The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has updated the rules that government ministries must follow before deciding to remove reservation from promotion vacancies.
The change has been issued through an Office Memorandum dated May 26, 2026, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
The key update is simple but important: ministries will now have to wait longer before taking a final decision on de-reservation of reserved posts.
Longer Waiting Period Before Final Decision
Earlier, government departments had to wait for 2 weeks for feedback before moving ahead with de-reservation of reserved promotion vacancies.
Now, this waiting period has been extended to at least 1 month.
During this time, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the concerned constitutional bodies can give their comments.
These include:
National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
The idea is to ensure that all viewpoints are properly considered before any final decision is made.
What Happens After One Month?
The DoPT has clarified that if no response is received within one month, the concerned ministry or department can go ahead and take a decision on de-reservation.
However, if any comments are received during this period, they must be carefully reviewed before making a final decision.
This ensures that the process remains balanced and considers feedback from all relevant authorities.
Rules for SC/ST Promotion Vacancies
These revised instructions mainly apply to vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) under the promotion quota.
The change was made after consultations with key bodies including the NCSC, NCST, and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The government said the update is aimed at improving the decision-making process while maintaining fairness in reservation-related matters.
What Has Not Changed?
While the timeline has been revised, other major rules remain the same.
There is still a strict restriction on de-reservation of vacancies in direct recruitment. Such cases are allowed only in rare and exceptional situations, especially for Group A posts, and require proper approvals and consultation.
Also, the earlier guidelines issued on December 7, 2009 regarding de-reservation continue to remain in force.
What This Means in Simple Terms
In simple terms, government departments now have to wait longer and follow a more careful process before removing reservation from promotion posts.
The aim is to ensure better consultation, more transparency, and fair decision-making in government appointments.
