No 35034/1/7 Estt (D) MOST IMMEDIATAE

Government of India
Ministry of Finance, Grievances and Pension
Department of Personal and Training

North Block, NEW DELHI-110001

Dated:- August 9, 1999
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- THE ASSURED PROGRESSION SCHEME FOR THE

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES

The fifth Central Pay Commission in its report has made certain recommendations
relating to the Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme for the Central Government
Civilian employees in all Ministries/Departments. The ACP Scheme needs to be viewed
as a ‘safety Net’ to deal with the problem of genuine stagnation and hardship faced by the
employee due to lack of adequate promotional avenues. Accordingly, after careful
consideration it has been decided by the Government to introduce the ACP scheme
recommended by the Fifth Central Pay Commission with certain modification as
indicated hereunder:-

2. GROUP ‘A’ CENTRAL SERVICES

2.1. In respect of Group ‘A’ Central services (Technical/Non-Technical), no financial

upgradation under the scheme is being proposed for the reason that promotion in their
case must be earned. Hence, it has been decided that there shall be no benefits under the
ACP Scheme for Group ‘A’ Central Services (Technical/Non-Technical). Cadre
Controlling Authorities in their case would. However, continue to improve the promotion
prospects in organization cadres on functional grounds by way of organizational study,
cadre review, etc as per prescribed norms.

3. GROUPS ‘B’, ‘C’ AND ‘D’SERVICES/POST AND ISOLATED POSTS IN

GROUP ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, AND ‘D’ CATEGORIES.

3.1 While in respect of these categories also promotion shall continue to be duly
earned. It is proposed to adopt the ACP Scheme in a notified form to mitigate
hardship in cases of acute stagnation either in a cadre or in an isolated post.
Keeping in view all relevant factors, it has been decided to grant Financial
Upgradation as recommended by the Fifth Central Pay Commission and also in
accordance with the Agreed Settlement Date September 11, 1997 (In relation to
Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees) entered into with the staff side of the National
Council (JCM) under the ACP Scheme to Group ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees on
completion of 12 years and 14 years (Subject to condition no.4 in Annexure-I) of
regular service respectively. Isolated posts in Group ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’
categories which have no promotional avenues shall also qualify for similar
benefits on the pattern indicated above. Certain Categories of employees such as

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 casual employees (including those with temporary status), ad-hoc and contract
employees shall not qualify for benefits under the aforesaid scheme. Grant of
Financial upgradation under the ACP Scheme shall, however be subject to the
conditions mentioned in Annexure-I.

3.2 Regular Services for the purpose of the ACP Scheme shall be implemented to
hide the eligibility service continued for regular promotion in terms of relevant
Recruitment/Service Ruled.

4. Introduction of the ACP scheme should however, in no case affect the normal
(regular) promotional avenues available on the basis of vacancies. Attempt
needed to improve promotion prospects in organization/cadres on functional
grounds by way of organizational, study, cadre, reviews, etc as per prescribed
norms should not given up on the ground that the ACP scheme has been
introduced.

5. Vacancy based regular promotions as distinct from financial upgradation under

the ACP Scheme shall continue to be granted after due screening by a regular
Departmental Promotion Committee as per relevant rule/guideline.

6. SCREENING COMMITTEE

6.1. A departmental Screening Committee shall be constituted for the purpose of

processing the cases for grant of benefits under the ACP scheme.

6.2. The composition of Screening Committee shall be the same as that of the DPC
prescribed under the relevant Recruitment/Services Rules for regular
promotion to the higher grade to which financial upgradation is to be granted.
However, in cases where DPC as per the prescribed rules is headed by the
Chairman/Member of the UPSC the Screening Committee under the ACP
Scheme shall, instead, headed by the Secretary or an officer of equivalent rank
of the concerned Ministry/Department. In respect of isolated posts, the
composition of the Screening Committee (with modification as noted above, if
required) shall be the same as that of the DPC for promotion to analogous
grade in that Department.

6.3. In order to prevent operation of the ACP Scheme from resulting into undue
strain on the administrative machinery, the Screening Committee shall follow
a link schedule and meet twice in a financial year- preferably in the first week
of January and July for advance processing of the case. Accordingly, cases
maturing during the first half (April-September) of a particular financial year
for grant of benefit under the ACP Scheme shall be taken up for consideration
by the Screening Committee meeting in the first week of January of the
previous financial year. Similarly, the Screening Committee meeting in the

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 first week of July of any financial year shall process the case that would be
maturing during the second-half (October-March) of the same financial year.
For Example:- the Screening committee meeting in the first week of January
1999, would process the case that would attain maturity during the period
April 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999 and the Screening Committee meeting in
the first week of July, 1999 would process the cases that would mature during
the period October 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000.

6.4. To make the Scheme operational, the Cadre Controlling Authorities shall
constitute the first Screening Committee of the current financial Year within a
month from the date of issue of these instructions to consider the case that
have already matured or would be maturing up to March 31, 2000 for grant of
benefits under the ACP Scheme. The next Screening Committee shall be
constituted as per the time schedule suggested above.

