
Guidelines for modified assured career progression scheme (MACP) for the central government civilian employees
No.35034/3/2015-Estt.(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)
North Block, New Delhi -110001
Dated the 22nd October, 2019
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Consolidated Guidelines Regarding Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme For The Central Government Civilian Employees.
The Seventh Central Pay Commission in Para 5.1.44 of its report, recommended that Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) will continue to be administered at 10, 20 and 30 years as before. In the new Pay matrix, the employees will move to the immediate next Level in the hierarchy. As per the recommendations, the Scheme will be available to all posts, including Group “A” posts, whether isolated or not. However, Organised Group “A” Services will not be covered under the Scheme. In other words, MACPS will continue to be applicable to all employees up to HAG level, except members of Organised Group ‘A’ Services.
2. The Government has considered the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission for continuation of MACPS and has accepted the same. The MACPS will continue to be administered at 10, 20 and 30 years as before. Under the Scheme, the employee will move to immediate next Pay Level in the new Pay Matrix.
3. The Scheme shall continue to be applicable to all regularly appointed Group “A”(except officers of the Organised Group “A” Services), “B”; and “C” Central Government Civilian Employees. Casual employees, including those granted ‘temporary status’ and employees appointed in the Government on adhoc or contract basis shall not qualify for benefits under the aforesaid Scheme. The details of the MACP Scheme and conditions for grant of the financial upgradation under the Scheme are given in Annexure-I.
4. A Screening Committee shall be constituted in each Department to consider the case for grant of financial upgradations under the MACP Scheme. The Screening Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and two members. The members of the Committee shall comprise officers holding posts which are at least one level above the level in which the MACP is to be considered and not below the rank of Under Secretary equivalent in the Government. The Chairperson should generally be a level above the members of the Committee.
5. In cases where the Appointing Authority is the President and the Screening Committee is constituted in the Secretariat of the Ministry/Department, then the power to approve the recommendations of the Screening Committee is delegated to the Secretary of such Ministry or Department. In cases where the Appointing Authority is the President and the Screening Committee is constituted in an organization (for e.g., field office, attached/subordinate office, etc), then the power to approve the recommendations of the Screening Committee is delegated to the Head of such organization. In all other cases, the power to approve the recommendations of the Screening Committee shall be with the Appointing Authority.
6. In order to prevent undue strain on the administrative machinery, the Screening Committee shall follow a time-schedule and meet twice in a financial year Accordingly, cases maturing during the first-half of a particular financial year (April-September) shall be taken up for consideration by the Screening Committee meeting in the first week of January. Similarly, the Screening Committee meeting in the first week of July shall process the cases that would be maturing during the second-half of the financial year (October-March).
7. In so far as persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Departments are concerned, these orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
8. Any interpretation/clarification of doubt as to the scope and meaning of the provisions of the MACP Scheme shall be given by the Department of Personnel and Training (Establishment-D). The MACP Scheme continues to be effective from 01.09.2008.
9. No stepping up of pay in the level would be admissible with regard to junior getting more pay than the senior on account of pay fixation under MACP Scheme.
10. Hindi version will follow.
(A. Bhattacharya)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
Annexure I
O.M. No.35034/3/2015-Estt.(D) dated 22.10.2019
1. There shall be three financial upgradations under the MACPS, counted from the direct entry grade on completion of 10, 20 and 30 years services, respectively, or 10 years of continuous service in the same Level in Pay Matrix, whichever is earlier.
2. The MACPS envisages merely placement in the immediate next higher level in the hierarchy of the Pay Matrix as given in PART A of Schedule of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016. Thus, the level at the time of financial upgradation under the MACPS can, in certain cases where regular promotion is not between two successive Pay Levels, be lower than what is available at the time of regular promotion. In such cases, the higher level attached to the next promotion post in the hierarchy of the concerned cadre/organisation will be given only at the time of regular promotion.
3. The financial upgradations under the MACPS would be admissible up-to level 15 in the Pay Matrix, corresponding to the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG).
