In a significant move impacting officers of Organised Group ‘A’ Services (OGAS), the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued a fresh Office Memorandum (OM) regarding the grant of Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU). The latest order clarifies the eligibility of officers for NFU in Level-15 and Level-14 of the Pay Matrix, linked to the appointment of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers at the Centre.
Issued on May 26, 2026, the OM states that officers of OGAS who are otherwise eligible and meet prescribed promotion norms will now be considered for NFU based on the batches of IAS officers appointed as Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in 2026.
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WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE NEW NFU ORDER?
According to the DoPT memorandum, NFU in Level-15 will be applicable to officers belonging to the 1999 batch and earlier with effect from March 31, 2026. This follows the appointment of a 2001-batch IAS officer as Additional Secretary at the Centre on that date.
Similarly, NFU in Level-14 will apply to officers of the 2008 batch and earlier with effect from April 13, 2026, linked to the appointment of a 2010-batch IAS officer as Joint Secretary.
The OM reiterates that the grant of NFU remains subject to the conditions laid down in the DoPT’s earlier Office Memorandum dated April 24, 2009. Officers must fulfil all eligibility requirements, including prescribed service length, screening criteria, and benchmark standards for promotion.
The order further clarifies that OGAS officers who are at least two batches senior to the concerned IAS batch and who have not yet received regular promotion to the corresponding grade will be eligible for consideration under the NFU framework.
The move is expected to benefit a large number of officers across various organised central services by ensuring pay parity and career progression in line with IAS appointments at the Centre.
