The central government has requested states to prioritize the nomination of women officers and those from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) for key positions in central deputation. This initiative aims to address the underrepresentation of these groups in central government organizations and ensure a more equitable distribution of opportunities.

The directive emphasizes the importance of providing adequate representation to women and historically marginalized communities within the central government. By urging states to nominate more officers from these groups, the Centre seeks to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce at higher levels of administration.

Central deputation involves the temporary transfer of officers from state government services to the central government. These officers typically serve in various ministries, departments, and other central government bodies, bringing their experience and expertise to the national level. The Central Deputation Reserve (CDR) of each state cadre determines the extent to which officers could be sent on deputation to the Government of India.

To facilitate this initiative, the Centre has communicated to all states and cadre controlling authorities, reminding them to nominate sufficient women and SC/ST officers. The officers nominated must be available for at least two years to ensure continuity and effective contribution to their assigned roles.

Withdrawing nominations at a later stage will debar officers from central deputation for five years and also from foreign postings. Preference for appointment at the level of Joint Secretary will be given to those officers who have already done a central deputation at the level of Deputy Secretary or Director.

This is not the first time the Centre has addressed the issue of representation in central deputation. A similar directive was issued in 2015, asking states to nominate more women, SC, and ST officers to meet the existing shortfall. The current initiative reinforces the government's commitment to rectifying historical imbalances and promoting social justice within its administrative structure.