No.
AB.14017/13/2013-Estt. (RR) (1349)
Government
of India
Ministry
of Personnel, PG & Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training)
North
Block, New Delhi
FAQs on
Recruitment Rules
1. What are Recruitment Rules?
Ans.
Recruitment Rules are rules notified under proviso to Article 309 or any
specific statutes for post(s) prescribing inter alia the method of Recruitment
and eligibility for such recruitment. It contains notification part
having substantive rules and schedule part (as per prescribed
Annexure-I). Recruitment Rules are subordinate legislation and so, they are
statutory in nature.
2. What are Service Rules?
Ans.
Service Rules are Recruitment Rules for any of the Organized Central Services
covering many aspects including constitution of the Service, seniority,
probation and other conditions of service.
3. Whether Recruitment Rules are applicable retrospectively?
Ans.
The legal position is that the posts are to be filled up as per the eligibility
conditions prescribed in the Recruitment Rules in force at the time of
occurrence of vacancies unless the Recruitment Rules are amended
retrospectively. The practice has however been to give effect to the
Recruitment Rules prospectively.
4. Why are Recruitment Rules framed?
Ans. As
soon as decision is taken to create a new post/ service to upgrade any post or
re-structure any service, the Recruitment Rules/ Service Rules are framed. Any
post is filled up as per the provisions of the Recruitment Rules/ Service
Rules.
5. Why are Recruitment Rules amended?
Ans.
Revision in the Recruitment Rules is made by way of amendment to incorporate
changes due to implementation of Central Pay Commission Report, modification of
orders/ instructions on the subject, creation/ abolition of posts etc. during
the intervening period.
6. How Recruitment Rules are framed/ amended?
Ans.
Recruitment Rules for Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ posts/ service are framed/amended by
the administrative Ministry/Department in consultation with Department of
Personnel & Training,
Union Public Service Commission and Ministry of Law (Legislative
Department) and approval of competent authority in the Ministry/ Department to
be obtained.
7. Why and how are Recruitment Rules relaxed?
Ans.
The power to relax clause in the Recruitment Rules/ Service Rules provides the
authority to relax the rules in respect of class or category of person.
The administrative Ministry/ Department may resort to relaxation of the rules
consultation with Department of Personnel & Training and
Union Public Service Commission.
8. Who is competent authority to frame/amend the Recruitment Rules?
Ans.
All Recruitment Rules including their amendments should be approved at the
level of Minister-in-charge, unless the Minister has by general or special
order delegated such approval at a lower level(s).
9. Who is competent authority to frame/amend the Recruitment Rules
of Group 'C' posts?
Ans.
Administrative Ministries/ Departments are empowered to frame/ amend the
Recruitment Rules in respect of Group 'C' posts keeping in view the guidelines/
Model Recruitment Rules issued by this Department on various aspects. In case
of deviation from existing guidelines/ Model Recruitment Rules, the concurrence
of Department of Personnel & Training is
to be obtained.
10. Who is competent authority to relax the Recruitment Rules of
Group 'C' posts?
Ans.
The Ministries/ Departments are competent to relax the Recruitment Rules for
Group 'C' posts. The provisions governing upper age limit
or qualifications for direct recruitment should not however be
relaxed without prior concurrence of Department of Personnel & Training.
11. What is the format/ procedure to send the proposal for
consultation with Department of Personnel & Training for
framing/amendment of Recruitment Rules?
Ans.
Proposal for framing/ amendment of Recruitment Rules fs r Group 'A' & Group 'B' posts
(except Service Rules) is sent to Department f Personnel & Training,
first, on-line under Recruitment Rules Framing Amendment and Monitoring
System (RRFAMS) of the on-line services of Department of
Personnel & Training. After
approval of on-line Recruitment Rules in Department of Personnel &
Training, the proposal is referred by the Administrative Ministry/ Department
in a file with a self-contained note accompanied inter alia the following: -
(i)
Check-list for sending proposal to Department of Personnel & Training.
(ii)
Copy of the report of freezed on-line Recruitment Rules.
(iii)
Draft Recruitment Rules including notification and Schedule 1 (for posts other
than those in the Organized Services) in the proforma in Annexure I.
