# Central Civil Services

The Central Civil Services (CCS) encompass the various Civil Services of India that are exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Government of India. This is in contrast to the All India Services, which are common to both the central and state governments, or the state civil services, which fall under the purview of individual states.
The Cadre Controlling Authority for each established Service is controlled by the respective Union government ministries of India. The higher-level positions in Central Civil Services are classified into Group A and Group B, both of which are gazetted.

## History
### British India

With the passing of the Government of India Act 1919, the Imperial Services headed by the Secretary of State for India, were split into two – All India Services and Central Services.
The All India and Central Services (Group A) were designated as Central Superior Services as early as 1924. From 1924 to 1934, Administration in India consisted of 10 All India Services (including Indian Education Service, Indian Medical Service) and 5 central departments, all under the control of Secretary of State for India, and 3 central departments under joint Provincial and Imperial Control.
The Central Services was headed by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.

### Modern India

The Group A officers are appointed by the President of India and appointments to Group B are made by the authorities specified by a general or special order of the President.

## Nature, rules and deputations
### Rules and regulations

The Central Civil Services (CCS) is run as per Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rule and all service members work under restrictions and rules of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. The Indian Railway Services work under Railway Services (Conduct) Rules of 1966.
The Central Civil Services also follows CCS (Commutation of Pension) Rules and has its own Recognition of Service Associations Rules 1993 and Leave Travel Concession Rules 1988.
The University Grants Commission (UGC), in a circular released in October 2018, directed central universities to adopt the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1964 for professors of the university.

### Deputations

The members of Central Civil Services are eligible for deputation to state governments either on personal grounds or official approval from both Government of India Staffing Scheme of Government of India.

### Performance review and dismissal

The employees performance review is conducted under the Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (J) and 56 (I), and also under Rule 48 (1) (b) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, that gives "absolute right" to the appropriate authority to retire a government servant, "if it is necessary to do so in public interest".
A government servant can be retired "in public interest" under Central Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1965, as a penalty for possession of assets disproportionate to known source of income or for accepting gratification as a reward for doing or forbearing to do an official act.

## Recruitment

The recruitment of the CCS (Group A) is made through Civil Services Examination, Engineering Services Examination, Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Examination, I.E.S./I.S.S. Examination, Combined Medical Services Examination, Central Armed Police Forces of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). All promotions or empanelment in the CCS are either by Civil Services Board or by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

