Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQCS) is a Group A Central Civil Services with induction at Group B grade, responsible for policy formulation, implementation and providing administrative support through civilian officers and staff to the Tri-services headquarters of Indian Armed Forces and Inter-Services Organizations (ISOs) such as DRDO, DGQA, DGAQA, DGNCC etc under the Ministry of Defence (MOD).[1] The cadre was established in 1968.[1] The number of employees in the service in 1968 was 1778;[1] in 2011, 2644;[2] and in 2016, 3235.[3]
Background
In 1942, during World War II, civilian employees under different departments and branches of the Armed Forces Headquarters responsible for providing static ancillary services were reorganized and consolidated under one head which was called the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). The first CAO took over on 1 August 1942.[4] In 1987, the post of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), was upgraded to the level of a Joint Secretary (JS).[5][6]
The AFHQCS pay grades have been revised upwards following the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Central Pay Commissions: in 1968, it had four grades, 204 were in Group A, and 1472 in Group B. The highest grade was senior civil staff officer, a level analogous to deputy secretary.[1] After the 4th Central Pay Commission (1986), and Sixth Central Pay Commission(2006)a large number of existing posts were upgraded. By 2011 Group A level posts had doubled to 409 including 4 at Joint secretary level, and 2235 at Group B level.[5] Following the 7 CPC, in July 2013, a committee was constituted to carry out further cadre restructuring/review of AFHQ Civil Service to enhance the career prospects of the AFHQ-Civil Service.[6] It currently has six grades/levels, from Assistant Section Officer to Principal Director.[2][9][10]
Grades and levels
There are three levels of inductions into the AFHQ service wherein there is a direct entry(DR) through prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by Union Public Service Commission as Section Officer ( Group -B Gazetted), then direct recruitment at ASO level through SSC ( Combined Graduate level) and by promotion from upper division clerk (UDC) (Clerical Cadre) in ASO.[5] The evolution of the service, its hierarchical structure, pay grades, and levels, are tabulated below:
Senior Administrative Grade (2001)[5] designation changed to Principal Director in October 2002.[13](Group`A')
AFHQ Civil Service has 11 posts of Principal Director (Joint Secretary Equivalent) .[6]
-
PB-4
37400-67000
10000
14
2
Director
(Group 'A')
Directors of the AFHQ Civil Service eligible for appointment to Principal Director on completion three years service.[5]: Schedule IV p 20 [6]
-
PB-4
37400-67000
8700
13
3
Senior Civilian Staff Officer/Joint Director (2001)[5] designation changed to Joint Director in October 2002.[13](Class I/ Group 'A')
Joint Directors of the AFHQ Civil Service eligible for appointment to the Director grade on completion of 05 years of approved service in the grade[5]: Schedule IV p 20 [6]
1100-50-1400
PB-3
15600-39100
7600
12
4
Civilian Staff Officer (2001) designation changed to Deputy Director in October 2002.[13](Group 'A')
Deputy Directors of the AFHQ Civil Service will be eligible for appointment to the Joint Director grade and to other administrative posts
on completion of 05 years of approved service in the grade.[5]: Schedule IV p 20 [6]
740-30-100-50-1150
PB-3
15600-39100
6600
11
5
Assistant Civilian Staff Officer (2001) Designation changed to Section Officer in October 2002[13] Group 'B'
50% of the posts of Section Officers are filled by Direct Recruitment.[6]
Section Officers eligible for promotion to the grade of Deputy Directors
on completion of 06 years service.
In addition, up-gradation (Non-Functional Scale) to the Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB-3 on completion of 4 years approved service as Section Officer[5][6]
350-25-500-30-520-EB-20-800
PB-2
(i) 9300-34800 (on
initial appointment)
(ii) 15600-39100
(Non-functional
scale/Grade Pay on
completion of 4 years
approved service)
(i) 4800
(ii) 5400
(Non-
functional
Grade Pay)
8-9
6
Assistant Section Officer
(Group 'B', Non-Gazetted) Ministerial.
Assistant Section officer grade done by Direct Recruitment (50%) and 50% by Promotion from UDC grade.[6]
210-10-270-15-200-EB-15-450- 20-520
Group 'B', Non-
Gazetted)
PB-2
9300-34800
4600
7
Strength
The authorized strength of the service is 2644 (2011), an increase of 866, from a total of 1778 in 1968.[1][5] This is in addition to Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers Service, which has an overall strength of 856 (8 Senior Principal Private Secretary; 44 Principal Private Secretaries; 300 Private Secretary; and 504 Personal Assistants).[14] The increase in strength of the service is tabulated below:
Senior Administrative Grade][5] Designation Changed to Principal Director in October 2002.[13](Group`A')
AFHQ Civil Service has 4 posts of Principal Director.[6]
nil
2
3
4
2
Director
(Group 'A')
nil
9
20
21
3
Senior Civilian Staff Officer/Joint Director.[5]Joint Director, since October 2002.[13](Group 'A')
12
72
83
157
4
Civilian Staff Officer. Deputy Director since in October 2002.[13](Group 'A')
194
253
303
419
5
Superintendent- Central civil services class II ministerial (1968)/ Assistant Civilian Staff Officer (2001). Designation changed to Section Officer in October 2002[13] Group 'B'
506
683
778
514
6
Assistant Section Officer
(Group 'B', Non-Gazetted) Ministerial.
1066
1709
including leave reserve
1457
2120
1778
2571
2644
3235
Time Line
1 August 1942
In response to the demands of the World War II civilian employees in the War Department in Delhi are consolidated under the Office of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). The first four CAO were brigadiers of the Indian Army.[4]
1 March 1968
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service constituted as group B Service from the existing staff under the Armed Forces headquarters and inter service organisations. The highest grade in the AFHQ Civil Service is Senior Staff Officer, analogous to a deputy secretary, with pay grade of Lt colonel.[1]
1987
The post of CAO is upgraded to Joint Secretary.[4]
2001
The Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service Rules, 2001, superseded Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service Rules, 1968. Two Existing posts upgraded to JS, and Nine to Director.[5]
31 October 2002
AFHQCS adopts new designations of Principal Director (Senior Administrative Grade); Joint Director (Senior Civilian Staff officer), analogous to Civil Service time scale post with 9 years of service; Deputy Director (deputy director), analogous to civil service time scale post with 4 years of service; and Section Officer (Assistant Civilian Section Officer) .[13]
15 April 2011
Principal Director posts increased from 1 to 3: one each in the Military Secretary's branch, Adjutant General's branch, and Directorate general of Quality assurance. 20 existing post upgraded to Director post, a post analogous to civil service time scale post with 13 years[2]
2017
Principal Director posts increased from 4 to 11 and Directors posts from 21 to 36. All promotions are based on vacancies at higher grade. All Directors in the service are empanelled to be Principal Directors.[3] The present strength of AFHQ CS is 3235.[3]
^Ministry of Defence, Office of the JS(E/CAO). "Chief Administrative Officer". Office of the JS(E/CAO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
^Ministry of Defence (28 November 2016). "ORGANIZATIONAL CHART". Retrieved 28 November 2016.