(iv)
Supporting particulars in Annexure II (for framing of Recruitment Rules)/
Annexure-III (for amendment of Recruitment Rules), as prescribed in Department
of Personnel & Training OM No. AB.14017/48/2010-Estt.(RR) dated 31.12.2010.
(v)
Recruitment Rules for the feeder posts(s) and the higher post, if any.
(vi)
Present sanctioned strength of the post for which rules are being framed/
amended as also of the lower and higher posts.
12. What are model Recruitment Rules?
Ans.
Model Recruitment Rules for a number of common categories of posts have been
framed in consultation with Union Public Service Commission, wherever required.
While framing/ amending Recruitment Rules for such posts, the model rules
should be adhered to.
13. What is procedure for consultation with Union Public Service
Commission?
Ans.
After obtaining the concurrence of the Department of Personnel & Training,
the Administrative Ministry / Department should refer the draft Recruitment
Rules for posts/ services which are within the purview of the Union Public
Service Commission in a self-contained letter to the Commission, along with the
information in the prescribed proforma (Check list, Annexure II/ Annexure-III
etc.). It should be stated in the letter to the Commission whether the
clearance of the Department of Personnel & Training (and also the
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare were required) ha been obtained
in respect of the proposals in question.
14. What is initial constitution clause in Recruitment Rules?
Ans. In
cases where a new service is formed and the Recruitment Rules are framed for
the first time and that there are officers already holding different categories
of posts proposed to be included in the service on regular / long term basis, a
suitable 'Initial Constitution' Clause may be inserted in the Notification so
as to count the regular service rendered by such officers before the date of
notification of the Rules.
15. Whether reservation, relaxation of age limit and other
concessions for special categories of persons are applicable in Recruitment
Rules .
Ans.
These concessions in recruitments are made applicable by inserting
the following 'Saving Clause' in the covering notification of the Recruitment
Rules:-
"Nothing
in those rules shall affect reservations, relaxation of age-limit and other
concessions required to be provided for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled
Tribes, Ex-servicemen and other special categories of persons, in accordance
with the orders issued by the Central Government from time to time in this
regard".
16. What is the schedule in Recruitment Rules?
Ans.
The schedule of Recruitment Rules of post(s) is a 13 columns table as per
prescribed Annexure-I (vide OM No. AB-14017/48/20l0-Esft. (RR) dated 3
1.12.2010) containing details of the post(s) along with method of recruitment
and eligibility criteria. The prescribed schedule is used for post(s)
which are not covered by any organized service.
17. What is notification part of Recruitment Rules?
Ans.
Notification of Recruitment Rules contains the substantive rules which include
the provisions related to title, date of commencement, enabling provision for
applicability of schedule, disqualification clause, power to relax clause,
saving clause and any other rule specific to a post viz, initial constitution
clause, liability for all-India Service etc.
18. What are the upper age limits prescribed for Direct
Recruitment?
Ans.
The upper age limits for different posts depend upon the nature of duties,
educational qualifications and experience requirements as prescribed in this
Department OM No. AB- 14017/48/201 0-Estt (RR) dated 31 .1 2.2010 (Para 3.7.4.1
& 3.7.4.2).
19. What are relaxations available for upper age limit in direct
Recruitment Rules?
Ans. A
provision is prescribed in the recruitment rules for relaxation of the upper
age-limit for departmental candidates up to 40 years for appointment by direct
recruitment to Groups C posts and for Government servants up to 5 years for
direct recruitment to Groups A and B posts:
20. How to calculate crucial date for age limit?
Ans. In
the case of recruitment through the Union Public Service Commission and the
Staff Selection Commission, the crucial date for determining the age- limit
shall be as advertised by the UPSC / SSC. In the case of other recruitment, the
crucial date for determining the age-limit shall be the closing date for
receipt of applications from candidates in India (and not the closing date
prescribed for those in Assam etc.).
21. How is the educational and other qualification required for
direct recruit fixed?
Ans.
The minimum educational qualifications and experience required for direct
recruitment may be indicated as precisely as possible and if necessary, into
two parts, viz., “Essential Qualifications” and “Desirable Qualifications”
taking into account the pay band! grade pay and the nature of duties, and the
provisions in the approved Recruitment Rules for similar higher and lower posts
in the same hierarchy.
22. Whether the educational qualifications prescribed for direct
recruits are applicable to promotees?
Ans.