4. (i) Benefit of pay fixation available at the time of regular promotion shall also be allowed at the time of financial upgradation under the Scheme [as prescribed in Para 13 of CCS(Revised Pay Rules), 2016].
(ii) There shall, however, be no further fixation of pay at the time of regular promotion if it is in the same pay level as granted under MACPS.
(iii) However, at the time of actual promotion if it happens to be in a post carrying higher pay level than what is available under MACPS, then he shall be placed in the level to which he is promoted at a cell in the promoted level equal to the figure being drawn by him on account of MACP. If no such cell is available in the level to which promoted, he shall be placed at the next higher cell in that level. The employee may have an option to get this fixation done either on the date of promotion or w.e.f. the date of next increment as per the option to be exercised by him.
5. Promotions earned/upgradation granted under the MACP Scheme in the past to those grades which are in the same Level in the Pay Matrix due to merger of pay scales/upgradations of posts recommended by the Seventh Pay Commission shall be ignored for the purpose of granting upgradations under Modified ACPS. The benefit of merger will accrue w.e.f. the date of notification of the Recruitment Rules for the relevant post.
6. Fixation of pay on grant of financial upgradation under MACPS on or after 01.01.2016 shall be made as per Rule 13 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2016 issued vide Department of Expenditure notification dated 25th July, 2016 and in terms of provisions contained in DoP&T OM No. 13/02/2017-Estt.(Pay-I) dated 27.07.2017.
6.1 In cases where financial upgradation had been granted to Government Servants in the next higher Grade Pay in the hierarchy of Grade Pays as per the provisions of the MACP Scheme of 19th May, 2009, but whereas as a result of the implementation of Seventh CPC’s recommendations, substantive post held by him in the hierarchy of the cadre has been upgraded by granting a higher Pay Level, in such cases the MACP already granted to him prior to 7th CPC shall be refixed in the revised pay structure at the next higher level of Pay Matrix. To illustrate, in the case of Postal Inspector (GP 4200/-) in Department of Posts, who was granted 1st MACP in the Grade. Pay of Rs. 4600/- in PB-2, he will now be granted (grade pay of Rs 4800 in the pay band PB-2) Level 8 of the Pay Matrix consequent upon upgradation of the post of Postal Inspector from GP of Rs. 4200 to GP of Rs. 4600/Level 7 in the Pay Matrix. However, all the financial upgradations under the Scheme should be done strictly in accordance with the hierarchy of Levels in the Pay Matrix as notified vide CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016.
7. With regard to fixation of his pay on grant of promotion/financial upgradation under MACP Scheme, a Government servant has an option under FR22 (1) (a) (1) to get his pay fixed in the higher post/ Pay Level either from the date of his promotion/upgradation or from the date of his next increment viz. 1st July or 1st January, subject to provisions in the Scheme.
8. Promotions earned in the post carrying same Pay Level in the promotional hierarchy as per Recruitment Rules shall be counted for the purpose of MACPS.
9. ‘Regular service’ for the purposes of the MACPS shall commence from the date of joining of a post in direct entry grade on a regular basis either on direct recruitment basis or on absorption/re-employment basis. Service rendered on casual, adhoc/contract basis before regular appointment on pre-appointment training shall not be taken into reckoning. However, past continuous regular service in same/another Central Government Department in a post carrying same pay level in the Pay Matrix prior to regular appointment in a new Department, without a break, shall also be counted towards qualifying regular service for the purposes of MACPS only (and not for the regular promotions). However, benefits under the MACPS in such cases shall not be considered till the satisfactory completion of the probation period in the new post.
10. Past service rendered by a Central Government employee in a State Government/Statutory Body/Autoriomous body/Public Sector organization, before appointment in the Central Government shall not be counted towards Regular Service.
11. ‘Regular service’ shall include all periods spent on deputation/foreign service, study leave and all other kinds of leave, duly sanctioned by the competent authority.
12. The MACPS shall also be applicable to work charged employees, if their service conditions are comparable with the staff of regular establishment.
