Centre Revises Empanelment Rules For IAS Officers

In a major development the centre has revised rules for IAS officers seeking empanelemt to the level of Joint Secretary in centre. As of now the rules said that  IAS officers of 2007 and above batch must serve at Director/Deputy Secretary for period of two years to get eligible for JS empanlment. This rule was notified in 2020 when centre revised the empanelment policy for first time. 

On 7th May 2025, almost after three years the government has again revised the empanlment policy. According to DOPT letter dated 7th May"  “In partial modification of the earlier directives … the ACC (Appointment Committee of Cabinet) has now directed that the Central Deputation experience of not less than two years at under-secretary/deputy secretary/director or equivalent level shall be mandatory for empanelment at joint secretary level at the Centre in respect of IAS officers from 2010 batch onwards.”

With the revised and more lenient empanelment policy, IAS officers from the 2010 batch onwards, who have only served at the Under Secretary level for two years, are now eligible for JS empanelment. Top sources say that this decision was made keeping in mind the shortage of IAS officers at the centre. Sources add that this decision might help in solving the manpower issue at the centre.