The educational qualifications are not generally insisted upon in the case of
promotion to posts of non-technical nature; but for scientific and technical
posts, these should be insisted upon, in the interest of administrative
efficiency, at least in the case of senior Group A posts in the Pay Band-3
Grade Pay Rs. 6600 and above. Sometimes the qualifications for junior Group A
posts and Group B posts may not be insisted upon in full but only the basic
qualification in the discipline may be insisted upon.
23. Whether any age limit prescribed for promotion?
Ans.
Unless there are any specific grounds, the age limit prescribed for direct
recruits are not insisted upon in the case of promotees.
24. When probation for appointment to a post/service in Central
Government is prescribed? What is the duration of probation?
Ans.
The probation is prescribed when there is direct recruitment, promotion from
one Group to another e.g. Group B to Group A or officers re-employed before the
age of superannuation. There will be no probation for promotion from one grade
to another but within the same group of posts e.g. from Group ‘C’ to Group ‘C’
and for appointment on contract basis, tenure basis, re-employment after
superannuation and absorption. The period of probation is as prescribed in this
Department OM No. AB-14017/48/2010-Estt (RR) dated 3 1.12.2010 (Para 3.10.1
& 3.10.2).
25. What are the methods of recruitments?
Ans. The different methods of recruitment are:
(a) Promotion
(b) Direct Recruitment
(c) Deputation
(d) Absorption
(e) Re-employment
(f) Short-term contract
26. How is the method of recruitment or percentage of vacancies to
be filled by various methods of recruitment decided?
Ans. The percentage of vacancies to be filled by each method
that may be prescribed for a particular post or Service depend on a judicious
blending of several considerations, e.g.,
(i) the nature of duties, qualifications and experience required;
(ii) the availability of suitable personnel possessing, the requisite
qualifications and experience within a cadre. .
(iii) The need for ensuring that suitable incentives exist for the maintenance
of an adequate standard of efficiency in the cadre;
(iv) Consideration of the question whether, having regard to the role to be
performed by a specified cadre or Service, it is necessary to provide for
direct intake of officers at an appropriate level with a view to injecting
fresh knowledge and experience that may not be normally available in a
particular Service or Department etc.
(v) The proper mix of the six methods of recruitment i.e. (a) promotion (b)
direct recruitment (c) deputation (d) absorption (e) re-employment (I)
short-term contract (mentioned at (a) to (f) above).
27. What is promotion?
Ans.
Promotion is method of recruitment from feeder grade post(s) to higher post in
the hierarchy as per the provisions of the Recruitment Rules. If promotion is
kept as a method of recruitment, it is also necessary to lay down the number of
years of qualif5ring service before the persons in the field become eligible
for promotion. Only regular, and not ad hoc, period of service is taken into
account for purposes of computing this service.
28. What is Direct Recruitment?
Ans.
Direct recruitment is the recruitment which is open to all candidates, eligible
as per the provisions regarding age, educational qualification! experience etc.
as prescribed in Recruitment Rules.
29. What is Deputation?
Ans.
Deputation is a method of recruitment where officers of Central Government
Departments or State! UT Governments from outside are appointed to post(s) in
Central Government for a limited period, by the end of which they will have to
return to their parent cadres. In case of isolated post, it is desirable to
keep the method of recruitment of deputation! short term contract as otherwise
the incumbents of such posts, if directly recruited, will not have any avenue
of promotion! career progression.
30. What is short term contract?
Ans.
Short term contract is also a form of deputation where officers from non-
Government bodies e.g. universities, research institutions, public sector
undertakings for teaching, research, scientific and technical post(s) can come
to Central Government posts.
31. Whether absorption and Deputation are synonymous? What is
absorption?
Ans.
Absorption and deputation are not synonymous. There is a substantial difference
between absorption and deputation. Under the provision absorption, the officer,
who initially comes on deputation, may be permanently absorbed in the post!
grade if recruitment rules prescribe for absorption as mode of recruitment.
Such absorption can be effected only in the case of officers who are on
deputation from the Central I State Government.
32. What is composite method of recruitment?
Ans. In
cases where the field of promotion or feeder grade consists of only one post,
the method of recruitment by “deputation (including short-term contract) /
promotion” is prescribed so that the eligible departmental officer is
considered along with outsiders. If the departmental candidate is selected for
appointment to the post; it is to be treated as having been filled by
promotion; otherwise, the post is to be filled by deputation I short-term contract
for the prescribed period of deputation / short-term contract at the end of
which the departmental officer will again be afforded an opportunity to be
considered for appointment to the post.
