The Narendra Modi government has accepted the 7th Central Pay Commission's (CPC) recommendations on time-bound promotion for Central government employees that will ensure at least one career progression every 10 years.
The CPC in its November 2015 report had said that despite demands for increasing the frequency of time-bound promotion, it had decided to retain the existing scheme, known as Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS).
The ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions issued a notification to the effect on September 28 2016.
The CPC report said that "resentment" over the existing pay structures that prompted the demand have been addressed by "rationalisation of pay levels, abolition of pay band and grade pay Report of the Seventh CPC 82 Index and introduction of a matrix based open pay structure."
"Hence, there is no justification for increasing the frequency of MACP and it will continue to be administered at 10, 20 and 30 years as before. In the new Pay matrix, the employees will move to the immediate next level in the hierarchy. Fixation of pay will follow the same principle as that for a regular promotion in the pay matrix," the CPC report had recommended.
This has been accepted by the Central government.
"The Government has considered the above recommendation and has accepted the same. In the light of the recommendations of the 7th CPC accepted by the Government, the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) will continue to be administered at 10, 20 and 30 years as before," the September 28 notification read.
The Central government also approved the CPC's recommendations on performance appraisal for employees to qualify under the MACP.
"There is, however, one significant aspect where this Commission feels that a change is required. This is with regard to the benchmark for performance appraisal for MACP as well as for regular promotion. The Commission recommends that this benchmark, in the interest of improving performance level, be enhanced from 'Good' to 'Very Good.' In addition, introduction of more stringent criteria such as clearing of departmental examinations or mandatory training before grant of MACP can also be considered by the government," the CPC had proposed.
The changes will be effective from July 25 2016.
The recommendations of the 7th CPC are applicable to 47 lakh central government employees.
