The Central Government of India (GOI) essentially organized civil service into four main groups; Group ‘A’ Group ‘B’ Group ‘C’ and Group D.
Note: Group C and Group D have been merged and have been given their appropriate Levels in the 7th pay commission.
The group classification is directly related to the rank, status, and the degree of the level of responsibility attached to the posts.
Group `A’ posts provide more powerful administrative duties, and they are appointed at the highest management positions in the ministries. The junior levels of Group `A’ along with Group `B’ form middle management. Group `C’ posts mainly perform clerical work in ministries and departments and Group `D’ employees are appointed to do maintenance and labor work.
The Group A officers are appointed by the President of India while appointments to Group B officers are made by the authorities specified by a general or special order of the President.
Group A:
The top candidates get their placement as per choice. Most of the candidates in UPSC select IFS, IAS, and IPS services. Apart these candidates can also select Group A services in these departments:
- Border Roads Engineering Services (BRES)
- Border Security Force (BSF)
- Botanical Survey of India (BSI)
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Border Security Force Health Service (BSFHS)
- Central Architects Service (CAS)
- Central Engineering (Civil) Service (CES (Civil))
- Central Engineering (Electrical and Mechanical) Service (CES (E&M))
- Central Engineering Service (Roads) (CES (Roads))
- Central Geological Service (CGS)
- Central Health Service (CHS)
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Central Labour Service (CLS)
- Central Power Engineering Service (CPES)
- Central Reserve Police Health Service (CRPHS)
- Central Secretariat Service (CSS)
- Central Water Engineering Service (CWES)
- Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service (DAQAS)
- Defense Quality Assurance Service (DQAS)
- Defense Research & Development Service (DRDS)
- Geological Survey of India Chemical Service (GSICS)
- Geological Survey of India Engineering Service (GSIES)
- Geological Survey of India Geophysical Service (GSIGS)
- Indian Audits and Accounts Service (IA&AS)
- Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)
- Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
- Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS)
- Indian Defense Accounts Service (IDAS)
- Indian Defence Contract Management Service (IDCMS)
- Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES)
- Indian Defense Service of Engineers (IDSE)
- Indian Economic Service (IES)
- Indian Engineering Services (IES)
- Indian Enterprise Development Service (IEDS)
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Information Service (IIS)
- Indian Inspection Service (IIS)
- Indian Legal Service (ILS)- General Central Service (GCS)
- Indian Meteorological Service (IMS)
- Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
- Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service (IOFHS)
- Indian Petroleum and Explosives Safety Service (IPESS)
- Indian Postal Service (IPoS)
- Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)/ Indian Communication & Finance Service (ICFS)
- Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS)
- Indian Naval Material Management Service (INMMS)
- Indian Radio Regulatory Service (IRRS)
- Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)
- Indian Railway Medical Services (IRMS)
- Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
- Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE)
- Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE)
- Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME)
- Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE)
- Indian Railway Stores Service (IRSS)
- Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
- Indian Revenue Service (IRS-IT / C&CE)
- Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS)
- Indian Statistical Service (ISS)
- Indian Supply Service (ISS)
- Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS)
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police Health Service (ITBPHS)
- Indian Trade Service (ITrS)
- Railway Protection Force (RPF)
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- Survey of India Service (SIS)
- Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
- Indian Petroleum and Explosives Safety Service (IPESS)
Group B:
For Group B appointments, the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). All posts to Group B are made by the authorities specified by a general or special order of the President. If you want to join Group B you should attempt the SSC CGL exam conducted every year.
These are departments you can be appointed in Group B
- Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services
- Botanical Survey of India, Group ‘B’
- Central Electrical Engineering Service, Group ‘B’
- Central Engineering Service, Group ‘B’
- Central Excise Service, Group ‘B’
- Central Health Service, Group ‘B’
- Central Power Engineering Service, Group ‘B’
- Central Secretariat Official Language Service, Group ‘B’
- Central Secretariat Service, Group ‘B’ (Section and Assistant Section Officers Grade only)
- Central Secretariat Stenographers Service, Group ‘B’ (Private Secretary and Personal Assistant Grade only)
- Customs Appraisers Service, Group ‘B’- (Principal Appraisers and Head Appraisers)
- Customs Preventive Service, Group ‘B’ – (Chief Inspectors)
- Defense Secretariat Service
- DANICS
- DANIPS
- Geological Survey of India, Group ‘B’
- Indian Foreign Service, Group ‘B’ – (General Cadre, Grade I and General Cadre, Grade II only)
- Indian Posts and Telegraphs Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘B’ Telecommunication Wing.
- Indian Posts & Telegraphs Accounts & Finance Service, Postal Wing, Group ‘B’
- Income Tax Service, Group ‘B’
- Indian Salt Service, Group ‘B’
- India Meteorological Service, Group ‘B’
- Survey of India, Group ‘B’
- Postal Superintendents’ Service, Group ‘B’
- Postmasters’ Service, Group ‘B’
- Railway Board Secretariat Service, Group ‘B’(SO and ASO only)
- Telecommunication Engineering Service, Group ‘B’
- Telegraphs Traffic Service, Group ‘B
- Zoological Survey of India, Group ‘B’
7th Pay Commission Salary
Under the latest classification based on the 7th Pay Commission and the Order passed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the various groups are aligned to the Levels under the 7th CPC.
- Group A – 7th CPC Levels 10 to 18
- Group B – 7th CPC Levels 6 to 9
- Group C – 7th CPC Levels 1 to 5
Contingency Staff – Contractual labor, such as sweepers, chowkidars, cleaners, etc.
Group C and Group D have been merged and have been given their appropriate Levels in the 7th pay commission.
Group – B (Gazetted Officers):
The authority of a Group – B gazetted officer is similar to that of a Group A officer. You need to clear an exam of UPSC but most of these seats are filled through promotions.
Group – B (Non-Gazetted):
The basic difference between the gazetted and non-gazetted employees of the government is that the gazetted officers can authorize the issuance of official government stamps whereas, the Non-Gazetted officer does not have such power.
- Level 1 Basic Pay – Rs.21000
- Level 6 Basic Pay – Rs.40500
- Level 10 Basic Pay – Rs.63000
- Level 18 Basic Pay – Rs.270000
The in-hand salary of an employee includes basic pay, DA (Dearness allowance), HRA (House rent allowance), TA (Transport allowance), and other allowances (If any).
Group C
Group ‘C’ posts. They are generally recruited via SSC CHSL (COMBINED HIGHER SECONDARY LEVEL) Entrance Exam. SSC CHSL is conducted for recruiting postal assistants, sorting assistants, data entry operators, lower divisional clerks, and employees for several departments and ministries of the government of India. The exam is based on 10+2 level education and consists of three tiers. All the Head Clerks, Clerks, Tax assistants, Typists in courts, stenographers come under group ‘C’.
Group D:
The Group D or Class-IV officials have generally selected via the SSC MTS (MULTI TASKING STAFF) Entrance Examination. These belong to the lowest category of government officials. They are generally semi-skilled workers. Peons, sweeper, gatekeeper, cleaner are some examples of the Group D posts.
