Reservation for SC/ST & OBCs in Central Govt Services - Relaxations and Concessions

Reservation for SC/ST & OBCs in Central Govt Services - Relaxations and Concessions

DoPT Estsblishment (Reservation)

Brochure on Reservation For SC, ST and Other Backward Classes in Services (PART-I)

CHAPTER- 3

RELAXATIONS AND CONCESSIONS

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 

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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' 

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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] 

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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 nontechnical

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 nontechnical

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]