In a major step towards enhancing access to senior administrative roles, the Central Government has updated the empanelment policy for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers aspiring to be appointed at the Joint Secretary (JS) level.
As per the new guidelines, IAS officers who have completed at least two years of service at the Under-Secretary level—in addition to the earlier required experience at the Deputy Secretary or Director levels—will now be considered eligible for JS empanelment.
Policy Approved by ACC, Applies to 2010 Batch Onwards
The reform has been officially approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and was communicated via a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) office memorandum dated May 7, 2025. The revised criteria apply to IAS officers of the 2010 batch and beyond.
Encouraging Central Deputation & Broader Career Exposure
This move partially amends the 2020 policy, which mandated a minimum of two years’ central deputation experience at the Deputy Secretary or Director levels for officers from the 2007 batch onwards.
By now including Under-Secretary experience in the eligibility criteria, the government is widening the pipeline for qualified officers to take up senior policy-making roles at the Centre. The change is also intended to motivate more IAS officers from state cadres to opt for central deputation earlier in their careers, thereby gaining valuable exposure to national-level governance and policymaking.
Institutionalizing Deputation as a Key Career Milestone
This policy shift is part of a larger effort to institutionalize central deputation as a structured and desirable career milestone for IAS officers. The government’s aim is to ensure that senior appointees in pivotal positions at the Centre possess a well-rounded understanding of Union government functioning.
Including Under-Secretary-level service helps address concerns about the availability of officers at the mid-career stage and offers a more flexible yet accountable framework for career progression and administrative mobility.
