FM Announces New Hiring Rules for Indian Civil Accounts Service

The Ministry of Finance has officially released the Indian Civil Accounts Service (Group ‘A’) Recruitment Rules, 2025, through Notification No. F. No. A-12018/3/2015-Ad.I, dated May 30, 2025. These rules come into immediate effect and replace the earlier recruitment rules notified in 2006. The updated rules provide a detailed framework for the structure, recruitment method, promotion policies, and organisational hierarchy of the ICAS cadre. The aim is to enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and strengthen service delivery in the government’s accounting system through both structural and procedural reforms.

In accordance with the new notification released on the matter, 50% of the Junior Time Scale (entry-level) jobs will be via the Civil Services Exam conducted by the UPSC. 50% will be via promotion from Senior Accounts Officers. The rules also outline specific qualifying criteria, establishing a pipeline from Junior Time Scale to the apex scale of the Controller General of Accounts. In our ongoing effort to maintain pay parity and bolster the spirits of ICAS officers, they can now avail themselves to higher pay scales without the niceties of formal promotion, if their IAS counter-parts from the same batch received it.

The total authorised strength of the ICAS cadre is stationary at 317 officers, designated from the Assistant Controller of Accounts through the Controller General of Accounts, across the various pay levels in the pay matrix from Rs. 56100 to Rs. 225000. All newly recruited officers are required to undergo a two-year probation and a mandatory foundation course. The government reserves the right to either extend or shorten the period on the basis of performance.

The recruitment rules also impose severe eligibility conditions. For example, individuals who are polygamous will not be considered unless polygamous marriages are allowed as per their personal laws. Moreover, the Rules reiterate that the standard reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backwards Classes (OBC), and other special categories as issued by the Government are implemented. Additionally, ICAS officers can be posted throughout India or throughout the world, which also emphasises the all-India character of the service.

The Department of Expenditure is the “Controlling Authority” for the ICAS cadre. There will be various committees like the Departmental Promotion Committee and the Screening Committee to rate officers’ suitability for promotions and to grant Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) and other matters, thereby promoting a system for structured, merit-based, enterprising habits in the service.

Download Recruitment Rules 2025