Dehradun: Preparations have begun to amend the rules related to promotions in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadre. The central government has prepared a proposal aimed at making the promotion process more transparent and systematic. In this regard, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has sought suggestions and objections from all states, including Uttarakhand.
The proposed changes could directly impact State Forest Service officers who enter the IFS cadre through promotions. Under the current system, eight years of service is considered mandatory for promotion to the IFS cadre.
According to available information, until now the period of service as a gazetted officer was considered the basis for eligibility, due to which officers at the ranger level also technically came under the eligibility category. However, in practice, no direct promotions from the ranger level to the IFS cadre have been granted.
Now, the central government is preparing to amend the rules to clearly specify that only officers at the State Forest Service level will be eligible for promotion to the IFS cadre. For this, a proposal has been prepared to make eight years of service in the State Forest Service mandatory.
Sources indicate that legal disputes regarding IFS cadre allocation and promotions had emerged in some states, following which the central government initiated a review of the rules.
In Uttarakhand as well, discussions regarding the proposed changes have intensified. The state’s Rangers’ Association has long been demanding inclusion in the State Forest Service along with additional benefits. The association argues that despite being gazetted officers, they are deprived of several administrative benefits.
After receiving the letter from the DoPT, the Uttarakhand Forest Department and administrative authorities have begun examining the proposed amendments. Attention is now focused on what suggestions the state government will send to the Centre and how the final rules will eventually be implemented.
