Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services

The Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service was constituted in 1968 to provide continuity in the functioning of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy and Air), Defence Staff Headquarters and the Inter Service Organizations under the Ministry of Defence. The Service is contributing significantly in the functioning of Armed Forces Headquarters/Inter Service Organizations except those relating to technical and combat aspects in respect of the Armed Forces. Joint Secretary (Trg) & Chief Administrative Officer is the Cadre Controlling Authority and Head of the Department for AFHQ Civilian employees. The cadre was  constituted in 1968. The authorized strength of the service in 1968 was 1778;  in 2011,  2644,  and in 2016,  3235.

Background
During World war II, in 1942, civilian employees under different departments and branches of the Armed Forces Headquarters responsible for providing   static  ancillary services  were reorganized and consolidated under one head who was called Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). The first CAO took over on 1 August 1942. In 1987, the post of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), was upgraded to level of a Joint Secretary(JS), under the  defence secretary,  who  is the Cadre Controlling Authority and Head of the AFHQ  employees.

Up-gradation of Posts
AFHQCS in  1968  had    four grades: 204  were in Group A, and 1472 in Group B. The highest grade was senior civil staff officer, a level analogous to deputy secretary. After the 4Central Pay Commission (1986), large number of existing post were upgraded, which were again upgraded after the Sixth Central Pay Commission( 2006). In 2011 AFHQCS had 409 personnel at group A level,   including 4  at Joint secretary level, and 2235  at group B level. In July   2013   a committee was constituted  to  carry  out   further  cadre  re-structuring/review of AFHQ Civil Service' for  further  enhancing  the  career  prospects  of  AFHQ-Civil  Service'. It currently has six grades/levels, from Assistant Section Officer to joint secretary.

Grades and levels
Inductions into the service is   from upper division clerk by promotion, by  promotion from  the Assistant Section Officer, and  direct recruitment  at the level of Assistant Section Officer and  section officer. The evolution of the service, its  hierarchical structure, pay grades,  and Levels,  are tabulated below:

Strength
The authorized strength of the service is  2644(2011), an increase of 866, from a  total of   1778  in 1968. This is in addition to Armed Forces Headquarters  Stenographers Service, which has an overall  strength of   856 (  08 Senior  Principal     Private   Secretary;   44 Principal   Private    Secretaries;  300    Private            Secretary;     and    504   a Personal  Assistants). The increase in strength of the service is tabulated below:

Time line
1 August 1942

In response to the demands of the World War II, all the civil man power in  the then war department was  consolidated under  the  office of  Chief Administrative officer(CAO). The first four CAO were brigadier of the Indian army.

16 August 1947

Colonel Pritam Singh, becomes the first Indian CAO.

1 March 1968

Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service constituted as group B Service from the existing staff  under the Armed Forces headquarters and inter service organisations. The highest grade in the AFHQ Civil Service is Senior  Staff Officer,  analogous to a deputy secretary, with  pay grade of Lt colonel.

1987

The post of CAO is upgraded to Joint Secretary.

2001

The Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service Rules, 2001, supersede by Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service Rules, 1968. Two Existing posts  upgraded to JS, and 9 to Director.

31 October 2002

New designation of principal director( Senior Administrative grade);  Joint Director ( Senior Civilian Staff officer), analogous to civil service time scale  post with 9 years;  Deputy director(Deputy director), analogous to civil service  time scale  post with 4 years service;  and section officer ( Assistant civilian Officer) created.

15 April 2011

Joint Secretary post increased to 3:  one each in the Military Secretary’s branch, Adjutant General’s branch, and Directorate general of Quality assurance. 20 existing post upgraded  to Director post,  a post analogous to civil service   time scale  post with 13 years

2016

Joint Secretary post increases to 4. Directors posts to 21/22. All promotion on time scale basis. All Directors in the service are empaneled to be Principal directors. Strength of AFHQ CS is  3235.