Central Deputation of AIS

In News

• According to the Ministry of Home affair data, only three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers have offered themselves to be available for Central deputation.

About

• Shortage of All India Services (AIS) officers continues to affect the Center with a low number of Indian Police Officers (IPS) opting for central deputation.
• Dip from previous: In comparison, an October 2018 vacancy list of the Ministry shows that as many as 14 IPS officers were willing to come on Central deputation.
• Regulations stipulate that states must earmark 40% of senior posts in every cadre to meet central requirements, but data shows a Central Deputation Reserve (CDR) shortfall from 61% for Tripura to 95% for West Bengal. 
  • Over 14 states have a CDR shortfall of over 80%. 
  • It is above 90% for Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Telangana.
• Shortage at Center:
  • The Union government has been facing acute shortage of AIS officers and to tide over the crisis, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) mooted a proposal in December 2021 to depute Indian Administrative Service (IAS), IPS and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officers to Centre without necessarily taking the State government’s nod.
  • In spite of existing provisions, States were not sponsoring adequate numbers of officers for Central deputation and the available officers were not sufficient to meet the requirement of the Union. 

Image Courtesy: TH

Amendment in IPS Tenure Policy

• The Home Ministry amended the IPS tenure policy doing away with the mandatory requirement of empanelment of IPS officers at the DIG level. 
• Experience: Officers with a minimum 14 years of experience will be eligible for appointment at the level of DIG by the Center. 
• Process: 
  • Assessment: Officers are assessed if they are suitable for Central deputation by the Central Police Establishment Board (CPEB) headed by the Union Home Secretary. 
  • Approval: The names of officers up to the IG level are then sent to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister for approval.
• Consent: Before an AIS officer is called for Central deputation, his or her concurrence is required. 

All India Services

• The Constitution provides for the creation of All India Services (AIS) common to the Union and the States. 
• The All-India Services Act, 1951 provides that the Central Government may make rules for regulating the recruitment and the conditions of service of persons appointed to the All India Services. 
• Presently only the IAS, the IPS and the IFS have been constituted as All India Services. 
• Recruitment to these services is made under the corresponding AIS Recruitment Rules and may be done by Direct Recruitment (through Competitive Examinations) and by promotion from the State Service. 
• The AIS Branch is concerned with the latter mode of recruitment which is governed by the respective IAS/IPS/IFS Promotion Regulations.
• It is headed by the Joint Secretary, who is assisted by two Deputy Secretaries and four Under Secretaries alongwith two Section Officers and other staff.
• Functions: The AIS Branch is primarily concerned with the promotions to the three All India Services viz. IAS, IPS, and IFS. The main items of work handled by the All India Services Branch are as follows: –  
  • Promotions of State Service officers to the IAS, IPS and IFS
  • Selection of Non-State Civil Service officers for appointment to the IAS under the IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations, 1997
  • Consequential Court Cases associated with the AIS promotions/ selections
  • Policy matters relating to All India Services and amendments in the Promotion Regulations.
  • The All India Services Cadre Rules provide for consultation with the Commission in the matter of appointment of State Service officers to the AIS Cadre posts if such appointment is made for a period exceeding six months. 
• Federal structure of AIS Recruitment: AIS officers are recruited by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on behalf of the Centre and their services are then placed under various State cadres. It is incumbent upon the members of service to serve both under the State and the Centre. 

Source: TH