7. Ministries/ Departments are advised to explore the possibility of effecting saving

so as to minimize the additional financial commitment that introduction of the
ACP Scheme may entail.

8. The ACP Scheme shall become operational from the date of issue of this Office
Memorandum.

9. In so far as persons serving in the Indian audit and Accounts Departments are
concerned, these orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor
General on India.

10. The Fifth Central Pay commission in paragraph 52.15 of the Report has also
separately recommended a “Dynamic assured Career Progression Mechanism” for
different streams of doctors. It has been decided that the said recommendation
may be considered separately by the administrative Ministry concerned in
consultation with the Departments of Personnel and Training and the Department
of Expenditure.

11. Any interpretation/clarification of doubt as in the scope and meaning of the

provisions of the ACP Scheme shall be given by the Department of Personnel and
Training (Establishment D.).

12. All Ministries/ Departments may give wide circulation to these instructions for
guidance of all concerned and also taken immediate steps to implement the
scheme keeping in view the ground situation obtaining in services/cadres/posts
with their administrative jurisdiction.

13. Hindi version would follow.

Sd-
K.K. JHA
Director (Establishment)
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To

1. All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.

2. President Secretariat/Vice President Secretariat/Prime Minister’s Office/ Supreme
Court/Rajya Sabha Secretariat/ Lok Sabha Secretariat/Cabinet Secretariat/ UPSC/
CVC/C&AG/Central administrative Tribunal(Principal Bench), New Delhi.
3. All attached/subordinate offices of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions.
4. Secretary, National committee for Minorities.
5. Secretary, National Commissions for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes.
6. Secretary, Staff Side, National Council (JCM), 13C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi.
7. All staff Side Members of the National Council (JCM).
8. Establishment (D) Section- 1000 Copies.

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 ANNEXURE-I
CONDITIONS FOR GRANT OF BENEFITS
UNDER THE ACP SCHEME

1. The ACP Scheme envisaged merely placement in the higher pay scale/grant of
financial benefits (through financial upgradation) only to the Government Servant
concerned on personal basis and shall, therefore, neither amount to
functional/regular promotion nor would require creation of new posts for the
purpose.

2. The highest pay-scale up to which the financial upgradation under the Scheme
shall be available will be Rs. 14,300-18,300. Beyond this level, there shall be no
financial upgradation and higher posts shall be filled strictly on vacancy based
promotions.

3. The financial benefits under the ACP Scheme shall be granted from the date of
completion of the eligibility period prescribed under the ACP Scheme or from the
date of issue of these instruction which ever is later.

4. The first financial upgradation under the ACP Scheme shall be allowed after 12
Years of regular service and the second upgradation after 12 years of regular
service from the date of first financial upgradation subject to fulfillment of
prescribed conditions. In other words, if the first upgradation gets postponed on
account of the employee not found fit or due in departmental proceedings, etc this
would have consequential effect on the second upgradation which would also get
deferred accordingly.

5.1 Two financial upgradation under the CAP scheme in the entire Government
Service career of an employee shall be counted against regular promotions
(including in-site promotion and fast track promotion availed though limited
departmental competitive examination) availed from the grade in which an
employee was appointed as a direct recruit. This shall mean that two financial
upgradation under the ACP scheme shall be available only if no regular
promotions during the prescribed periods (12 and 24 years) have been availed by
an employee. If an employee has already got one regular promotions, he shall
qualify for second financial upgradation only on completion of 24 years of
regular service under the ACP scheme. In case two prior promotions on regular
basis have already been received by an employee, no benefit under the ACP
Scheme shall occur to him.

5.2. Residency periods (regular service) for grant of benefits under the ACP Scheme
shall be counted from the grade in which an employee was as a direct
recruit.

6. Fulfillment of normal promotion norms (bech-mark, departmental examination,

seniority-cum-fitness in the case of group ‘D’ employees, etc) for grant of
financial upgradation, performance of such duties as are entrusted to the
employees together with retention of old designations, financial upgradations as

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 personal to the incumbent for the stated purposes and restriction of the ACP
Scheme for financial and certain other benefits (House Building Advance,
Allotment of Government Accommodation, Advances, etc) only without
conferring any privilege related to higher status (e.g. invitation to ceremonial
functions, deputation to higher posts, etc) shall be ensured for grant of benefits
under the ACP Scheme.

7. Financial upgradation under the scheme shall be given to the next higher grade in
finance with the existing hierarchy in a cadre/category of posts without creating
new posts for the purpose. However, in case of isolated posts in the absence of
defined hierarchical grades, financial upgradation shall be given by the
Ministries/Departments concerned in the immediately next higher
(standard/common) pay scale as indicated in Annexure-II which is in keeping
part-A of the First Schedule annexed to the Notification dated September 30,
1997 of the Ministry of Finance (department of Expenditure). For instance,
Incumbents of isolated posts in the pay-scaleS-4 as indicated in Annexure-II, will
be eligible for the proposed two financial upgradations only to the pay scales S-5
and S-6. Financial upgradation on a dynamic basis (i.e. without having to create
posts in the relevant scales of pay) has been recommended by the Fifth Central
Pay Commission only for the incumbents of isolated posts which have no avenues
of promotion at all. Since financial upgradations under the Scheme shall be
personal to the incumbents of the isolated posts, the same shall be filled in its
original level (pay scale) when vacated. Posts which are part of a well-defined
cadre shall not qualify for the ACP Scheme on ‘dynamic’ basis. The ACP benefits
in their case shall be granted conforming to the existing hierarchical structure
only.

