Question

Which of the following statements are correct about the All India Services?

1. The All India Services Act, 1951, allows the Central Government to determine the conditions of service in consultation with state governments.

2. Officers of the All India Services are appointed to state cadres but can be deputed to Central Services.

3. The salaries and pensions of All India Services officers are paid by the Central Government.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. All are correct

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 and 2 only

All India Services (AIS)

• The All India Services (AIS) are unique to India's federal system, comprising the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS). These services are recruited by the Union Government but serve both the Union and the States.

• The concept of AIS promotes national unity and administrative uniformity across states, while also maintaining efficiency in public administration.

Constitutional Basis and Legislative Framework

• The Parliament of India derives its power to create All India Services from Article 312 of the Indian Constitution. This Article specifically states that if the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) declares by a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest to do so, Parliament may by law provide for the creation of one or more All India Services common to the Union and the States.

• The All India Services Act, 1951, was enacted by Parliament under the powers conferred by Article 312. This Act empowers the Central Government to make rules, in consultation with the state governments, for regulating the recruitment and the conditions of service of persons appointed to the All India Services. This confirms statement 1 as correct.

Cadre System and Deputation

• Officers of the All India Services are allocated to specific state cadres after their training. For example, an IAS officer might be allocated to the Kerala cadre or the Uttar Pradesh cadre. This means they primarily serve the respective state governments. This aspect makes statement 2 correct.

• Despite being appointed to state cadres, these officers are liable to serve under the Central Government on deputation for a specified period. This system allows for the integration of central and state administration and ensures that the Central Government has experienced officers from diverse state backgrounds.

• The cadre control authority for IAS is the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; for IPS, it is the Ministry of Home Affairs; and for IFS, it is the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Salaries and Pensions

• The salaries, allowances, and pensions of All India Services officers serving in a state cadre are primarily paid by the respective state government. This is a crucial distinction.

• When an AIS officer is on central deputation, their salary and allowances are borne by the Central Government.

• Pensions for AIS officers are typically borne by the state where they last served, though there might be a central government share or coordination for some elements. Therefore, stating that salaries and pensions are *solely* paid by the Central Government (statement 3) is incorrect. The financial liability is largely with the state governments for officers serving in their cadres.