13. Existing time-bound promotion scheme, including in-situ promotion scheme, or any other kind of promotion scheme existing for a particular category of employees in a Ministry/Department or its offices, may continue to be operational for the concerned category of employees, if it is decided by the concerned administrative authorities to retain such Schemes, after necessary consultations or they may switch-over to the MACPS. However, these Schemes shall not run concurrently with the MACPS.
14. The MACPS is directly applicable only to Central Government Civilian employees. The Scheme may be extended to employees of Central Autonomous/Statutory Bodies under the administrative control of a Ministry/Department subject to fulfillment of conditions prescribed in DOPT’s OM No. 35034/3/2010-Estt.(D) dated 03.08.2010.
15. If a financial upgradation under the MACPS is deferred and not allowed after 10 years in a level, due to the reason of the employees being unfit or due to departmental proceedings, etc., this would have consequential effect on the subsequent financial upgradation which would also get deferred to the extent of delay in grant of first financial upgradation.
16. On grant of financial upgradation under the Scheme, there shall be no change in the designation, classification or higher status. However, financial and certain other benefits which are linked to the pay drawn by an employee such as HBA, allotment of Government accommodation shall be permitted.
17 (i). For grant of financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme, the prescribed Benchmark shall be ‘Very Good’, for all levels. This shall be effective for upgradations under MACPS falling due on or after 25.07.2016 and the revised benchmark shall be applicable for the APARs for the year 2016-17 and subsequent years.
17(ii). While assessing the suitability of an employee for grant of MACP, the Departmental Screening Committee (DSC) shall assess the APARs in the reckoning period. The benchmark for the APARs for the years 2016-17 and thereafter shall be ‘Very Good’. The benchmark for the years 2015-16 and earlier years shall continue be as per the MACP guidelines issued vide DoPT O.M. dated 19.05.2009:
“The financial upgradation would be non-functional basis subject to fitness in the hierarchy of grade pay within the PB-I. Thereafter for upgradation under the MACPS the benchmark of ‘good’ would be applicable till the grade pay of Rs. 6600/- in PB-3. The benchmark will be ‘Very Good’ for financial upgradation to the grade pay of Rs. 7600 and above.”
For example, if a particular MACP falls due on or after 25.07.2016, the following benchmarks for APARs are applicable:
18. In the matter of disciplinary/ penalty proceedings, grant of benefit under the MACPS shall be subject to rules governing normal promotion. Such cases shall, therefore, be regulated under the provisions of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 and instructions issued thereunder.
19. The MACPS contemplates merely placement on personal basis in the immediate higher Pay Level /grant of financial benefits only and shall riot amount to actual/functional promotion of the employees concerned. Therefore, no reservation orders/roster shall apply to the MACPS, which shall extend its benefits uniformly to all eligible SC/ST employees also. However, the rules of reservation in promotion shall be ensured at the time of regular promotion. For this reason, it shall not be mandatory to associate members of SC/ST in the Screening Committee meant to consider cases for grant of financial upgradation under the Scheme.
20. Financial upgradation under the MACPS shall be purely personal to the employee and shall have no relevance to his seniority position. As such, there shall be no additional financial upgradation for the senior employees on the ground that the junior employee in the grade has got higher pay/ Level under the MACPS. However, in cases where a senior Government servant granted MACP to a higher Grade Pay before the 1st day of January, 2016 draws less pay in the revised pay structure than his junior who is granted MACP to the higher Level on or after the 1st day of January, 2016, the pay of senior Government servant in the revised pay structure shall be stepped up to an amount equal to the pay as fixed for his junior in that higher post and such stepping up shall be done with effect from the date of MACP of the junior Government servant subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions, namely:-
(a) both the junior and the senior Goverment servants belong to the same cadre and they are in the same pay Level on grant of MACP;
(b) the existing pay structure and the revised pay structure of the lower and higher posts in which they are entitled to draw pay are identical;
(c) the senior Government servants at the time of grant of MACP are drawing equal or more pay than the junior;
(d) the anomaly is directly as a result of the application of the provisions of Fundamental Rule 22 or any other rule or order regulating pay fixation on such grant of MACP in the revised pay structure:
Provided that if the junior officer was drawing more pay in the existing pay structure than the senior by virtue of any advance increments granted to him, the provisions of this sub rule shall not be invoked to step up the pay of the senior officer.
