No time bound promotion under MACP for these central government employees; govt clarifies in Rajya Sabha

Central government employees have the option of Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP), which allows them to receive promotions on completing 10, 20 and 30 years of service. The option is particularly significant for Group D and Group C employees, as their chances of promotion are often limited.

However, the government has clarified in Parliament that central government civilian employees who retired between 2006 and 2008 under the Sixth Central Pay Commission won’t be eligible for MACP benefits. Here’s why!

MACP benefit-related query


Regarding the MACP benefits, on July 23, 2026, Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, posed a question to Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of Personal, Public Grievances and Pensions in Parliament asking why those central government employees who retired between 2006 and 2008 under the 6th CPC have been denied benefits under the MACP scheme?

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Replying to the query, Jitendra said the central government through a resolution notified on August 29, 2008, had accepted the recommendations of the 6^th Pay Commission for the introduction of a MACP scheme with effect from September 1, 2008, with further modification under the scheme to grant three financial upgradations on completion of 10, 20 and 30 years of regular service counted from the direct entry grade or 10 years of service in the same grade pay.

“Since the MACP scheme was not in place during the period from January 1, 2006, and August 31, 2008, the question of issuing any OM or granting benefits of the MACP scheme during this period to central government civilian employees, whether in service or retired, does not arise,” says the Minister.


Increasing job promotions key demand from employee bodies in 8^th Pay Commission

The National Council of the Joint Consultative Machinery, NC-JCM, the main central government employee body in India, in its memorandum submitted to the 8^th Pay Commission, has recommended increasing the number of promotions under the MACP from three to five. The All India Defence Employees’ Federation, which represents civilian defence employees, has also raised a similar demand in its memorandum.

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What is NC-JCM’s objection to the current MACP scheme?

The NC-JCM said in its memorandum that staff such as telephone operators, artisan staff, drawing office staff, tradesman mate (semi-skilled), cooks, industrial canteen employees, etc, don't get even three promotions in their service career.

The NC-JCM further said that the promotion scheme for all categories of Group ‘C’ and Group ‘B’ employees should be in a time scale manner (time scale promotion). This is needed because of lack of higher posts due to the cadre structure. Also, employees recruited in the same batch usually belong to the same age group and for years, vacancies don’t arise in the higher posts, says the main employee body.

Moreover, since the time scale promotion scheme is available for Group ‘A’ officers, Group ‘C’ and Group ‘B’ employees should not be discriminated against, argued the NC-JCM in its memorandum.

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The NC-JCM has recommended that the cadre structure of each category should be formed to ensure minimum five promotions in an employee’s service span of 30 years.

• First financial upgradation after 6 years of service from the date of appointment.
• Second financial upgradation after 12 years of service from the date of appointment.
• Third financial upgradation after 18 years of service from the date of appointment.
• Fourth financial upgradation after 24 years of service from the date of appointment.
• Fifth financial upgradations after 30 years of service from the date of appointment.