178 newly-recruited IAS officers to get Delhi posting

 As many as 178 new IAS officers will be appointed as Assistant Secretaries in different ministries here as part of a new initiative by the Union government to groom these bureaucrats at the Centre before they move out to their respective state cadres.

These officers of the 2014-batch will start their career from Delhi, instead of cadre states allocated to them, on central deputation for three months beginning August 1, a senior official in Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

The DoPT had for the first time allowed the newly- inducted IAS officers to work at the Centre last year, when a total of 158 IAS officers were posted to different ministries.

"This decision will give an opportunity to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers to be groomed at the Centre before they move over to their respective state of posting," the official said.

The DOPT has earmarked about 200 posts of Section Officer's grade to accommodate these officers against the newly-created posts of Assistant Secretaries.

The rationale behind allowing these young officers to start their career from Delhi is to familiarise them with the functioning of the Union government and enable them to get themselves introduced to various functionaries and officials in the central government hierarchy.

The Urban Development ministry has been asked to provide accommodation to these officers. The DoPT will facilitate issuance of Aadhaar card for these officers.

IAS officers are eligible to come on central deputation only after completing nine years of service in their respective cadre.