21. Pay drawn in the level of Pay Matrix under the MACPS shall be taken as the basis for determining the terminal benefits in respect of the retiring employee.
22. In case an employee is declared surplus in his/her organisation and appointed in the same pay-scale or lower scale of pay in the new organization, the regular service rendered by him/her in the previous organisation shall be counted towards the regular service in his/her new organisation for the purpose of giving financial upgradation under the MACPS.
23. In case of transfer ‘including unilateral transfer on request’, regular service rendered in previous organisation/office shall be counted alongwith the regular service in the new organisation/office for the purpose of getting financial upgradations under the MACPS. However, financial upgradation under the MACPS shall be allowed in the immediate next higher Pay Level in the Pay Matrix as given in CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016. Wherever an official, in accordance with terms and conditions of transfer on own volition to a lower post, is reverted to the lower Post/ Grade from the promoted Post/ Pay Level before being relieved for the new organisation/office, such past promotion in the previous organisation/ office will be ignored for the purpose of MACPS in the new organisation/office.
24. If a regular promotion has been offered but was refused by the employee before becoming entitled to an upgradation under the scheme, no financial upgradation shall be allowed as the employee has not stagnated due to lack of opportunities. If, however, financial upgradation has been allowed due to stagnation and the employees subsequently refuse the promotion, it shall not be a ground to withdraw the financial upgradation. He shall, however, not be eligible to be considered for further financial upgradation till he agrees to be considered for promotion again and in such case, the second or next financial upgradation shall also be deferred to the extent of period of debarment due to the refusal of promotion.
25. Cases of persons holding higher posts purely on adhoc basis shall also be considered by the Screening Committee alongwith others. They may be allowed the benefit of financial upgradation on reversion to the lower post.
26. Employees on deputation need not revert to the parent Department for availing the benefit of financial upgradation under the MACPS. They may exercise a fresh option to either draw pay in the level of Pay Matrix attached to the post held by them on deputation or the pay in the pay level admissible to them under the MACPS, whichever is beneficial. In case, the employee opts to draw pay in the pay level admissible to him/her under the MACPS, the deputation (duty) allowance shall be regulated in terms of the instructions issued by DoPT vide O.M. No.2/11/2017-Estt.(Pay II) dated 24.11.2017, as amended from time to time.
27. Illustrations
A. (i) If a Government servant in Level 2 gets his first regular promotion in the Level 4 on completion of 8 years of service and then continues in the Level for further 10 years without any promotion then he would be eligible for 2nd financial upgradation under the MACPS in the Level 5 after completion of 18 years (8+10 years).
(ii) (a) In case he does not get any promotion thereafter, then he would get 3rd financial upgradation in the Level 6 on completion of further 10 years of service i.e. after 28 years (8+10+10)..
(ii) (b) However, if he gets 2nd promotion after 5 years of further service to the grade say in the Level 7 [i.e. on completion of 23 years (8+10+5 years)], then he would get 3rd financial upgradation in Level 8 after completion of 30 years. (iii)(a) If he gets 2nd promotion before 20th year (say 19th year), then he gets 3rd MACP, at the end of 29th year, (i.e. 10 years from 2nd promotion) provided he does not get 3rd promotion.
(iii)(b) If he gets 2nd promotion after 20th year (say in 23rd year), and there is no 3rd promotion before 30 years, then he may be allowed 3rd MACP at the end of 30 years.
B. If a Government servant in Level 2 is granted 1st financial upgradation under the MACPS on completion of 10 years of service in the Level 3 and 5 years later he gets 1st regular promotion in Level 4, the 2nd financial upgradation under MACPS (in the next level w.r.t. level held by Government servant) will be granted in Level 5 on completion of 20 years of service. On completion of 30 years of service, he will get 3rd MACP in the Level
6. However, if two promotions are earned before completion of 20 years, only 3rd financial upgradation would be admissible on completion of 10 years of service in Level from the date 2n promotion or at 30th year of service, whichever is earlier
C. If a Government servant has been granted either two regular promotions or 2nd financial upgradation under the ACP Scheme of August, 1999 after completion of 24 years of regular service then only 3rd financial upgradation would be admissible to him under the MACPS on completion of 30 years of service provided that he has not earned third promotion in the hierarchy.
