make its own assessments. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has also upheld this power of the Selection Committee vide their judgments in UPSC Vs H.L. Dev and Others [1988 SC 1069] and UPSC Vs K. Rajaiah and Others [2005 10 SCC 15]. The detailed internal guidelines, framed by the Commission in this regard, are hosted on the website of UPSC at www.upsc.gov.in.
An Officer has been graded differently by his Reporting Authority and Reviewing/Accepting Authority. Will the Selection Committee take the lower grade for assessment?
No. The Selection Committee makes their own assessment while assessing an Officer’s ACR. If the Reviewing Authority or the Accepting Authority, as the case may be, has differed from the assessment made by the Reporting Officer or the Reviewing Authority, as the case may be, the remarks of the latter authority are taken as the final remarks for the purpose of assessment provided it is apparent from the relevant entries that the higher authority has come to a different assessment consciously after due application of mind.
Can the Selection Committee differ with the overall grading indicated in the ACRs?
Yes, the Selection Committee is a high powered statutorily constituted Committee and is vested with the power to make an independent assessment of the service records and ACRs of the Officers. The grading awarded by the Committee is based on the attributes indicated in various columns of the ACRs and at times may be at variance with the overall grading recorded in the ACR by the Reporting Officer/Reviewing Officer/Accepting Officer. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in their judgment in the case of K. Rajaiah [2005 10 SCC 15], have also held that the Selection Committee is not bound by the overall grading recorded in the ACRs.
Does the Selection Committee follow the DPC guidelines issued by the Government of India, DOP&T?
No. The Selection Committee makes the assessments in terms of the provisions of the Promotion Regulations as per the guidelines of the Commission. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in their judgment dated 13.12.2007 in Civil Appeal No. 5883-5891 of 2007 filed by Shri M.V. Thimmaiah & Ors. Vs. Union Public Service Commission & Others have upheld the guidelines of the Commission for making the assessment of service records by the Selection Committees constituted under the Promotion Regulations. The Court have observed as under: “Therefore, in view of the catena of cases, courts normally do not sit in the court of appeal to assess the ACRs and much less the Tribunal can be given this power to constitute an independent Selection Committee over the statutory Selection Committee. The guidelines have already been given by the Commission as to how the ACRs to be assessed and how the marking has to be made. These guidelines take care of proper scrutiny and not only by the Selection Committee but also the view of the State Government are obtained and ultimately the Commission after scrutiny prepare the final list which is sent to the Central Government for appointment”.
How is the case of a provisionally included Officer considered while preparing year-wise Select Lists for more than one year?
While preparing year-wise Select Lists for more than one year pursuant to the 2nd proviso to Sub-Regulation (1) of the Promotion Regulations, the officer included provisionally in any of the Select List so prepared, shall be considered for inclusion in the Select List of subsequent year in addition to the normal consideration zone and in case he is found fit for inclusion in that Select List also on a provisional basis, such inclusion shall be in addition to the normal size of the Select List determined by the Central Government for such year.
Can an Officer be assessed as ‘unfit’ on the basis of a disciplinary/criminal proceedings pending against him?
No. An Officer can be declared ‘unfit’ only if the Officer has been imposed with a penalty which renders him unfit on overall assessment and not merely on basis of a disciplinary/ criminal proceedings pending against him. However, in case of disciplinary/criminal proceedings being pending against an Officer, he/she is to be included in Select List provisionally, if otherwise found fit, subject to clearance in the disciplinary/criminal proceedings.
What is the date from which the currency of a penalty is taken?
The currency of penalty is taken from the date on which it is imposed to the date it ceases to be in force.
Will the penalty render an Officer ‘unfit’ for inclusion in a Select List if the offence was committed prior to the Assessment Matrix of five preceding years but currency of penalty flows into the Assessment Matrix?
Yes. Suppose, an offence was committed by an Officer in the year 2000 but the penalty was imposed in 2008 and he/she was included in the zone of consideration for the Select List of 2010, he/she would be rendered ‘unfit’ as the currency of the penalty flows into the Assessment Matrix which spans from 2005-06 to 2009-10.
Suppose the Selection Committee Meeting for preparation of yearwise Select Lists of 2012 & 2013 was held in June 2014 and a penalty was imposed on one of the eligible Officers in, say, March 2014. Will the Officer be rendered ‘unfit’ for inclusion in the Select Lists?
Yes. If the currency of the penalty flows into the SCM year, which is 2014 in this case, the Officer would be graded as ‘Unfit’ in the overall assessment for all the Select Lists being prepared.
How is the penalty of ‘Censure’ treated while making assessments?
The Selection Committee, while preparing the Select List(s), may take into account the effect of ‘Censure’ as under: (a) If the date of imposition of the ‘Censure’ falls within any of the years in the Assessment Matrix, the Committee would categorize the Officer as ‘Unfit’ for the year in which it is imposed for the first Select List prepared in which he is eligible to be considered. (b) If the date of imposition of the ‘Censure’ is subsequent to the last year in the Assessment Matrix, and up to the date of the Selection Committee meeting (SCM), the Committee would categorize the Officer as ‘Unfit’ in the overall assessment for the first Select List prepared in which he is eligible to be considered. (c) The penalty of ‘Censure’ would be ignored for the subsequent Select Lists for which the Officer may be eligible to be considered.
Is there any supersession in the promotion to the All India Services?
Yes. In terms of provisions of Regulation 5(4) and 5(5) {5(3AA) and 5(4) for IFS} of Promotion Regulations, the selection for promotion to the All India Services is on the basis of merit.
For selection of Non-SCS Officers for appointment to IAS, what is the weightage of ACRs and interview?
It is 50:50. However, a minimum of 50% marks in each segment would be required to qualify for inclusion in the Select List.