Reservation in Central Government Jobs – Relaxation and Concessions

Reservation in Central Government Jobs – Concession in Promotions within Group A & Fee, Age Relaxation in Direct Recruitment & Promotion

Concession in Promotions within Group A

3.1 There is no reservation in case of promotion by ‘selection’ from a Group A post to another Group A post. But when promotion by ‘selection’ is made from a Group A post to a Group A post carrying Grade pay of Rs.8700/- or less, the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Officers, who are senior enough in the zone of consideration for promotion so as to be within the number of vacancies for which the select list has to be drawn up, would be included in that list provided they are not considered unfit for promotion. Their position in the select list would, however, be same as assigned to them by the Departmental Promotion Committee on the basis of their record of service.[O.M No. 36028/8/2009-Estt(Res) dt.7.6.2013]

Note: Fitness of the SC/ST officers in such cases would be assessed keeping in view the duties and responsibilities attached to the post and not on the basis of benchmark, if any, prescribed for promotion to the post.

Consideration for Appointment by Deputation and Absorption

3.2 Reservations do not apply to posts filled by deputation or absorption, but whenever a Ministry/Department/Attached Office/Subordinate Office etc. propose to depute, in public interest, officers serving under them to a post in or under another Ministry/Department etc., the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe employees serving under them, who are eligible to be sent on deputation should also be considered along with other eligible employees for such deputation. The Ministries/Departments under whose control the posts to be filled by deputation or absorption arise, should also, while selecting persons for such post(s), duly consider the cases of eligible Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe employees whose names have been forwarded, for appointment on deputation or absorption to those posts. Where the number of posts to be filled on deputation or absorption by any employing Ministry or Office is fairly substantial, the employing Ministry/Head of Office concerned should endeavor to see that a fair proportion of such posts is filled by employees belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, subject of course, to availability from the feeder categories of qualified persons belonging to these communities.[DP&AR  OM  No. 36021/6/75-Estt(SCT), dt. 9.10.1975 and  DP&AR O.M No36012/7/77-Estt (SCT) dt. 21.1.1978].

Age Relaxation in Direct Recruitment

3.3 The maximum age-limit prescribed for direct recruitment to a service or post shall be increased by 5 years in the case of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and by 3 years in the case of candidates belonging to OBCs.[MHA No.15/1/55-SCT dt.30.4.1955, OM No. 43013/2/95-Estt(SCT), dt. 25.1.1995]

Age Relaxation in Promotion

3.4 Where an upper age-limit not exceeding 50 years is prescribed for promotion to a service/post, it shall be relaxed by 5 years in the case of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This, however, would not apply to posts which have arduous field duties or are meant for operational safety and to posts in para-Military Organizations. [O.M No. 21/9/70- Estt(SCT), dt.8.12.1971]

Concession in Fee

3.5 The candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will not be required to pay any fees for admission to any recruitment examination/selection.[O.M No. 36011/3/84- Estt(SCT) dt. 1.7.1985]

Relaxation of Experience Qualification for SCs and STs in Direct Recruitment

3.6 Where some period of experience is prescribed as an essential qualification for direct recruitment to a post, and where, in the opinion of the Ministry/Department concerned, the relaxation of the experience qualification will not be inconsistent with efficiency, a provision should be inserted under the ‘Essential Qualification’ in the relevant Recruitment Rules as at (a) or (b) below to enable the Union Public Service Commission/competent authority to relax the ‘experience’ qualification in the case of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates in the circumstances mentioned in the provisions:-

(a) Where the post is filled by direct recruitment through the Union Public Service Commission, the provision to be inserted will be:

“The qualification regarding experience is relaxable at the discretion of the Union Public Service Commission in the case of candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, if at any stage of selection, the Union Public Service Commission is of the opinion that sufficient number of candidates from these communities possessing the requisite experience are not likely to be available to fill up the vacancies reserved for them. The appointing authority shall record the reasons for relaxing the qualifications regarding experience in writing while doing so.”

(b) Where the post is filled by direct recruitment otherwise than through the Union Public Service Commission, the provision to be inserted will be:

“The qualification regarding experience is relaxable at the discretion of the competent authority in the case of candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, if at any stage of selection the competent authority is of the opinion that sufficient number of candidates from these communities possessing the requisite experience are not likely to be available to fill up the vacancies reserved for them. The appointing authority shall record the reasons for relaxing the qualifications regarding experience in writing while doing so.”

