Pay panel:Centre seeks states comments on pay hike to IAS,IPS

All states were today asked to send their comments on the proposed recommendations by Seventh Central Pay Commission related to hike in salaries of IAS and IPS officers.

In a letter to chief secretaries of all state governments, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said that the central government has accepted the pay panel's recommendations.

They have been requested to furnish the comments of the state government on the proposed recommendations immediately and positively by August 3, 2016 through fax, it said.

"If no reply is received by this time, it would be presumed that the state government concurs with the said proposals relating to the revision of pay scales of all India services (AIS) officers," the DoPT said.

There are three all India services--Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).

The pay panel has recommended a starting salary of Rs 56,100 per month at entry level for these and officers of Group A services like Indian Revenue Service.

The Finance Ministry had on Monday issued an order notifying implementation of almost all the recommendations of the panel.

In that, the DoPT has been authorised to take action regarding pay and related issues concerning IAS, IPS and IFoS officers.

The three-member Seventh Central Pay Commission, which had submitted its report on November 19, 2015, was divided over the issue of financial and career-related edge given to IAS officers as against those belonging to the other services.

IAS officers presently get a two-year edge over other services for getting empanelled to come on deputation at the Centre.

Besides, they also get two additional increments at the rate of 3 per cent over their basic pay at three promotion stages i.e., promotion to the Senior Time Scale (STS), to the Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) and to the Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) after putting in about four, eight and 13 years of service, respectively.

A confederation representing thousands of officers of 20 civil services, including the IPS, have been demanding pay parity and other benefits enjoyed by IAS officers.

"Regarding pay and related issues concerning all India services, appropriate action will be taken by Department of Personnel and Training to give effect to the decisions on these matters as may be applicable to them," the Finance Ministry's notification said.