Central Civil Services

Under the sole jurisdiction of the Indian central government

Central Civil Services of India

भारत की केंद्रीय सिविल सेवाएं

State Emblem of India

Flag of India

The Central Civil Services (CCS) encompass the various Civil Services of India that are exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Government of India. This is in contrast to the All India Services, which are common to both the central and state governments, or the state civil services, which fall under the purview of individual states.

The services with the most personnel in the entire Civil Services of India and also the Central Civil Services are with the Central Secretariat Service[a] and Indian Revenue Service (IT and C&CE).[b]

The Cadre Controlling Authority for each established Service is controlled by the respective Union government ministries of India. The higher-level positions in Central Civil Services are classified into Group A and Group B, both of which are gazetted.

## History

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### British India

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Main articles: Royal Commission on the Public Services in India and Imperial Secretariat Service

With the passing of the Government of India Act 1919, the Imperial Services headed by the Secretary of State for India, were split into two – All India Services and Central Services.[2]

The All India and Central Services (Group A) were designated as Central Superior Services as early as 1924.[3] From 1924 to 1934, Administration in India consisted of 10 All India Services (including Indian Education Service, Indian Medical Service) and 5 central departments, all under the control of Secretary of State for India, and 3 central departments under joint Provincial and Imperial Control.[3]

The Central Services was headed by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.

### Modern India

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The Group A officers are appointed by the President of India and appointments to Group B are made by the authorities specified by a general or special order of the President.

## Nature, rules and deputations

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### Rules and regulations

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The Central Civil Services (CCS) is run as per Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rule and all service members work under restrictions and rules of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. The Indian Railway Services work under Railway Services (Conduct) Rules of 1966.

The Central Civil Services also follows CCS (Commutation of Pension) Rules and has its own Recognition of Service Associations Rules 1993 and Leave Travel Concession Rules 1988.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), in a circular released in October 2018, directed central universities to adopt the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1964 for professors of the university.

### Deputations

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The members of Central Civil Services are eligible for deputation to state governments either on personal grounds or official approval from both Government of India Staffing Scheme of Government of India.

### Performance review and dismissal

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The employees performance review is conducted under the Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (J) and 56 (I), and also under Rule 48 (1) (b) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, that gives "absolute right" to the appropriate authority to retire a government servant, "if it is necessary to do so in public interest".[4]

A government servant can be retired "in public interest" under Central Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1965, as a penalty for possession of assets disproportionate to known source of income or for accepting gratification as a reward for doing or forbearing to do an official act.[5]

## Recruitment

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The recruitment of the CCS (Group A) is made through Civil Services Examination, Engineering Services Examination, Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Examination, I.E.S./I.S.S. Examination, Combined Medical Services Examination, Central Armed Police Forces of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). All promotions or empanelment in the CCS are either by Civil Services Board or by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

## Central Civil Services (Group A)

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The Central Services (Group A) are concerned with the administration of the Union Government.[6] All appointments to Central Civil Services (Group A) are made by the President of India.

### Organised Service

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The attributes of an Organised Group ‘A’ Service (OGAS) are as follows

* The highest cadre post is not below the Senior Administrative Grade (Level 14)
* The service has all standard grades such as Junior Time Scale (Level 10), Senior Time Scale (Level 11), Junior Administrative Grade (Level 12), Non-Functional Selection Grade (Level 13) and Senior Administrative Grade (Level 14)
* At least 50% of vacancies in Junior Time Scale (Level 10) are filled through Direct Recruitment
* All vacancies above Junior Time Scale (Level 10) and up to Senior Administrative Grade (Level 14) are filled by promotion from the next lower Grade

CLASSIFICATION OF CENTRAL GROUP 'A' CIVIL SERVICES  Sl. No.  | Name of the Service[7] | Organised / Non-Organised  | Participation in Central Staffing Scheme (CSS)[8] | Cadre Controlling Authority[9]

