Gazette Tracker
Gazette Tracker

Core Purpose

This notification introduces the Indian Economic Service Rules, 2026, superseding the Indian Economic Service Rules, 2008, to regulate the method of recruitment and conditions of service for the Indian Economic Service.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) issued Notification G.S.R. 287(E) on April 17, 2026, in New Delhi, exercising powers under the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution. These new rules, titled the Indian Economic Service Rules, 2026, supersede the Indian Economic Service Rules, 2008, and its subsequent amendments, with the exception of actions taken or omitted before this supersession. The rules regulate the method of recruitment and conditions of service for the Indian Economic Service, which is constituted as Group 'A' posts. Key definitions include 'Cadre Controlling Authority' as the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and 'Commission' as the Union Public Service Commission. The authorized strength, duty posts, and pay scales for various grades are specified in Schedule I, with distribution across Ministries/Departments in Schedule II. Future maintenance of the Service includes filling 60% of Junior Time Scale vacancies by direct recruitment through an examination conducted by the Commission (Schedule III), and 40% by promotion of eligible Economic Officers, Investigator Grade-I, or Assistant Director Grade-II (level 7 in the pay matrix ₹44,900-1,42,400) as per Schedule IV. Appointments to Senior Time Scale and above (excluding Non-functional Selection Grade, level 13) are by promotion from the next lower grade based on minimum qualifying service in Schedule IV, and recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee (Schedule V). Appointment to Non-Functional Selection Grade (level 13) is by placement based on seniority and suitability, recommended by a Committee (Schedule V). All appointments are made by the Government. Officers appointed to the Junior Time Scale undergo a two-year probation period, which may be extended by the Cadre Controlling Authority, and must complete specified training and examinations. Seniority is generally determined prior to these rules or by the Government's instructions. Non-functional upgradation for eligible officers up to Higher Administrative Grade is granted based on recommendations from the Departmental Screening Committee as specified in Schedule VI, with provisions for comparison to Indian Administrative Service officers.

