Central Secretariat Service

Central Secretariat Service
Service overview
Abbreviation CSS
Formerly known as ISS
Formed 1946
Country  India
Training Ground Institute of Secretariat Training and Management, New Delhi
Controlling authority Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, Department of Personnel and Training
Legal personality Governmental: Government service
General nature Policy Formulation
Civil administration
Advisors to Ministers
Continuity of administration in the Cabinet Secretariat
Preceding service Imperial Secretariat Service (1919–1946)
Cadre Size 11,550 members (2017)[1]
(Group A - 2471; Group B - 9079)[1]
Selection UPSC Civil Services Examination (1946–2003)
UPSC Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (2003–present)
Association CSS Group A Officers Association[2]
Head of the Civil Services
Cabinet Secretary
Current: Rajiv Gauba

Central Secretariat Service (Hindi: केंद्रीय सचिवालय सेवा; abbreviated as CSS) is the administrative civil service under Group A[3] and Group B[4] of the Central Civil Services of the executive branch of the Government of India. They are governed by Central Secretariat Service Rules of 1962,[5] which has been issued under the powers of Article 309 of the Constitution of India.[5] The service members work under restrictions and rules of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules.

The service serves as the backbone of administrative work[6][7] and provides permanent bureaucracy and functionary staff in the Union Government ministries, Cabinet Secretariat, Central Secretariat and other offices of Government of India.

Based on CSS service model, State governments like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh have organised their own independent services like Bihar Secretariat Service[8] and Provincial Secretariat Service of UP. The Union Government ministries such like Railways, Defence and External Affairs, have organised their own independent services based on CSS model which are known as Railway Board Secretariat Service,[9] Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services and Indian Foreign Service, Group B (general cadre)[10] respectively.

  1. ^ a b "2017 Draft Civil List of Group A officers of CSS" (PDF). Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Constitution of Office Council (DOPT)" (PDF). Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. ^ Complete Civil Service Schedule of the Civil Services Group A of India." Civil Service Group A - Government of India, 1 January 2011.
  4. ^ Complete Civil Service Schedule of the Central Civil Services Group B of India." Central Civil Service Group B - Government of India, 1 January 2011.
  5. ^ a b "The Central Secretariat Service Rules of 1962". Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Central Secretariat employees demand timely promotions". Business Standard. 3 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Why implementing the Seventh Pay Commission recommendation is a herculean challenge". The Economic Times. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Bihar Secretariat service staff on warpath". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference CSS Model RBSS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Indian Foreign Service Branch 'B' (Recruitment, Cadre, Seniority and Promotion) Rules, 1964 (As amended upto 17th November, 2008)" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs (India). Retrieved 7 May 2020.