33. How is field of deputation decided?
Ans.
The field for “deputation! short-term contract! absorption should, as far as
possible, consist of officers holding analogous posts on regular basis but may
be widened to include officers working in the next lower grade also with the
qualifying service on regular basis normally prescribed for promotion.
34. How is the period of qualifying service for promotion decided?
Ans.
The qualifying service for promotion from one grade to another is necessary so
that there is no premature promotion or undue jump in pay and also to ensure
that the officer has sufficient opportunity to demonstrate his
competence/potential for holding the higher post. The period of qualifying
service varies from post to post depending upon the scale of pay and the
experience, required for manning the higher post. Broadly, the following
qualifying service to be followed is prescribed in this Department OM No. AB1
4017/48/2010-Estt (R.R) dated 31.12.2010 (para 3.12.2).
35. What is the maximum age limit for Deputation?
Ans. The maximum age limit for appointment on deputation
(including short term contract) or absorption shall be not exceeding 56 years
as on the closing date of receipt of applications.
36. What is the crucial date for determination of eligibility of
absorption) deputation?
Ans.
The guidelines for crucial date for determination of eligibility for
absorption! deputation are as follows: -
(i) In the case of a vacancy already existing at the time of issue of the
communication inviting nominations, the eligibility may be determined with
reference to the last date prescribed for receipt of nominations in the
Ministry/ Department! Organization responsible for making appointment to the
post i.e. originating Ministry etc.
(ii) In the case where a vacancy is anticipated, the crucial date for determining
eligibility should be the date on which the vacancy is expected to arise.
37. How is Departmental Committee formed?
Ans.
When promotion is kept as a method of recruitment, the detailed composition of
the Departmental Promotion Committee, with minimum 3 officers, may be
indicated. In the case of promotion to Group ‘A’ posts, the Union Public
Service Commission shall also be associated. The total strength of DPC
including Chairman need not necessarily be an odd number, as the decision is to
be taken as a joint one.
38. What are the circumstances in which Union Public Service
Commission is to be consulted for recruitment?
Ans. 1.JPSC is required to consult in case of recruitment to all
Central Civil Services and Central Civil Posts. Exemption from Consultation
with Union Public Service Commission is governed by the Union Public Service
Commission (Exemption from Consultation) Regulations, 1958 as amended from time
to time and the Central Civil Services and Civil Posts (Consultation with Union
Public Commission) Rules, 1999 as amended. Some of the circumstances in which
the Union Public Service Commission are to be consulted in making recruitment
to the posts are illustrated below: (i) Direct Recruitment,
(ii) Re-employment,
(iii) Absorption,
(iv) Composite method of recruitment (i.e. where the departmental candidate
is to be considered along with outsiders),
(v) In case of deputation — (a) if the field for consideration includes State
Government Officers or Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ officers of the Central Government
simultaneously and (b) if the field for consideration consists of not only
Central/State Government officers but also officers from nonG overnment
institutions
(vi) Any relaxation or amendment of the provisions of the Recruitment Rules.
39. Whether recruitment to a post can be made in absence of
recruitment rules of a post?
Ans. If
there are overriding compulsions for filling any Group A or Group B post in the
absence of Recruitment Rules, then the Ministries! Department may make
reference to Union Public Service Commission for determination of method of
recruitment as a onetime measure for filling up of a post on regular basis.
40. What are the limits for notification of Recruitment Rules?
Ans.
The Recruitment Rules or amendment(s) thereto as finally approved by the Union
Public Service Commission are required to be notified within a period of 10
weeks from the date of receipt of their advice letter. This time limit should
be strictly adhered to.
41. What needs to be done in case where posts are transferred to
some other Ministries/ Departments?
Ans.
The Ministry/Departments concerned should mutually agree for transfer of the
posts and the same should be concurred by Department of Expenditure.
Thereafter, the existing RR needs to be de-notified in consultation of
Department of Personnel & Training, Union
Public Service Commission and Ministry of Law. Suitable recruitment rules in
the transferred Department may be framed? amended following due procedure.
Source : www.persmin.nic.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/AB.14017_13
