CBEC Cadre restructure : An Update

A meeting of the Associations was held on 29th November 2011 with the  JS  of DOP&T(Mr. Rajeev Kapoor). It was informed to the Associations that D.O.P&T would be taking its final decision on cadre restructuring very soon. It was understood  that D.O.P&T has some reservation on the  temporary approval of a section of the promotional posts .
D.O.P&T further informed the delegation that the stagnation of Inspector & Superintendent in Central Excise has already been pointed out and it was intimated that they are trying to find out a tangible solution to do away with this discrimination In CBEC and a meeting with CBEC and D.O.P&T is well expected within the next week. 

In the Cadre Restructure Proposal furnished to DOPT, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has sought for 25,000 more employees, equivalent to 40% of its current staffing level, to meet the growing workload.

CBEC is the backbone of Finance Ministry. It administrate the indirect tax policy and collects more than Rs 3.50 lakh crore in a financial years This revenue is generated on the levy and collection of customs duties, central excise duties and service tax. Apart from the duty to curb goods smuggled to evade payment of customs duties the officers of Customs and Central Excise are also entrusted with the work of prevention of Drug Trafficking.

It is suggested by CBEC that it requires more staff strength to cater to increasing imports, exports, number of passengers in and out of the country. As far as Central Excise and Service Taxes are concerned the growing indutrial production and inclusion of more services in the tax net are main reasons for this proposal for cadre restructure.

The existing strength of 67,000 in CBEC has been proposed to increased 92,000. As per reliable reports, the finance ministry has already allowed it to increase junior staff, but the approval of the department of personnel and training (DoPT) is required to increase the number of officers at senior level.

It is told, CBEC has requested for a 170% increase in our group A level officers (Assistant commissioners and above) and around a 45% increase in group B level executive cadre officers (Inspectors and Superintendents).

Last CBEC cadre restructure was implemented in the year 2002, while this exercise is due after every fiver years.

CBEC has around 2,400 group A level officers and 34,000 group B level officers. In its proposal, it has asked DoPT to create 4,250 additional posts in Group ‘A’ level.