## Central Civil Services (Group A)

The Central Services (Group A) are concerned with the administration of the Union Government. All appointments to Central Civil Services (Group A) are made by the President of India.
CLASSIFICATION OF CENTRAL GROUP 'A' CIVIL SERVICES :
| Sl. No. | Name of the Service | Organised / Non-Organised | Participation in Central Staffing Scheme (CSS) | Cadre Controlling Authority |
| NON- TECHNICAL SERVICES |||||
| 1 | Indian Foreign Service | Organised | | Ministry of External Affairs |
| 2 | Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Finance |
| 3 | Indian Revenue Service (IT) | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Finance |
| 4 | Indian Audit & Accounts Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Finance |
| 5 | Indian Railways Traffic Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Railways |
| 6 | Indian Railways Accounts Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Railways |
| 7 | Indian Railways Personnel Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Railways |
| 8 | Indian Civil Accounts Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Finance |
| 9 | Indian Defence Accounts Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Defence |
| 10 | Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Communications |
| 11 | Indian Postal Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Communications |
| 12 | Indian Defence Estates Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Defence |
| 13 | Indian Information Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Information & Broadcasting |
| 14 | Indian Trade Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Commerce |
| 15 | Railway Protection Force | Non-Organised | | Ministry of Railways |
| TECHNICAL SERVICES |||||
| 16 | Indian Railways Service of Engineers | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Railways |
| 17 | Indian Railways Service of Signal Engineers | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Railways |
| 18 | Indian Railways Service of Mechanical Engineers | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Railways |
| 19 | Indian Railways Service of Electrical Engineers | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Railways |
| 20 | Indian Telecommunications Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Communications |
| 21 | Indian Ordnance Factories Service | Organised | Yes | |
| 22 | Indian Railways Stores Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Railways |
| 23 | Central Engineering Service (Roads) | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Road Transport & Highways |
| 24 | Central Water Engineering Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Jalshakti |
| 25 | Indian Defence Service of Engineers | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Defence |
| 26 | Central Engineering Service (CPWD) | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Urban Development |
| 27 | Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service (CPWD) | Organised | | Ministry of Urban Development |
| 28 | Border Roads Engineering Service | Organised | | Ministry of Defence |
| 29 | Central Power Engineering Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Power |
| 30 | Indian Supply Service | Organised | Yes | |
| 31 | Indian Inspection Service | Organised | Yes | |
| 32 | Indian Naval Armament Service | Organised | | Ministry of Defence |
| 33 | Indian Broadcasting (Engineering) Service | Organised | Yes | |
| 34 | P&T Building Works Service | Organised | | |
| 35 | Central Architect Service (CPWD) | Organised | | Ministry of Urban Development |
| 36 | Indian Radio Regulatory Service | Organised | | Ministry of Communications |
| 37 | Indian Skill Development Service | Non-Organised | | Ministry of Skill Development |
| HEALTH SERVICES |||||
| 38 | Central Health Services (General Duty Cadre) | Organised | | Ministry of Health |
| 39 | Indian Ordnance Factory Health Service | Organised | | |
| 40 | Indian Railways Health Service | Organised | | Ministry of Railways |
| OTHER SERVICES |||||
| 41 | Indian Legal Service | Organised | | Ministry of Law & Justice |
| 42 | Central Geological Service Group 'A' | Organised | | Ministry of Mines |
| 43 | Geological Survey of India Chemical Service Group 'A' | Organised | | Ministry of Mines |
| 44 | Geological Survey of India Geophysical Service Group 'A' | Organised | | Ministry of Mines |
| 45 | Geological Survey of India Engineering Service Group 'A' | Organised | | Ministry of Mines |
| 46 | Indian Meteorological Service | Non-Organised | | |
| 47 | Indian Economic Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Finance |
| 48 | Indian Statistical Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation |
| 49 | Indian Cost Accounts Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Finance |
| 50 | Indian Corporate Law Service | Organised | Yes | Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
| 51 | Defence Research and Dev. Service | Non-Organised | | Ministry of Defence |
| 52 | Indo Tibetan Border Police | Organised | | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 53 | Central Industrial Security Force | Organised | | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 54 | Border Security Force | Organised | | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 55 | Central Reserve Police Force | Organised | | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 56 | Sashastra Seema Bal (Combatised cadre) | Organised | | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 57 | Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service | Organised | | Ministry of Defence |
| 58 | Survey of India Group 'A' Service | Organised | | Ministry of Science & Technology |
| 59 | Defence Quality Assurance Service | Organised | | Ministry of Defence |
| 60 | Indian Broadcasting (Programme) Service | Organised | Yes | |
| 61 | Central Labour Service | Organised | | Ministry of Labour & Employment |
* Archaeological Service
* Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services
* Botanical Survey of India
* Central Engineering (Civil) Group 'A' Service.
* Central Engineering (Electrical and Mechanical) Group 'A' Service.
* Central Engineering Service (Roads)
* Central Health Service (CHS)
* Central Information Service
* Central Legal Service (Grades I, II, III and IV)
* Central Power Engineering Service
* Central Revenues Chemical Service
* Central Secretariat Official Language Service
* Central Secretariat Service
* Selection Grade
* Grade I
* Central Trade Service
* Central Water Engineering Service
* Company Law Board Service
* Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service, Grade I.
* Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service, Grade II.
* Directorate General of Mines Safety
* General Central Service
* Geological Survey of India
* Indian Audit and Accounts Service
* Indian Civil Accounts Service
* Indian Economic Service
* Indian Enterprise Development Service
* Indian Broadcasting (Engineers) Service
* Indian Defence Accounts Service
* Indian Foreign Service
* Indian Foreign Service, Branch (B) (erstwhile)
* General Cadre, Grade I
* General Cadre, Grade II
* Indian Frontier Administrative Service
* Grade I
* Grade II
* Indian Meteorological Service
* Indian Postal Service
* Indian Posts and Telegraphs Accounts and Finance Service
* Indian Posts and Telegraphs Traffic Service
* Indian Revenue Service
* Customs Branch (Indian Customs Service, Group 'A')
* Central Excise Branch (Central Excise Service, Group 'A')
* Income Tax Branch (Income Tax Service, Group 'A')
* Indian Inspection Service
* Indian Salt Service
* Indian Supply Service
* Selection Grade
* Senior Administrative Grade
* Junior Administrative Grade
* Grade I
* Grade II
* Indian Statistical Service
* Indian Telecommunication Service
* Labour Officers of the Central Pool
* Mercantile Marine Training Ship Service
* Overseas Communications Service
* Railway Inspectorate Service
* Survey of India
* Telegraph Traffic Service
* Zoological Survey of India
In 2019, based on the Bibek Debroy committee report of 2015, the Cabinet of India approved the plan to merge eight railway services. In 2022, the government released a gazette notification about the merger of existing eight services, which fall under the Central Civil Services, into a new Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS). The eight services includes Indian Railway Accounts Service, Indian Railway Personnel Service, Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers, Indian Railway Stores Service, and Indian Railway Traffic Service.
The merged Indian Railways Management Service is again demerged into various specific services as of 2024.

