Representation of OBC,SC,ST in Higher Officers

The representation of SC & ST officers in the higher echelon of bureaucracy has been indicated in the table below. As far as OBC officers are concerned, the reservation for officers belonging to OBC started w.e.f 1994. The officers who qualified under OBC reservation system are yet to gain the requisite seniority for appointment as Additional Secretary, Special Secretary and Secretary. The appointment of officers depends on their empanelment to hold the post at the relevant level and willingness to come on Central deputation.

The number of Secretary, Special Secretary, Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in various Ministries/Departments under the Central Staffing Scheme, as per available records, are as under:

Level	Total	SC		ST
		Number	%age	Number	%age
Secretary	72	4	5.55	2	2.78
Special Secretary	19	1	5.26	1	5.26
Additional Secretary	60	1	1.67	2	3.33
Joint Secretary	280	22	7.86	7	2.50

The posts of Secretary of Scientific Departments, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department under the Central Government are not under the Central Staffing Scheme.

To fill up the post of Secretary, Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in Ministries/ Departments of Government of India under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS), the officers of various services participating under the CSS are considered for empanelment to hold these posts. These posts are not cadre posts of any service. Out of the empanelled officers, those who give their option for deputation are considered for appointment under the CSS. There is no provision for reservation of SCs/STs in the posts under the CSS. However, at the time of empanelment every effort is made to empanel officers belonging to SC/ST categories, if necessary, by adopting liberal benchmark as compared to officers of General category.

Since these post under CSS are not cadre posts of any service, the question of promotion to the rank of Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary under the CSS does not arise. The promotion to such officers are given in the Cadre.

This was stated by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to Shri Hukumdev Narayan Yadav and Shri Ramsinh Rathwa in the Lok Sabha today