3.7 When any vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are advertised or intimated to the Employment Exchange, it should be specifically mentioned in the advertisement/ requisition that the period of experience prescribed is relaxable, at the discretion of the Union Public Service Commission or the competent authority, as the case may be, in the case of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates as provided in the Recruitment Rules. This is intended to ensure that the aspirants who may fall slightly short of the requisite experience may know about the possibility of relaxation in this regard. [DP&AR O.M No.27/10/71-Estt (SCT) dt. 5.9.1975]

Relaxation of Standard of Suitability in Direct Recruitment

3.8 In direct recruitment whether by examination or otherwise, if sufficient number of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Class candidates are not available on the basis of the general standard to fill all the vacancies reserved for them, candidates belonging to these communities should be selected to fill up the remaining vacancies reserved for them provided they are not found unfit for such post or posts. Thus, to the extent the number of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes cannot be filled on the basis of general standard, candidates belonging to these communities will be taken by relaxed standard to make up the deficiency in the reserved quota, subject to the fitness of these candidates for appointment to the post/posts in question. [MHA O.M No. 1/1/70-Estt (SCT), 25.7.1970]

3.9 In addition to the concession referred to above, in cases where the requisite number of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Class candidates fulfilling even the relaxed standards admissible in their cases are not available to fill the vacancies reserved for them in non- technical and quasi-technical Group C and D services/posts required to be filled by direct recruitment otherwise than by written examination, the selecting authorities should, to the extent of the vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Class, select for appointment the best among the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Class candidates who fulfill the minimum educational qualifications laid down in the notice for recruitment of advertisement. In order to bring such candidates to the minimum standard necessary for the posts and for the maintenance of efficiency of administration, they should be given in-service training. The in-service training will be provided by the appointing authorities within their own offices. Such candidates will, on their appointment, be placed on probation and the rules/orders regarding probation will apply to them.

3.10 Ministries /Departments should instruct all authorities under them to prepare a list of non- technical and quasi-technical posts in Group C and D to which the provisions given above apply. While notifying vacancies in such posts or advertising them, it should be indicated that the posts are non-technical in Group C and D. (O.M.No 24/7/67(I)-Estt.(SCT) dated 24/9/1968)

No Relaxation in Educational Qualification

3.11 Where an educational qualification has been prescribed in the recruitment rules, all candidates including the SC, ST and OBC candidates shall satisfy the said qualification. Sometimes, a minimum number of marks or a minimum grade is prescribed as part of the educational qualification in the recruitment rules. In such cases, the minimum marks/grade so prescribed shall uniformly apply to all candidates including SC, ST and OBC candidates. [OM No. 36011/8/84-Estt(SCT) dt. 29.5.1985]

Relaxation of Standards in Departmental Competitive / Qualifying Examinations

3.12 If in case of promotions made through departmental competitive examinations, sufficient number of Schedule Caste / Scheduled Tribe candidates are not available on the basis of general standard to fill all the vacancies reserved for them, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates who have not acquired the general qualifying standard can also be considered for promotion to fill up the remaining vacancies reserved for them provided they are not found unfit for such promotions. In other words, the qualifying standard in such examinations can be relaxed in favour of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates if sufficient number of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates is not available on the basis of general standard to fill all the vacancies reserved for them.

3.13 In promotions made on the basis of seniority subject to fitness in which there is reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and where a qualifying examination is held to determine the fitness of candidates for such promotion, suitable relaxation in the qualifying standard in such examination should be made in the case of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates. Similar relaxation of standard should be made in favor of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates in such departmental qualifying examinations for promotions also, where promotion is made by selection and merit is determined by qualifying examination out of the qualified candidates. The extent of relaxation in above cases should be decided on each occasion whenever such an examination is held taking into account all relevant factors including (i) the number of vacancies reserved, (ii) the performance of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates as well as general candidates in that examination, (iii) the minimum standard of fitness for appointment to the post, and also (iv) the overall strength of the cadre and that of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in that cadre.[DP&AR O.M No. 36021/10/76-Estt(SCT), 21.1.1977]

Relevant Office Memoranda etc.

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