1. Methods of Promotion

1.1 Promotion of employees shall be carried out either by Selection or by Seniority subject to fitness (Non-Selection), as prescribed in the Schedules of Recruitment Rules for each category of post or grade, from a lower post to a higher post.

1.2 The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) shall be constituted for each category of post, as specified in the Schedules of Recruitment Rules. The DPC will advise and assist the Appointing Authority in:

• Selection of candidates for promotion;
• Deputation appointments; and
• Assessing the suitability of employees for confirmation in accordance with these Regulations.

1.3 The crucial date for determining eligibility for promotion shall be 1st January of the relevant year.

1.4 All employees, including those belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), must fulfill the eligibility criteria prescribed in the Recruitment Rules as of the crucial date, whether considered for promotion by Selection or by Seniority subject to Fitness.

2. Promotion by Selection

2.1 Zone of Consideration: For promotion by selection, only candidates within the zone of consideration shall be assessed. The zone shall be as follows:

2.2 Promotion to posts in pay scale Rs.12,000–16,500/- (Pre-revised) and above:

• The benchmark for promotion shall be ‘Very Good’, as assessed by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC).
• The DPC shall consider Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for the preceding five years.
• Officers shall be graded as ‘fit’ or ‘unfit’ against the benchmark of ‘Very Good’.
• Only those graded ‘fit’ shall be included in the Select List, arranged by inter-se seniority in the feeder grade.
• Promotions shall be made strictly in the order of names appearing in the Select List.

2.3 Promotion to grades below Rs.12,000–16,500/- (Pre-revised):

• The benchmark shall be ‘Good’, assessed by the DPC using ACRs of the preceding five years.
• Officers shall be graded as ‘fit’ or ‘unfit’ only against the benchmark of ‘Good’.
• Only those graded ‘fit’ shall be included in the Select List.
• Promotion shall follow the order of names in the Select List.

3. Promotion by Seniority Subject to Fitness (Non-Selection)

3.1 In Seniority Subject to Fitness promotions, there is no zone of consideration.

3.2 The DPC shall evaluate candidates as ‘fit’ or ‘unfit’ without reference to benchmarks such as ‘Very Good’ or ‘Good’.

3.3 Only as many candidates as there are vacant posts shall be considered ‘fit’ for inclusion in the promotion panel, not all eligible candidates in the seniority list.

3.4 The promotion panel shall include candidates graded ‘fit’ by the DPC, in order of seniority in the feeder grade.

3.5 Promotions shall be made strictly according to the panel order, as and when vacancies arise.

4. Ad hoc Appointments

4.1 Normally, promotions shall follow the order in the Select List or Panel.

4.2 In cases of immediate necessity, where no suitable employee is available, the Appointing Authority may make ad hoc appointments for a period not exceeding six months, with the total ad hoc period not exceeding one year.

5. Departmental Tests for Confirmation

5.1 The Competent Authority may specify that promotion to certain posts is subject to passing a departmental qualifying test.

5.2 The Competent Authority may also determine:

• Test procedure;
• Syllabus;
• Interval between attempts; and
• Maximum period to pass the test.

5.3 Failure to pass the departmental test within the specified period may lead to reversion to the previous post.

5.4 If passing a departmental test is a condition for promotion, no employee shall be considered for promotion until the test is passed. The Competent Authority may relax this condition for special reasons, which shall be recorded in writing.