(A.Battarcharya)
Deputy Secretary

Mohan says
Sir, my date of joining is 15 Jun 98. I got 2 MACP in Jun 2018. So, will there be any change in my annual increment from previously July to Jan.
I am being given annual increment in July only. Do any option available post reexercising option released.
M.K.KUMAR says
Don”t give option you are benefited from 15/8/18. If you are given option it will be given old matrix level from 1-1-19 1st increment and 2nd from 1-7-19. DNI on 1-7-20 in new matrix level. Annual Increment on July only.
G.Rajamanickam says
The reply given by Mr. M.K Kumar vide his reply dt.9.12.2019 for the query raised by Mr. R.Seker vide his letter dt.7.12.2019 is wrong. As Per Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) O.M. dt.28.11.2019, employees who were promoted /granted financial upgradation under MACP on any day other than the date of their increment but opted to have fixation of their pay in the promoted post on the date of their increment in the lower post are entitled to draw their first increment on completion of six months qualifying service . Since Mr. Seker was granted third financial upgradation under MACP, on 10.3.2016, he can exercise option to have fixation of pay on 1.7.2016. If so, initially his pay in Level 9 will be fixed at Rs.80200 being the stage next above Rs.78,800 drawn in Level.8. Again after granting annual increment in Level 8 on 1.7.2016 raising his pay to Rs.81,200, his pay in the MACP scale will be refixed at Rs.85,100 Level 9 with Date of Next Increment on 1.1.2017
M.K.KUMAR says
No it should be 1st increment in old matrix on 1-7-16 & 2nd increment also in old matrix 1-1-17. DNI on 1-7-2017 in new matrix level as per the new rules.
M.K.KUMAR says
Further to inform you that “B” will get as on 1-7-16 as Rs.81200, as on 1-1-17 as 83600 in level 8 & DNI on 1-7-17 as 85100 in level9. Promotional increment 7/16 & 1/17 & DNI on 7/17. Promotional 2 increments in matrix 8 & annual increment 7/17 in Matrix 9 as per the new rules.
Anonymous says
You may kindly refer the recent Ministry of Finance O.M. dt.28.11.2019 employees who were promoted/granted financial upgradation on any day other than the date of increment in the lower post and opted to have fixation of pay on the date of accrual of increment in the lower post i.e. either on 1st July/1st January are entitled to get their first increment on completion of six months qualifying service i.e. 1st January/1st July., Since Mr. Seker was granted financial upgradation on 14.3.2016, he can exercise option to have fixation of pay on 1.7.2016 being the date of his increment in the lower post, which is more beneficial to him. As he was drawing pay of Rs.78,800 in Level 8 on 14.3.2016, his pay in the MACP scale has to be fixed at Rs.80,200 in Level 9 on 14.3.2016. Again on 1.7.2016 after drawing the annual increment raising his pay to Rs.81,200 in the lower post, his pay in the MACP scale (Level 9) will be fixed at Rs.85,100 after allowing one notional increment in the lower post (Level 8). His date of first increment in the MACP scale will be on 1.1.2017.
Avinash Pathe says
I am to receive pay upgradation on 20.06.2019.
My Pay before 20.06.2019 was ₹ 67000 in Level 12.
I want to know how will my upgraded pay in Level 13 be fixed ?
Thank You Sir.
