Thu Jul 24 19:33:25 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, formatted for clarity and impact:
**Headline: Central Govt. Officials Demand Promotion Overhaul Amid Stagnation Crisis**
**New Delhi, July 25, 2025 (The Hindu)** – Frustration is mounting within the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) as government officials are pushing for urgent action to address widespread career stagnation. The Central Secretariat Service Forum, representing these officials, has formally appealed to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), urging immediate intervention to rectify long-standing issues of delayed promotions, cadre restructuring, and parity with other Central Civil Services.
In a memorandum presented to the Cabinet Secretary on Thursday, the forum outlined the severe impact of the delays, highlighting the lack of a cadre review for the past seven years. The last review was implemented in 2018, and the fourth cadre review, due that same year, has not yet been implemented.
“The inordinate delay in the finalisation of the cadre review report, let alone its implementation is severely impacting morale and efficiency within the CSS,” said the forum in its letter.
The forum emphasized that there are approximately 2,500 vacancies in the CSS. The communication specifically cited Under Secretaries, who are eligible for promotion and are facing acute stagnation. Officers in the 2014 batch of Assistant Section Officers are still awaiting their first promotions after a decade of service.
The CSS, which serves as the administrative backbone of nearly all Ministries and Departments, is calling on the DoPT to finalize the fourth cadre review, initiate time-bound promotions, and restore service parity with other Central Civil Services. The forum hopes that prompt action from the PMO will alleviate the current crisis and revitalize the government workforce.
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