(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM) New Delhi: April 8, 2025
In a significant administrative development, the Government of India has called for nominations from officers serving in key Central Group-A services, including the Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), for appointment to high-ranking positions of Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Central Government.

This move, formalized through a communication issued by the Cabinet Secretariat on March 12, 2025, seeks to broaden the leadership pool for top bureaucratic appointments traditionally dominated by the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The letter explicitly outlines the government’s intent to draw up panels of officers from the IPS, IFS, and other organized Central Group-A services—excluding the IAS—for potential elevation to Secretary and Additional Secretary-level posts or their equivalent roles.

According to the Cabinet Secretariat’s directive, the nominations must be routed through the appropriate administrative channels and submitted no later than May 31, 2025. This timeline provides cadre-controlling authorities and service heads with a clear framework to recommend eligible officers who have demonstrated exemplary service records and leadership capabilities.

The initiative reflects an ongoing push towards administrative inclusivity, ensuring that competent officers across various central services are given equal opportunities to rise to the highest echelons of governance. It also reinforces the government’s broader aim of merit-based appointments while leveraging the diverse expertise available within the Indian civil services.

By opening up the top posts to a wider range of services, the Centre aims to promote a balanced and representative approach in the nation’s decision-making architecture. The outcome of this exercise could set the tone for future leadership selections and bring fresh perspectives into the functioning of India’s apex policymaking bodies.