A clarification has been sought from the Centre on whether more employees have been appointed on a contractual basis than in regular or permanent roles in central government employment over the past five years.
In the Rajya Sabha, Members of Parliament Javed Ali Khan and Ramji Lal Suman raised questions asking the government whether more employees have been appointed on a contractual basis than in regular or permanent roles since 2019.
They also sought an explanation for “the decline in regular/permanent appointments within the central government”, if applicable.
Further, they asked for data on “the number of contractual appointments and regular/permanent appointments in central government separately since 2019 till 1st November, 2024, Ministry/ Department/ PSUwise and year-wise?”
Answering the questions, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, clarified that all government posts are filled as per established recruitment rules.
The General Financial Rules (GFR), 2017, allow Ministries and Departments to engage contractual services under specific administrative circumstances, such as operational efficiency and cost management, the minister expalined. However, this is done without violating the basic guidelines of Rule 198 of the GFR.
While Ministries and Departments are responsible for appointing permanent employees against vacant posts, they are also empowered to engage contractual staff when necessary, he added.
The government does not maintain centralised data on contractual appointments across ministries and departments, the minister’s reply said.