New Delhi: In a significant reform aimed at broadening access to senior administrative positions, the Central Government has revised its empanelment policy for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers seeking appointments at the Joint Secretary (JS) level. As per the new directive, IAS officers with a minimum of two years’ experience at the under-secretary level, in addition to the previously mandated deputy secretary or director levels, will now be eligible for JS empanelment.
The change, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and communicated through a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) office memorandum dated May 7, 2025, applies to IAS officers from the 2010 batch onwards.
Broadening Eligibility and Encouraging Central Deputation
The revised policy marks a partial modification of the government’s 2020 reform, which had made two years of central deputation at the deputy secretary or director level mandatory for JS empanelment for officers of the 2007 batch and beyond.
Now, with under-secretary-level experience also counting toward the eligibility requirement, the government is widening the pipeline of qualified officers for senior posts at the Centre. The move is expected to encourage more IAS officers from state cadres to opt for central deputation early in their careers, giving them greater exposure to national policymaking and administrative processes.
Institutionalizing Central Deputation as a Career Milestone
This policy shift is part of the government’s broader efforts to institutionalize central deputation as a structured career path. By emphasizing experience in Union-level functioning, the Centre aims to ensure that officers posted to critical policy roles bring a comprehensive understanding of central administration.
The inclusion of under-secretary experience also helps address concerns from states about the availability of mid-career officers and creates a more flexible yet accountable framework for bureaucratic mobility.