Y. KONDALARAO says
We are very frequently noticing the usage of the words ” REGULAR SERVICE” in many an order issued by the Administrative Authorities/ Govt. It is not understandable if there is any service regarded/ considered as non- regular or irregular service in any dept. If there is any such service at any level, why is it allowed to last for short / long time and why could it not be regularased by a review committee if such instances have taken place , to avert a sitution to deprive any Govt servant , of the benefit of such so called non- regular service ? A good number of people are subjected to suffer losses of admissible benefits SOME TIMES even after retirement too , due to this unfortunately created termonology used in orders/ communications. Whatever period of service rendered by a Govt. Servant in any capacity shall invariably be considerd/ regarded as “REGULAR SERVICE”
R SEKAR says
sir please clarify whether my (A) pay will be stepped up with my junior (B) as per consolidated guidelines MACP dt 22/10/2019 , (A ) got 3rd macp on 15/11/1915 in PB 2 Rs 5400 and pay fixed as Rs 25390 + GP Rs5400 . On that day (B) pay was Rs24970+GP Rs4800 in PB2.Their pay have been fixed as follows after 7th cpc on 01/01/2016 (A) Rs 80200 in Level 9 cell 15 and (B) Rs 78800 in Level 8 cell 17 . After 3rd macp granted to (B) on 14/03/2016 his pay has been fixed as Rs 82600 in Level 9 cell 16 with his DNI on 01/01/2017 Thanks
M.K.KUMAR says
This is to inform you there is no DNI for B on 1-1-17. Nobody will given increment on JANUARY. Annual increment for all in JULY only.
As per your your statement A. Level 9 B level 8
1-1- 16 as. ……. 80,200. ….. 78,800
14-3-16 as …….. 80,200 …. 81,200 *
1-7-16 as. ……… 82,600. ….. 81,200 (no increment)
1-7-17 as. ……… 85,100. ….. 83,600
* Since he joined early service and got no promotion, you got later appointed and
early promotions so the differences of stages 15 & 17 i.e. 2 years early he joined and got 2 increments comparing with you.
I think now you cleared your doubt he is getting rs.1000 extra with you from 14-3 to 30-6-16.
M.K.KUMAR says
Corrections : Since both are equal from the 7th CPC (designation is not a cretaria for seniority) because both are in one category on completion of 20/30 years of service. After completion of 30 years B will be senior at the time of retirement comparing to your increment, he will get additional two increments.
M.K.KUMAR says
Correct on : Not 2 increment one increment. From 1-7-16 A – 82600, B 81200 & 1-7-17 A – 85100 B – 82,600 in MATRIX 9.
R SEKAR says
Thanks Sir. However 7th CPC allowed increments on January as well as July. Hence my case may please be studied once again. Thanks
G.Rajamanickam says
In the case of Mr. B, who was drawing a pay of Rs.78,800 in Level 8 of Pay Matrix granted MACP on 14,3,2016 in Level 9 of Pay Matrix exercise option to have fixation of pay in the MACP scale on 1.7.2016 in the manner as provided under FR 22(I)(a)(1), his pay will be fixed at Rs.85,100 with date of next increment on 1.1.2017. He should exercise the option before 28th December, 2019 vide Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) O.M. dt.28.11.2019
M.K.KUMAR says
No. From 2 nd July to 1st January accrue 6 months eligible in JANUARY INCREMENT will be given on JULY only. Increment given July.
Krishan Gopal says
My first ad-hoc LDC post appointment 23/01/95 to2/6/2009 continue service and continue increment after 03/6/2009 regular appointment post joined after 01/12/2011 UDC permotion. 31/12/2016 to H. C promotion but first appointment to continue 16 years LDC post not benefit MACP please help me
M.K.KUMAR says
Since you got 2 pay fixation as UFC & H.C. only eligible on completion of 30 years as 3rd MACP.
Rajesh Gogoi says
I am appointed on 18th october 1996 .As per MACP upgrade I got 100 rupees benefit after ten year of service.
What is the next level to receive the MACP benefit after 20 years.
R L Mathur says
What about reconsidering SC judgement of implementation of macp wef 1.1.2006
Veenu says
Nice
Nimang pura says
If those group ‘c’ staff he/she get promotion after 19 (nineteen years continue
service , what is benefits like she
got only Rs 100 one hundred, due to implementation of MACP w.e.f.1/9/2008. whereas
My appointment was September 1996