|
|
|
|

NON- TECHNICAL SERVICES
1  | Central Secretariat Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (DOPT)
2  | Indian Foreign Service | Organised  |  | Ministry of External Affairs
3  | Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Finance
4  | Indian Revenue Service (IT) | Organised  | Yes
5  | Indian Audit & Accounts Service | Organised  | Yes  | Comptroller and Auditor General
6  | Indian Railways Traffic Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Railways
7  | Indian Railways Accounts Service | Organised  | Yes
8  | Indian Railways Personnel Service | Organised  | Yes
9  | Indian Civil Accounts Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Finance
10  | Indian Defence Accounts Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Defence
11  | Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Communications
12  | Indian Postal Service | Organised  | Yes
13  | Indian Defence Estates Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Defence
14  | Indian Information Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
15  | Indian Trade Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Commerce
16  | Railway Protection Force | Non-Organised  |  | Ministry of Railways
TECHNICAL SERVICES
17  | Defence Research & Development Service | Organised  |  | Ministry of Defence
18  | Indian Railways Service of Engineers | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Railways
19  | Indian Railways Service of Signal Engineers | Organised  | Yes
20  | Indian Railways Service of Mechanical Engineers | Organised  | Yes
21  | Indian Railways Service of Electrical Engineers | Organised  | Yes
22  | Indian Telecommunications Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Communications
23  | Indian Ordnance Factories Service | Organised  | Yes  |
24  | Indian Railways Stores Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Railways
25  | Central Engineering Service (Roads)  | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
26  | Central Water Engineering Service  | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Jalshakti
27  | Indian Defence Service of Engineers  | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Defence
28  | Central Engineering Service (CPWD)  | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Urban Development
29  | Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service (CPWD) | Organised  |
30  | Border Roads Engineering Service  | Organised  |  | Ministry of Defence
31  | Central Power Engineering Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Power
32  | Indian Supply Service  | Organised  | Yes  |
33  | Indian Inspection Service  | Organised  | Yes  |
34  | Indian Naval Armament Service  | Organised  |  | Ministry of Defence
35  | Indian Broadcasting (Engineering) Service  | Organised  | Yes  |
36  | P&T Building Works Service  | Organised  |  |
37  | Central Architect Service (CPWD)  | Organised  |  | Ministry of Urban Development
38  | Indian Radio Regulatory Service | Organised  |  | Ministry of Communications
39  | Indian Skill Development Service | Non-Organised  |  | Ministry of Skill Development
HEALTH SERVICES
40  | Central Health Services (General Duty Cadre) | Organised  |  | Ministry of Health
41  | Indian Ordnance Factory Health Service  | Organised  |  |
42  | Indian Railways Health Service | Organised  |  | Ministry of Railways
NATURAL SCIENCES (TECHNICAL) SERVICES
43  | Central Geological Service Group 'A' | Organised  |  | Ministry of Mines
44  | Geological Survey of India Chemical Service Group 'A'  | Organised  |
45  | Geological Survey of India Geophysical Service Group 'A'  | Organised  |
46  | Geological Survey of India Engineering Service Group 'A'  | Organised  |
47  | Indian Meteorological Service  | Non-Organised  |
OTHER SERVICES
48  | Indian Legal Service  | Organised  |  | Ministry of Law & Justice
49  | Indian Economic Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Finance
50  | Indian Statistical Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
51  | Indian Cost Accounts Service  | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Finance
52  | Indian Corporate Law Service | Organised  | Yes  | Ministry of Corporate Affairs
53  | Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service  | Organised  |  | Ministry of Defence
54  | Survey of India Group 'A' Service | Organised  |  | Ministry of Science & Technology
55  | Defence Quality Assurance Service  | Organised  |  | Ministry of Defence
56  | Indian Broadcasting (Programme) Service  | Organised  | Yes  |
57  | Central Labour Service | Organised  |  | Ministry of Labour & Employment
CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCES - SECURITY SERVICES
58  | Indo Tibetan Border Police | Organised[10] |  | Ministry of Home Affairs
59  | Central Industrial Security Force | Organised[10] |
60  | Border Security Force | Organised[10] |
61  | Central Reserve Police Force | Organised[10] |
62  | Sashastra Seema Bal (Combatised cadre) | Organised[10] |

In 2019, based on the Bibek Debroy committee report of 2015, the Cabinet of India approved the plan to merge eight railway services. In 2022, the government released a gazette notification about the merger of existing eight services, which fall under the Central Civil Services, into a new Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS). The eight services includes Indian Railway Accounts Service, Indian Railway Personnel Service, Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers, Indian Railway Stores Service, and Indian Railway Traffic Service.[11]

The merged Indian Railways Management Service is again demerged into various specific services as of 2024.

## Central Government Services (Group B)

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For Group B civil service posts only, the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC).[c][12] All appointments to Group B are made by the authorities specified by a general or special order of the President. [d][12]

* Armed Forces Headquarters Services (Civil Service)
* Botanical Survey of India, Group 'B' (Natural Resource)
* Central Electrical Engineering Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Central Engineering Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Central Excise Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Central Health Service, Group 'B' (Health Science)
* Central Power Engineering Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Central Secretariat Official Language Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Central Secretariat Service, Group 'B' (Section and Assistant Section Officers Grade only) (Civil Service)
* Central Secretariat Stenographers Service, Group 'B' (Private Secretary and Personal Assistant Grade only) (Civil Service)
* Customs Appraisers Service, Group 'B'- (Principal Appraisers and Head Appraisers) (Civil Service)
* Customs Preventive Service, Group 'B' – (Chief Inspectors) (Civil Service)
* Defence Secretariat Service (Civil Service)
* DANICS (Civil Service)
* DANIPS (Civil Service)
* Geological Survey of India, Group 'B' (Natural Resource)
* Indian Foreign Service, Group 'B' - (General Cadre, Grade I and General Cadre, Grade II only) (Civil Service)
* Indian Posts and Telegraphs Accounts and Finance Service, Group 'B' Telecommunication Wing. (Civil Service)
* Indian Posts & Telegraphs Accounts & Finance Service, Postal Wing, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Income Tax Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Indian Salt Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* India Meteorological Service, Group 'B' (Natural Resource)
* Survey of India, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Postal Superintendents’ Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Postmasters’ Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Railway Board Secretariat Service, Group 'B'(SO and ASO only) (Civil Service)
* Telecommunication Engineering Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Telegraphs Traffic Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Zoological Survey of India, Group 'B' (Natural Resource)

## Reforms and Challenges

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### Reforms

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On December 2019, as per decision approved by Union Cabinet of India, a new Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) was created by merging eight existing Group A Indian Railway services in the Central Civil Services.

