FAQs on Foreign Assignments
Q. 1 What are the categories
of Foreign Assignments?
A. Long Term Assignments
(Period over 90 days)
(1) Foreign posts of the
Government of India. These are posts in the Embassies/High Commissions of India
under the administrative control of various Ministries/Departments of the GoI
(other than the Ministry of External Affairs). These posts carry tenure of
three years. These are filled through the Civil Services Board procedure by the E.O. Division in
the Department of Personnel & Training
after due circulation of the vacancy.
(2) Captive posts of the
GoI. These include the posts of Executive Directors in the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Development Bank(ADB) etc.,
Advisers and Technical or Executive Assistants to the Executive Directors and
other similar posts where recruitment is
restricted to Indian experts. These are also filled through the Central
Staffing Scheme of the GoI by the E.O. Division in the Department of Personnel
& Training after due circulation of the vacancy.
(3) International
Assignments to the UN and its agencies: Selections to these assignments are
secured by the officers themselves either through open advertisements or being
directly offered such positions by the International Bodies and by nomination
by the GoI for competitive selection by the International Body. Maximum tenure
limits to such assignments is 5 years at a stretch and 7 years in the entire
career.
Short Term Consultancies
(period up to 90 days)
(4) Short Term Consultancies offered by International
Bodies for a period of up to 90 days. Officers below the level of Joint
Secretary are entitled to take up such short-term consultancies. There is a ban
on JS and above level officers for taking up short-term consultancy
assignments. Tenure limits for Short-term consultancy assignments are 90 days
in a calendar year and 25 months in the entire career. However, officers of
Joint Secretary and above levels can only take up pro-bono’ short term teaching
assignments for a period of one month in a year. Officers have to take leave
due and admissible (other than Extra Ordinary leave) for such assignments.
Q. 2 What is the procedure
for getting cadre clearance of DOP&T for the foreign assignments mentioned
in (3) above?
A. The procedures laid
down in para 3 of the Consolidated Deputation Guidelines for All India Service
Officers contained in DOP&T’s letter No. 14017/33/2005- AIS (II)(Pt.I)
dated 28.11.2007 and para 2.1 of the Consolidated Deputation Guidelines
for Organized Group ‘A & ‘EV Services contained in DOP&T’s O.M. No.
AB-140 17/2/07-Estt.(RR) dated 29.2.2008 are applicable.
Q. 3 Whether clearance of
DOP&T is required for officers working under the Central Staffing Scheme to
take up foreign assignments?
A. Yes. All the proposals
for grant of cadre clearance in respect of AIS officers (whether in the cadre
or working at the Centre) for taking up foreign assignments are required to be
sent to DOP&T for approval. All the proposals for grant of Cadre Clearance
in respect of Joint Secretary and above level officers belonging to Organized
Group ‘A’ & ‘EC Services (whether in the cadre or working at the Centre)
for taking up foreign assignments are also required to be sent to DOP&T for
approval. However, all proposals for grant of Cadre Clearance to officers of
below JS level, belonging to Organized Group ‘A’ & ‘EV Services to take up
foreign assignment will be processed by the Cadre Controlling Authority.
However, for curtailing the tenure of Group ‘A’ service officers below the
level of Joint Secretary and working under the Central Staffing Scheme approval
of the ACC through DOP&T would be required.
Q. 4 What are the
restrictions on officers dealing with International Organizations in their
official capacity?
A. There are no
restrictions on officers up to the level of Director. However, for JS and above
levels, in case the officer has had official dealing with the international
organization and the Secretary of the concerned Ministry categorically
certifies that the officer did not use his official position to get the foreign
assignment, such cases will be considered by the Committee of Secretaries based
on the merits of each individual case and appropriate recommendations made if
the assignment has been offered by applying against an open advertisement.
Q. 5 Is there a cooling off
requirement?
A. After every period of
deputation there shall be a mandatory “Cooling off’ period of three years for
JS and below levels, one year for Addl. Secretary level and ‘Nil’ for Secretary
level.
Q. 6. Is there a prescribed
format for submitting proposals of foreign assignments to DOP&T?
A. Yes, separate checklists have been devised for
submitting long term foreign assignment proposals to DOP&T for AIS &
Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ services. The same are available on the Departmental
website.
Q. 7 Whether the foreign
assignment can be taken up while on Central deputation with the GoI? If yes,
what is the prescribed tenure limit?
A. An officer who is on
Central deputation with the GoI after having completed his normal ‘cooling off
in the cadre, may be permitted to proceed on a foreign assignment subject to
the tenure limits mentioned in Question No. 1. However, overall absence from
the cadre will be limited to 7 years, in both the stints put together. Cadre
clearance at the time of such shifting would be required.
Q. 8 Can I shift from one
foreign assignment to another foreign assignment?
A. Yes, with the prior
approval of the Competent Authority. However, this will be subject to the
overall tenure limits of 5 years at a stretch and 7 years in the entire career.
Q. 9 I proceeded on foreign
assignment before issue of the Consolidated Deputation Guidelines issued on
28.11.2007 and 29.2.2008. Will I be governed by the earlier instructions or
whether the new Guidelines would apply?
A. Tenures approved by
the Competent Authority prior to the issue of the Consolidated Deputation
Guidelines would not be affected. However, extension of tenure of foreign
assignment beyond the approved periods would be governed as per the new
Deputation Guidelines dated 28.11.2007 and 29.2.2008.
