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Right to increase in Pay on Promotion

An officer has no claim to pay of a higher rank before promotion to such higher rank in
accordance with the rules governing service for promotion.

When an officer is promoted to a higher rank either substantively or in a paid acting capacity, the pay and
allowances appropriate to the rank will be admitted from the date notified in Gazette of India or other appropriate
orders as mentioned in Para 55 of Regulations for the Army, 1987 Edition.

Wearing of Badges of the rank [Capt, Maj, Lt Col and Col (TS)]

Officers on completion of the requisite number of years of reckonable commissioned service and being
eligible for the substantive promotion (viz. on completion of 2, 6, 13 and 26 years of service) are permitted by the
Officers Commanding units to wear the badges of Captain, Major, Lt Col and Col(TS) respectively. Before granting
permission, the OsC Units will ensure the compliance of requirements stipulated in AO 8/2005/PS and 9/2005/PS.
Such a permission to wear the badges of higher substantive rank pending publication of the Gazette Notification will
be subject to further conditions.

SPECIAL INCREMENTS FOR EXCELLENCE IN SPORTS

1.

Participants who achieve excellence (i.e. first, second and third positions in athletics and only first position
in games) at national/international events will be eligible for the award of special increments i.e. one increment for
national event and two for international event. The total number of increments should not exceed five in officer’s
entire career. The increment is to be granted from the first of the month following the month in which the sporting
events are completed. No specific period has been laid down for the officer to claim the increment. However, the
officer should claim it as early as possible. The increment so granted would continue to be drawn at the same rate till
retirement and would not count for fixation of pay on promotion, retirement benefits, DA etc.

Auth: GoI, MoD letter No. B/25571/AG/PS-3(b)/3335/D(Pay/Services) dated 04 Oct 91,

No. B/25571/AG/PS-3(b)/1272/D(Pay/Services) dated 19 Aug 96 and CGDA letter
No. AN/XIV/14021/II/INC/Sports dated 16 Nov 04.
2.

National Championships being conducted by the recognised National Sports Federation in individual
disciplines and National Games conducted by Indian Olympic Associations should be recognised as events of national
importance.

The events recognised by the International Sports Bodies in the disciplines and in which participation has
been with prior approval of Govt (Deptt of Youth Affairs and Sports ) may be treated as sporting events of
international importance.

3.
Govt Sanction will be required in individual cases for the grant of special increment to service
officers.
4.

Referees/Umpires who have been accepted as Referee/Umpire by the International Federation governing
the particular sports discipline and have performed the duties in international competitions recognised by the
International Federation may be granted two advance increments for each event subject to total of 5(five) increments
in the entire career.

5.
 Coaches who are associated with gold medal winning teams at the Asian Games/World
Championship/Olympic Games can be considered for the grant of same number of increments as available to the
members of the team. However, this benefit would not be available to :

i.
Coaches, in whose case imparting training is a part of their normal duties.
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ii.
Coaches, training sports persons who win gold medals in individual events.
Documents to be submitted to the CDA (O) for claiming the special increment
i.
Part II order notifying the grant of increments as per “Documentation Procedure for
Publication of Part II Orders (Officers)”.
ii.
Copy of the Govt letter sanctioning the grant of special increments.
iii.
Copy of the requisite certificate from the concerned sports authority certifying the
excellence achieved.
iv.

Certificate to the effect that the sports body conducting the event is the highest
recognised body at national/international level in the particular item of sport and
the tournament held is of national/international importance.

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6. PROMOTIONS
The following types of promotions exist:
1. a.
Acting promotion in the rank higher than the substantive rank in peace areas.
b.
Acting promotion in the rank higher than the substantive rank in field areas.
2.
Substantive promotion.
3.
Local rank / Brevet rank.
4.
Officiating promotion.
Grant of Erroneous Promotion - Manner of Regulating Pay and Allowances

The pay of higher rank to which an officer is erroneously promoted will be discontinued from the date on
which the orders rescinding the promotion reach the headquarters of unit/formation if he is present on duty, otherwise
from the date of the order. This applies only to substantive promotions. In case of acting promotions, the rescindment
will take effect from the date of original acting promotion.

Promotions
1.
Grant of Acting Promotion in Peace Areas
Governing Principle: Fundamental principle of acting promotion is that acting rank can be retained
only for so long as an officer is actually performing the duties of the appointment carrying that rank.
Grant of Paid Acting Rank : An officer selected for grant of acting promotion under para 1 of SAI -
1/S/74 will be granted the appropriate acting rank from the date he actually assumes and performs the
duties of the appointment.

Prior to issue of Sixth Pay Commission orders, acting rank was to become paid after 21 consecutive days*
of duty in the appointment though the grant of pay was then be retrospective and not be converted into paid acting
rank unless it was held by an officer on the 22ndday.

Auth : Para 1 Appendix A to SAI 1/S/74.

2.

If an officer proceeds on leave or combined leave (Annual leave plus furlough) or on a course of instruction
of less than ten weeks duration while holding an unpaid acting rank*, the period spent on leave, other than furlough or
such course will be considered as on duty for the purpose of conversion of unpaid acting rank into paid acting rank,
provided he covers the same vacancy on the date he qualifies for such conversion.

Auth : Para 2 & 3 Appendix A to SAI 1/S/74.

3.

When an officer is posted on return from combined leave (annual leave plus furlough) to the same
appointment or another appointment carrying equivalent rank, he will, for the purpose of grant of paid acting rank*,
be governed by the provision of para 1 above.

* The condition of holding acting rank consecutively for 21 days before the acting rank is paid,
has been removed as per Sixth Pay Commission orders.
Auth: SAI 03/S/08.
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4.
The requisite qualifying period for the grant of acting promotions in the higher ranks are laid
down in Para 1 of SAI 1/S/74 which is reproduced below :
a.

For officers of all arms and services except AMC, RVC (Graduate Veterinary officers) and ADC (but
including Licentiate officers of these three Corps and officers of MNS), PC (SL) and APS.

Rank to which Acting

Promotion is made
Total minimum service as
Commissioned Officer *
Remarks
(1)
(2)
(3)
Captain
3 years
-----------
Major
6 years
-----------
Lt Col
6-1/2 years

With a minimum period of one year service in the rank of Major. Broken periods will count towards this limit.

Colonel
8-1/2 years

With a minimum period of two years service in the rank(s) of Major and above. Broken periods will count towards
this limit.

Brigadier
12 years

With minimum period of three years service in the rank(s) of Lt Col and above, if any held. Broken periods will count
towards this limit.

Major General
20 years
-----------
Lt General
25 years
-----------
*Antedate granted for promotion will count for calculating minimum qualifying service vide Para 1(d)
SAI 1/S/74.

Auth : Para 1 of SAI 1/S/74 as amended vide AI 25/90.

Note : R C officers are eligible for acting promotion to the rank of Capt and Major.
Auth : AI 32/89 as amended vide AI 13/2000.

b.

Officers of the AMC, RVC (Graduate Veterinary officers) and ADC (other than Licentiate
officers of these three Corps) :
Rank to which Acting Promotion is
made
Total minimum service as
Commissioned officer
Remarks
Captain (RVC Graduate Veterinary
officers and ADC)
1 year
-
Major
5 years
-
Lt Colonel & above
as in clause (a) above
-
Auth: Para 1(b) of SAI 1/S/74.
Note : Acting promotion to the rank of Captain of AMC will not be admissible.