The Centre has asked States to nominate women officers and those from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) for important posts on Central deputation. This aims to ensure they get fair representation in key roles. The Personnel Ministry sent a letter to Chief Secretaries asking for officers who won’t be recalled due to promotions for at least two years. These officers will be appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS) and as Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and other government bodies. CVOs help the Central Vigilance Commission fight corruption. The communique dated December 10, 2025, said, "Sufficient names of women and SC and ST officers may be sponsored so that adequate representation can be provided to them." It also asked for details of any inquiries or complaints against the officers that might affect their vigilance status. The Ministry explained that moving officers from States to Central posts helps build their skills and allows State perspectives to be included in national decision-making. It mentioned the importance of the Central Deputation Reserve (CDR) data to manage the number of IAS officers sent to the Centre. "This will also ensure that every eligible officer has an opportunity to serve at the Centre at least once at the middle management level," the communique said. Officers nominated must remain available for consideration throughout the year. The Ministry warned that withdrawing an officer’s name after recommendation can lead to a five-year ban from Central deputation, including foreign postings. "Withdrawal of the name of an officer after a panel has been recommended by the Civil Services Board results in debarment for five years," said Manisha Saxena, Establishment Officer and Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The letter also asked not to forward the names of officers already debarred from deputation. From January 1, 2026, nominations for CSS posts and CVO positions will be submitted via a new dedicated portal. Each year, the government calls for nominations to fill key posts like joint secretaries, directors, deputy secretaries, and CVOs. A similar request was sent to Secretaries of all Central Government departments to recommend officers for deputation. Published - December 14, 2025 11:58 am IST