## Central Government Services (Group B)

For Group B civil service posts only, the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). All appointments to Group B are made by the authorities specified by a general or special order of the President.
* Armed Forces Headquarters Services (Civil Service)
* Botanical Survey of India, Group 'B' (Natural Resource)
* Central Electrical Engineering Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Central Engineering Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Central Excise Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Central Health Service, Group 'B' (Health Science)
* Central Power Engineering Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Central Secretariat Official Language Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Central Secretariat Service, Group 'B' (Section and Assistant Section Officers Grade only) (Civil Service)
* Central Secretariat Stenographers Service, Group 'B' (Private Secretary and Personal Assistant Grade only) (Civil Service)
* Customs Appraisers Service, Group 'B'- (Principal Appraisers and Head Appraisers) (Civil Service)
* Customs Preventive Service, Group 'B' – (Chief Inspectors) (Civil Service)
* Defence Secretariat Service (Civil Service)
* DANICS (Civil Service)
* DANIPS (Civil Service)
* Geological Survey of India, Group 'B' (Natural Resource)
* Indian Foreign Service, Group 'B' - (General Cadre, Grade I and General Cadre, Grade II only) (Civil Service)
* Indian Posts and Telegraphs Accounts and Finance Service, Group 'B' Telecommunication Wing. (Civil Service)
* Indian Posts & Telegraphs Accounts & Finance Service, Postal Wing, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Income Tax Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Indian Salt Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* India Meteorological Service, Group 'B' (Natural Resource)
* Survey of India, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Postal Superintendents’ Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Postmasters’ Service, Group 'B' (Civil Service)
* Railway Board Secretariat Service, Group 'B'(SO and ASO only) (Civil Service)
* Telecommunication Engineering Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Telegraphs Traffic Service, Group 'B' (Engineering)
* Zoological Survey of India, Group 'B' (Natural Resource)

## Reforms and Challenges

In 2016, the Ministry of Finance for the first time, dismissed 72 and prematurely retired another 33 Indian Revenue Service officers for non-performance and on disciplinary grounds. In 2019, Government of India dismissed 12 (IRS IT) and 15 (IRS Customs and Central Excise) officers for corruption and bribery charges. In 2019, Department of Personnel and Training in Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions listed 284 Central Secretariat Service officers for performance audit by review panel headed by Cabinet Secretary of India.