A new Indian Skill Development Service was created as technical cadre within the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

### Corruption and challenges

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In 2016, the Ministry of Finance for the first time, dismissed 72 and prematurely retired another 33 Indian Revenue Service officers for non-performance and on disciplinary grounds.[13][14][15][16][17] In 2019, Government of India dismissed 12 (IRS IT) and 15 (IRS Customs and Central Excise) officers for corruption and bribery charges.[18][19] In 2019, Department of Personnel and Training in Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions listed 284 Central Secretariat Service officers for performance audit by review panel headed by Cabinet Secretary of India.[20]

### Supreme court cases, verdicts and directions

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In May 2025, Supreme Court of India upheld the organised service status of the Central Armed Police Forces. The judgement clarified that “for all intent and purposes, CAPFs belong to OGAS [Organised Group-A Services],"[10]

## See also

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* Gazetted officer
* Order of precedence in India
* All India Services
* Civil Services of India
* Civil Services Examination
* Indian Railway Management Service
* Combined Defence Services Examination
* Engineering Services Examination
* Combined Medical Services Examination
* Union Public Service Commission
* Staff Selection Commission
* Public service commissions in India
* Indian Institute of Public Administration
* Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
* Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

## Notes

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1. ^ As on year 2021, CSS cadre has a total strength of 12,500 members and is controlled by DOPT, Ministry of Personnel GOI. According to a PTI report published by ThePrint on 7 March 2024, the sanctioned strength of the CSS officers is 13,016.[1]
2. ^ The Indian Revenue Service is not one entity and not one service. The two independent branches are controlled by two separate statutory bodies, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The IT and C&CE also have two different independent service associations. The total members are 4192 (Income Tax) and 5583 (Customs and Indirect Taxes).
3. ^ The Schedule of Central Civil Services for Group 'B'. The complete list as per Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Govt. of India
4. ^ The Schedule of Central Civil Services for Group 'B'. The complete list as per Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Govt. of India

## References

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1. ^ "Central Secretariat Service officers take out 'march' to protest against delay in promotions". ThePrint. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
2. ^ Goel, S.L. (2008). Public Personnel Administration : Theory and Practice. Deep and Deep Publications, 2008. ISBN 9788176293952.
3. ^ a b Maheshwari, Shriram (1992). Problems and Issues in Administrative Federalism. Allied Publishers. ISBN 9788170233428.
4. ^ "Centre to weed out inefficient, corrupt employees, asks depts to review service records of staff". The Economic Times. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
5. ^ "Odisha asks Centre to compulsory retire Indian Forest Service officer for graft". The Times of India. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2017-05-04.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. ^ https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D2/D02adm/OMUpdationoflistdated03.04.2017.pdf [bare URL PDF]
8. ^ "EASY".
9. ^ https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D2/D02csd/CADRE REVIEW GUIDELINESnWSzL.pdf [bare URL PDF]
10. ^ a b c d e f "CAPFs Constitute Organised Group A Services, Rules Supreme Court, Order May Limit IPS Deputation". CNN-News18. Archived from the original on 2025-07-25. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
11. ^ Thakur, Rajesh Kumar (13 February 2022). "Indian Railway merges eight service cadres into one newly created cadre". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
12. ^ a b Complete Civil Service Schedule of the Central Civil Services Group B of India." Central Civil Service Group B - Government of India, 20 April 2020.
13. ^ "For good governance, Finance Ministry fires 72 tax officers, retires 33 more". Business Standard. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
14. ^ "Government takes strict action against defaulting/non performing tax officials/officers". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
15. ^ "Absent for years, government sacks 11 IRS officers". The Indian Express. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
16. ^ "108 IRS officers under CBI probe for alleged corruption: Government". The Economic Times. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
17. ^ "CBI seizes 2 crore in old currency from city residence of IRS officer". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
18. ^ "Govt sacks 12 senior I-T officers including a senior officer for corruption". Business Standard. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
19. ^ "Govt Sacks 15 Senior Customs, Central Excise Officers Over Corruption, Bribery Charges". Outlook. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
20. ^ "Modi govt to retire Central Secretariat Service officers now, 284 of them under scanner". The Print. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.

## External links

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* CCS (CONDUCT) RULES, 1964, CCS Rules-1964
* Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure 14th Edition by Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

### News

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* Prime Minister instructs DoPT for speedy empanelment of officers from all central services by The Times of India
* Central Civil Services Pension Rule, 1972: Centre amends 47-year-old provision to widen scope by CNBC

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