DPC Guidelines- Review of size of zone of consideration

The matter has been considered carefully Keeping in view the considerations in para-2 above, it has been decided to modify the existing provisions relating to size of zone of consideration

The size of zone of consideration for promotion by selection

No. 22011/2/2002 – Estt (D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

New Delhi- 110001
January 6,2006

Office Memorandum

Subject: DPC Guidelines- Review of size of zone of consideration.

The size of zone of consideration for promotion by ‘selection’ as prescribed vide DoPT O.M. No. 22011/1/90-Estt.D dated 12th October 1990 read with O.M. No 22011/1/90-Estt- (D) dated 22nd April 1992 is as under

2. In view of the earlier policy of empanelling officers in accordance with the overall grading assigned to them by the DPC, thereby involving supersessions, a wider size of zone of consideration was necessary to provide the required choice for selection on merit. However, vide DoPT O.M. No. 35034/7/97-Estt-D dated 8th February, 2002, it has been decided by the Government that there shall be no supersession in the matter of ‘selection’ promotion and the officers are to be graded by the DPC as ‘fit’ or ‘unfit’ with reference to the prescribed bench mark and those found ‘fit’ are to be included in the panel as per the seniority in the feeder grade. Accordingly, a need has arisen for review of the size of zone of consideration. Having a size of zone of consideration larger than is necessary in the revised context would lead to unnecessary paper work, which may also lead to delay in convening DPCs. However, the zone of consideration has still to be wide enough to cater to the needs of the Department / cadre authorities for giving an extended panel against empanelled officers who are on deputation or are expected to proceed shortly; who have retired or will be retiring in the course of the vacancy year or who have refused promotion and are under debarment. The size should also be sufficient to take care of officers in the feeder grade whose cases are to be placed in ‘sealed cover’ and also of those who do not meet the prescribed benchmark. Thus, there is a need for optimizing the size of zone of consideration.

3. The matter has been considered carefully. Keeping in view the considerations in para-2 above, it has been decided to modify the existing provisions relating to size of zone of consideration as under:

i) For vacancies up to [and including] 10, existing provisions relating to normal size of zone of consideration will continue to be applicable;

ii) For vacancies exceeding 10, the normal size of zone of consideration will now be one and a half times the number of vacancies, rounded off to next higher integer, plus three but shall not be less than the size of zone of consideration for ten vacancies;

iii) The existing size of extended zone of consideration for SC/ST officers, viz. five times the total number of vacancies, will continue to be applicable.

4. A statement indicating the revised size of zone of consideration based on the above decision is annexed. It is, however, reiterated, that while the size of zone of consideration would, hereafter, be as now prescribed, the DPC, as per the extant instructions, need not assess and grade all the officers in the eligibility list, Assessment of suitability of eligible employees in the zone of consideration (in the descending order of seniority in the feeder grade) for inclusion in the panel for promotion may be considered only upto a number, which is considered sufficient for preparing the normal panel with reference to the number of vacancies as also for preparing the extended panel for promotion in terms of Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum No. 22011/18/87- Estt- (D) dated April 9, 1996. In respect of the remaining employees in the zone of consideration, as now prescribed, the DPC may put a note in the minutes that the assessment of the remaining employees in the zone of consideration is not considered necessary, as sufficient number of employees with prescribed bench- mark have become available.

5. These instructions take effect from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ANNEXURE : SIZE OF EXTEND ZONE OF CONSIDERATION

(Vidhu Kashyap)
Director