Babus can now get seven-year foreign posting, says Govt

The Centre on Wednesday eased norms to allow officers to stay on foreign posting and central deputation for a maximum period of seven years from the existing five years.

It has been decided that if the administrative ministries and other borrowing organisations wish to retain an officer beyond five years, they may extend the tenure of deputation, where absolutely necessary in public interest, up to a period not exceeding seven years at a stretch, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.  This shall be done with the approval of the minister of the borrowing ministry or department concerned with which the officers are administratively concerned, it said.

The move comes after various ministries and organisations approached the DoPT for relaxation of the five-year deputation tenure condition citing “exigencies”. The DoPT has asked all ministries that “no case of extension shall be referred to it”. Further, in cases where the necessity to have deputation tenures longer than seven years is felt, the administrative ministries, departments or borrowing organisations concerned may amend the relevant recruitment rules of such deputation post accordingly, after following the requisite procedure.