Maarg Manthan · Topic 22.6

All-India Services and Centre-State Administrative Coordination (Article 312)

Indian Polity › Centre-State Relations · Topic 22.6

The IAS, IPS and IFoS are All-India Services recruited by the Centre and controlled jointly, with the Rajya Sabha empowered under Article 312 to initiate new services; critics see a federal violation, supporters see uniformity and coordination.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Polity · Centre-State Relations

At a Glance

What it is Services common to the Centre and the states
Article Article 312
Services IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service
New service By Parliament on a Rajya Sabha resolution
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Polity: Centre-State Relations

Where Does It Fit?

This is the sixth topic of the category on Centre-State Relations. Like any federation, India has separate Central Services and State Services. In addition there are All-India Services, which serve the Centre and the states by turns.

What the All-India Services Are

The IAS, IPS and IFoS are the All-India Services. Their members occupy top positions under both the Centre and the states and serve them by turns, but they are recruited and trained by the Centre. These services are controlled jointly by the Centre and the states: the ultimate control lies with the Central government while the immediate control vests with the state governments. In 1947 the Indian Civil Service was replaced by the IAS and the Indian Police by the IPS, and both were recognised by the Constitution as All-India Services. In 1966 the Indian Forest Service was created as the third. Each of the three, irrespective of their division among states, forms a single service with common rights and status and uniform scales of pay throughout the country.

Article 312

Article 312 authorises Parliament to create new All-India Services on the basis of a Rajya Sabha resolution to that effect, supported by two-thirds of the members present and voting. This gives the Rajya Sabha, the House of the states, a say in creating new services. It is one of the ways in which a federal feature, the Rajya Sabha, is used to protect state interests even where the Centre has the power to legislate.

Point	Position
Recruitment and training	By the Centre
Control	Jointly by Centre and states
Ultimate control	Central government
Immediate control	State governments
Services	IAS, IPS, IFoS
New service	Rajya Sabha resolution by two-thirds, then law of Parliament

Arguments For and Against

Criticism	Support
They violate the principle of federalism by restricting the autonomy and patronage of the states	They help maintain a high standard of administration in the Centre as well as the states
The Rajamannar Committee (1969) and the West Bengal Memorandum (1977) wanted them abolished	They ensure uniformity of the administrative system throughout the country
They make states dependent on a Central service	They facilitate liaison, cooperation, coordination and joint action on issues of common interest

The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the institution of All-India Services be further strengthened and more such services created. The Punchhi Commission recommended new All-India Services in sectors like health, education, engineering and judiciary. This position is based on the view that a common cadre promotes national integration and efficiency.

Historical Note

In 1947 the Indian Civil Service was replaced by the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police by the Indian Police Service, and both were recognised by the Constitution as All-India Services. The Indian Forest Service was added in 1966 as the third. Each service is a single service across the country, with common rights, status and pay scales. The recruitment is made by the Union Public Service Commission and the training by the Centre, but the officers are allotted to state cadres and serve under the state governments, which exercise the immediate control, while the Central government has the ultimate control through its power over discipline and service rules.

Other Coordination Mechanisms

Administrative coordination between the Centre and the states is also sought through the Inter-State Council (Article 263), the Zonal Councils, the National Development Council and its successors, the conferences held annually or otherwise (governors’ conference presided over by the President, chief ministers’ conference by the Prime Minister, chief secretaries’ conference by the Cabinet Secretary, chief justices’ conference by the Chief Justice of India, and others), and non-constitutional advisory bodies such as NITI Aayog and the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare. These forums serve as platforms for consultation on matters of common interest.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Management of services is a tension area Appears in the list of Centre-State tensions
Article 312 Rajya Sabha resolution
Debate Federal versus uniformity

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Inter-State Council under Article 263.

Key People and Terms

All-India Services Common to Centre and states
ICS Indian Civil Service, replaced by the IAS
IFoS Indian Forest Service, 1966
Cadre Allotment to a state
Article 312 Creating new services

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

IAS, IPS, IFoS; IFoS in 1966.
Article 312: Rajya Sabha resolution.
Recruited by the Centre; immediate control with states.
Rajamannar wanted them abolished.

Do Not Confuse With

Central Services and All-India Services Centre only versus common
Recruitment and control Centre recruits; states control jointly
ICS and IAS Pre-1947 and post-1947

Memory Hook

Recruited by the Centre, serving by turns, created through the Rajya Sabha under Article 312.

Mains Angle

Questions on this topic usually ask whether All-India Services strengthen or weaken federalism. Use these points to add depth.

National integration Uniform standards
State autonomy Restricted patronage
Commissions Divergent views
Rajya Sabha Role in new services

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Evaluate the role of All-India Services in the federal system.”

How to Answer

Introduction Article 312.
Features Control and status.
Debate Pros and cons.
Conclusion Sarkaria and Punchhi.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Indian Polity, All-India Services. GS Paper 2: Centre-State relations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are All-India Services?

The All-India Services are the IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service. Their members serve both the Centre and the states by turns but are recruited and trained by the Centre, and each service forms a single service with common rights and pay scales across the country.

Which Article lets Parliament create new All-India Services?

Article 312 authorises Parliament to create new All-India Services on the basis of a Rajya Sabha resolution to that effect, passed by two-thirds of the members present and voting. It has been used to create the IFoS.

Who controls the All-India Services?

They are controlled jointly by the Centre and the states. The ultimate control lies with the Central government while the immediate control vests with the state governments where the officers serve. This is a unique dual control.

Why are All-India Services criticised?

They are said to violate the principle of federalism by restricting the autonomy and patronage of the states. The Rajamannar Committee and the West Bengal Memorandum asked for their abolition. Both bodies saw them as an intrusion into state autonomy.

Why are All-India Services supported?

They help maintain a high standard of administration at both levels, ensure uniformity of the administrative system across the country and facilitate liaison, cooperation and joint action between the Centre and states. The Sarkaria Commission supported strengthening them.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Indian Forest Service was created in 1966.

True

The third All-India Service.

2 A new All-India Service requires a Lok Sabha resolution.

False

Rajya Sabha.

3 All-India Services are recruited by the states.