Full Text

The Gazette of India EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 263] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026/CHAITRA 27, 1948 *** MINISTRY OF FINANCE (Department of Economic Affairs) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 17th April, 2026 G.S.R. 287(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution and in supersession of the Indian Economic Service rules, 2008 and its subsequent amendments, except with respect to things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the President hereby makes the following rules regulating the method of recruitment to and conditions of service of the Indian Economic Service, namely: 1. **Short title and commencement** – (1) These rules may be called the Indian Economic Service rules, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. **Definition** (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires - (a) “Cadre Controlling Authority" means the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India; (b) "Commission" means the Union Public Service Commission; (c) "Departmental Promotion Committee”, “Departmental Confirmation Committee" and "Screening Committee" mean the Committees constituted to consider promotion, confirmation, grant of Non-Functional Selection Grade and Non-Functional Upgradation respectively, in any grade as indicated in Schedule V and VI; (d) “Duty Post” means the post which is included in Schedule I; (e) “Examination” means the competitive examination consisting of a written examination and an interview held by the Commission for recruitment to the Indian Economic Service as specified in Schedule III; (f) “Government" means the Government of India; (g) “Grade” means a grade specified in column (2) of Schedule I; (h) "President" means the President of India; (i) “Schedule” means the schedule appended to these rules; (j) "Service" means the Indian Economic Service as constituted in accordance with the provision of rule 3 of these rules; (k) "Scheduled Castes” and “Scheduled Tribes” shall have the meanings as respectively assigned to them in clauses (24) and (25) of article 366 of the Constitution of India; (l) “Other Backward Classes” have the same meaning and applicability as laid down in the Office Memorandum No. 36012/22/93-Estt. (SCT) dated the 8th September, 1993 of the Department of Personnel and Training, as amended from time to time; (m) “Regular Service”, in relation to any grade, means the period of service in that grade rendered after selection and regular appointment to that grade under the rules and includes any period: i. taken into account for the purpose of seniority in the case of those already in service at the time of notification of these rules; ii. during which an officer would have held a duty post in that grade but for being on leave or otherwise not being available for holding such posts. 3. **Constitution of the Service** – (1) There shall be a constituted Service to be known as the 'Indian Economic Service' consisting of persons appointed to the Service under rules 4, 6 and 7. (2) All the posts included in the Service shall be classified as Group 'A' posts. 4. **Members of the Service** – (1) The following persons shall be members of the Service, namely: - (a) existing officers of the Indian Economic Service holding duty posts on regular basis or on lien in various grades of the Service as on the date of commencement of these rules shall be deemed to have been appointed to the duty posts under these rules; and (b) persons appointed to the duty posts under rule 6. (2) A person referred to in clause (a) of sub-rule (1), shall continue to be a member of the Service in the appropriate grade as applicable to him. (3) A person referred to in clause (b) of sub-rule (1), shall become a member of the Service in the appropriate grade applicable to him from the date of his appointment under these rules. (4) The regular service of an officer referred to in sub-rule (1), in the respective corresponding grades, rendered prior to the commencement of these rules, shall be counted as qualifying service for the purposes of seniority, confirmation, promotion, non-functional selection grade and non-functional upgradation. 5. **Grades, authorised strength and its review** – (1) The authorised strength of the various grades of the Service on the date of commencement of these rules, the number of duty posts in each grade and the pay scales attached thereto, shall be as specified in Schedule I. (2) The distribution of duty posts across various Ministries or Departments shall be as specified in Schedule II. (3) After the date of commencement of these rules, the authorised strength of various grades of the Service shall be such as may be determined by the Government from time to time, through the established procedure as laid down by the Department of Personnel and Training and Department of Expenditure, which shall be duly incorporated into these rules. (4) The Cadre Controlling Authority shall make such alteration in the sanctioned strength of the duty posts in various grades as it thinks necessary through the established procedure as laid down by the Department of Personnel and Training and Department of Expenditure from time to time. (5) The Government may make such adjustments in the distribution of posts between different Ministries or Departments, keeping in view the needs of the participating Ministry or Department as it may deem necessary through the established procedure as laid down by the Department of Personnel and Training and Department of Expenditure from time to time. (6) The Government may, in consultation with the Commission and the Government, [Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure (Wherever applicable) and Department of Personnel and Training], include in the Service such posts (other than those included in Schedule I) as may be equivalent to the posts included in the Service in status, grades, scales of pay and professional context, or exclude from the Service any posts included in the said Schedule. (7) The Cadre Controlling Authority may, in consultation with the Commission, appoint an officer whose post is included in the Service under sub-rule (6) to the appropriate grade in a temporary capacity or in a substantive capacity as it may deem fit and fix his seniority in such a grade in accordance with the orders and instructions issued by the Government from time to time in this regard. 6. **Future maintenance of the Service** – (1) The posts in any of the grades shall be governed by and filled in the following manner namely, (a) Sixty per cent of the vacancies in the grade of Junior Time Scale shall be filled by direct recruitment on the basis of the results of the Examination, to be held by the Commission in the manner specified in Schedule III. (b) Forty per cent of the vacancies in the grade of Junior Time Scale shall be filled by promotion of Economic Officers or Investigator Grade-I or Assistant Director Grade-II, level 7 in the pay matrix (₹44,900-1,42,400) recognised by the Cadre Controlling Authority for this purpose, on the basis of selection in accordance with the provisions of Schedule IV. (c) Appointments to the posts of Senior Time Scale and above (except for Non-functional Selection Grade, level 13) in the Service shall be made by promotion from amongst the officers in the next lower grade with the minimum qualifying service as specified in column (5) of Schedule IV. (d) Promotion of officers in clauses (b) and (c) above, shall be made by ‘selection' except for the Non-Functional Selection Grade, on the basis of the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee constituted in accordance with Schedule V. (e) The appointment of officers to Non-Functional Selection Grade (level 13) shall be made as placement on the basis of seniority, subject to suitability on the recommendation of the Committee constituted for this purpose in accordance with Schedule-V. 7. **Appointment to the Service** – (1) All appointments to the Service shall be made by the Government. 8. **Probation** – (1) Every officer on appointment to the Service in the Junior Time Scale either by direct recruitment or by promotion shall be on probation for a period of two years: Provided that the Cadre Controlling Authority may extend the period of probation in accordance with the instructions issued by the Government from time to time. Provided further that any decision for extension of a probation period shall be taken ordinarily within eight weeks after the expiry of the previous period of probation and communicated in writing to the officer concerned together with reasons for so doing within the said period. (2) During the period of probation or any extension thereof, an officer may be required by the Government to undergo such courses of training or to pass such examinations and tests (including examination in Hindi) as the Government may deem fit, as a condition for satisfactory completion of probation. (3) If during the period of probation or any extension thereof, as the case may be, the Government is of the opinion that an officer is not fit for permanent appointment, it shall discharge the officer or revert him to the post held by him prior to his appointment in the service, as the case may be. (4) On completion of the period of probation or any extension thereof, an officer shall, if considered fit for permanent appointment, be considered for confirmation, in terms of the orders of the Government issued from time to time, and on the basis of the recommendations of the Departmental Confirmation Committee constituted in accordance with Schedule V. (5) As regards other matters relating to probation, the members of the Service shall be governed by the orders or instructions issued by the Government from time to time. 9. **Seniority** – (1) The relative seniority of the members of the Service, appointed to a duty post, shall be, as determined prior to the commencement of these rules: Provided that if the seniority of any such member had not been specifically determined on the said date, the same shall be determined on the basis of the rules governing fixation of seniority as applicable to the members of the Service prior to the commencement of these rules. (2) In the cases not covered under sub-rule (1) above, the seniority shall be determined by the Government in accordance with the general instructions issued by the Central Government for the purpose, from time to time. 10. **Non-functional upgradation** – (1) The non-functional upgradation shall be granted to the eligible officers in various grades (upto Higher Administrative Grade) of the Service on the recommendations of the Departmental Screening Committee, as specified in Schedule-VI. (2) Whenever any Indian Administrative Service officer of the State or Joint Cadre is posted at the Centre to a particular grade carrying a specific pay level in the pay matrix, the officers belonging to batches of the Service that are senior by two years or more and have not so far been promoted to that particular grade shall be granted the same grade on

Never miss important gazettes

Create a free account to save gazettes, add notes, and get email alerts for keywords you care about.

Sign Up Free