In the year 1919, the Imperial Secretariat Service came into being as one of the offshoots of the Lewllyn-Smith Committee which had been set up on the eve of the introduction of the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms.[11] The posts of Assistant and Assistant Secretary/Under Secretary were filled by officers drawn from the Imperial Secretariat Service during the British Raj.[12] The recruitment of the members was made by Central Staff Selection Board, which was precursor of the Union Public Service Commission set up in 1926.[13]
In 1946, after India gained independence from Britain, the Imperial Secretariat Service was replaced by Central Secretariat Service in India. However, in Pakistan, a Central Secretariat Service was formed in Central Superior Services of Pakistan,[14] which was later replaced and renamed to Office Management Group (OMG) and Secretariat Group (SG).[14]
From 1946 until 2003, 50 percent of direct recruitment into CSS[15] was through the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission,[16] the next 25 percent recruitment was through Annual Departmental Examination and next 25 percent by promotion.
However, after the cadre restructuring in 2003, the direct recruitment into CSS through the Civil Services Examination has been stopped.
The mode of recruitment was changed to the grade of Section Officer by way of 50% through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination by Union Public Service Commission[17]
and 50% by seniority.
Allocation and placement
After appointment by the President, the officers (Entry grade/Probationers) are allocated to different Ministries/Departments under Government of India. The Group B officers work in the levels of Assistant Section Officer and Section Officer/Assistant Director (For Directorate). The Group A officers work in the levels of Under Secretary/Deputy Director (For Directorate), Deputy Secretary/Joint Director (For Directorate), Director, Joint Secretary[18][19] and Additional Secretary[18][20] under Central Staffing Scheme of Government of India.
The officers are also posted outside Delhi, or at various places of the country in other offices upon deputation. They can also be deputed for service under an international organization, an autonomous body not controlled by the Government, or a private body as same as under Rule 6 (2)(ii) of IAS (Cadre) Rules.[24]
In 2003, a committee was formed under the leadership of Additional Secretary (GOI). The direct induction of CSS officer through Civil Services Examination was permanently stopped. Also a new level G training program was organised for those in line of promotion in the rank of Joint Secretary (GOI) in the SAG level.[17]
2nd Cadre Restructure of 2010
The Government had set up a Committee on Cadre Restructuring of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) in June 2008. The Committee submitted its report in November 2008 for further reforms in the service. The report was finally accepted in 2010 and the number of posts at various levels including Deputy Secretaries and Directors were increased following the review [29]
3rd Cadre Restructure of 2013
A committee was formed under the leadership of Additional Secretary (GOI) in 2013 for further reforms in the service.[30] The report is currently pending with Prime Minister's Office and is expected to improve the service conditions by increasing the number of posts at the level of Deputy Secretaries.[citation needed]
Mandatory Training Program for CSS Officers
In addition to these, the Government has also introduced mandatory training programs at every level of promotion.[31] The CSS officers are trained both in India and abroad[32] in various institutions starting at Level E onwards.[33][34]
Controversies
Recently, some CSS officers have been in the list of corrupt bureaucrats and have come under the CBI scanner for alleged involvement in a few corruption cases.[35]
Since its inception, CSS has produced few outstanding civil servants in India.[36] Influential members include - M.P. Singh[37] who was appointed as Vice-Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal at Jabalpur Bench,[37] P.G. Lele who served as Additional Secretary to Government of India[38] in the Ministry of Finance and M.V. Ayyar who was empanelled as Secretary to Government of India.
Reportedly, in the 1960s, there have been Labour Secretary and Education Secretary in Government of India also from CSS.
The Railway Board Secretariat Service, the general administration staff in the Ministry of Railways, is modelled after the Central Secretariat Service.[9]
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