8. The financial upgradations under, the ACP Scheme shall be purely personnel to
the employee and shall have no relevance to his seniority position. As such there
shall be no additional financial upgradation for the senior employee on the ground
that the junior employee in the grade has got higher pay-scale under the ACP
Scheme.

9. On upgradation under the ACP Scheme, pay of an employee shall be fixed under
the provision of FR 22(1) a(1) subject to a minimum financial benefit of Rs. 100/-
as per Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum No. 1/6,97,
pay dated July 5, 1999. The Financial benefit allowed under the ACP Scheme
shall be final and no pay-fixation benefit shall accrue at the time of regular
promotion i.e. posting against a functional post in the highest grade.

10. Grant of higher pay scale under ACP Scheme shall be conditional to the fact that
an employee, while accepting the said benefit, shall be deemed to have given his
unqualified acceptance for regular promotion on occurrence of vacancy
subsequently. In case he refuses to accept the higher post on regular promotion
subsequently, he shall be subject to normal debarment for regular promotion as

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 prescribed in the general instructions in this regard. However, as and when he
accepts regular promotion thereafter, he shall become eligible for the second
upgradation under the ACP Scheme in that higher grade subject to the condition
that the period for which he was debarred for regular promotion shall not count
for the purpose. For example, if a person has got one financial upgradation after
rendering 12 years of regular service and after 2 years there from if he refuses
regular promotion and is consequently debarred for 1 year and subsequently he is
promoted to the higher grade on regular basis after completion of 15 years
(12+2+1) or regular service, he shall be eligible for consideration for second
upgradation under the ACP Scheme only after rendering ten more years in
addition to two years of service already rendered by him after the first financial
upgradation (2+10) in that higher grade i.e. after 25 years (12+2+1+10) of regular
service because the debarment period of one year cannot be taken into account
towards the required 12 years of regular service in that higher grade.

11. In the matter of disciplinary/penalty proceedings, grant of benefits under the ACP
Scheme shall be subject to rules governing normal promotions. Such cases shall,
therefore, be regulated under the provision of relevant CCS(CCA) Rules 1965 and
instruction there under.

12. The proposed ACP Scheme contemplates merely placement on personal basis in
the higher pay scale/grant of financial benefits only and shall not amount to
actual/functional promotion of the employees concerned. Since orders regarding
reservation in promotion are applicable only in the case of regular promotion,
reservation orders/roster shall not apply to the ACP Scheme which shall extend its
benefits uniformly to all eligible SC/ST employee also. However, at the time of
regular/functional (actual) promotion, the Cadre Controlling authorities shall
ensure that all reservation orders are applied strictly.

13. Liaising time bound promotion schemes including in-situ promotion scheme in
various Ministries/Departments may, as per choice continue to the operational for
the concerned categories of employee. However, these schemes shall not run
concurrently with the ACP scheme. The Administrative Ministry/Departments
was not the employee shall have the option in the matter to choose between the
two schemes, i.e. existing time-bound promotion scheme or the ACP Scheme, for
various categories of employees. However, in case of switch-over from the
exiting time-bound promotion scheme to the ACP Scheme, all stipulation (viz. for
promotion, redistribution of posts, upgradation involving higher functional
deities, etc) made under the former (existing) scheme would case to be operative.
The ACP Scheme shall have to be adopted in its totality.

14. In case an employee declared surplus to his/her organization and in case of

transfers including unilateral transfer on request, the regular service rendered by
him/her in the previous organization shall be counted along with his/her regular
service in his/her new organization for the purpose of giving financial upgradation
under the scheme; and

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15. Subject to Condition No. 4 above, in case where the employees have already
completed 24 years of regular service, with or without a promotion, the second
financial upgradation under the scheme shall be granted directly. Further, in order
to rationalize unequal level of stagnation, benefits of surplus regular service (not
taken into account for the first upgradation under the scheme) shall be given at the
subsequent stage (second) of financial upgradation under the ACP Scheme as a
one time measure. In other words, in respect of employees who have already
rendered more than 12 years but less than 24 years of regular service, while the
first financial upgradation shall be granted immediately, the surplus regular
service beyond the first 12 years shall also be counted towards the next 12 years
of regular service required for grant of the second financial upgradation and
consequently they shall be considered for the second financial upgradation also us
and when they complete 24 years of regular service without waiting for
completion of 12 more years of regular service after the first financial upgradation
already granted under the Scheme.

Sd-
(K. K. JHA)
Director (Establishment)

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