Last Updated on June 15, 2024 by Satish Mishra
An Overview on Assured Career progression Scheme
When ACP (Assured Career Progression Scheme) was implemented vide Office Memorandum NO. 35034/1/97-Estt(D) dated 09.08.1999, it was not made applicable to Central Government Employees in Group “A” Services.
In respect of Central Government Employees in Group B, Group C and Group D Cadres, two financial up gradation were allowed. First and Second ACP were granted on completion of 12 years and 24 years of service respectively.
In ACP Scheme, Basic Pay of Central Government Employees was upgraded as though the employee concerned was promoted to next higher post. In other words, one increment applicable to existing post was given and then the basic pay was fixed at nearest higher pay in next higher post.
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Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme introduced by 6th Pay Commission
6th Pay Commission recommended a modified version of ACP for its operation in Running Pay Band and Grade Pay Concepts introduced by it.
Changes in Career Progression Scheme on introduction of MACP:
1. Unlike ACP, MACP is applicable for Central Government Employees in Group A Services also.
2. Career Progression in 12 years as per ACP was modified as reduced to 10 years in MACP.
3. MACP provides for three financial up gradation in the place of two provided by ACP.
4. MACP envisages pay fixation to next Grade Pay in the Grade Pay hierarchy along with 3% increment in pay in pay band and grade pay received prior to up gradation.
5. Even if next grade pay in grade pay hierarchy is same as Grade Pay received prior to up gradation or the same is less than the Grade Pay applicable to next post in the promotion hierarchy, Central Government Employees will have to settle with up gradation to next Grade Pay only.
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MACP after implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations:
Most of the features of MACP Scheme applicable in the previous pay commission period were retained in MACP Scheme came in to effect after 7th CPC implementation also.
Instead of financial up gradation in next grade pay hierarchy, MACPS would now provide financial up gradation to next level in the Pay Matrix after granting one increment (by traversing to the pay mentioned in the vertically next index) in the pay level applicable prior to grant of MACP.
Following is the major change made in MACP Scheme from 25th July 2016
Benchmark for financial up gradation under MACPS has been revised to “very good” in APAR (Annual Performance Appraisal Report) grading’s from “good” which was applicable in the earlier version of MACP Scheme.
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Pay fixation on MACP
Though Pay fixation method on grant of MACP will be same in all cases, application of the same would slightly differ depending upon the Date of MACP. This is mainly because decision of Got on 7th Pay Commission implementation envisages two dates for annual increment viz., on 1st January and 1st July based on the date of entry in to service, date of promotion or MACP.
Checkout following article for reading in details about Two Dates of Annual Increment after 7th Pay Commission implementation.
MACP between 2nd July and 1st January:
If an Employee is granted MACP between 2nd July and 1st January, he / she would automatically entitled to one annual increment on 1st July which falls prior to her / his MACP.
On grant of MACP the employee concerned will be entitled to financialup gradation to next level in the Pay Matrix after getting one increment (by moving to pay mentioned in the vertically next index) in the pay level applicable prior to grant of MACP.
Then the next annual increment will be granted in the immediate next 1st day of July.
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6. MACP between 2nd January and 1st July:
If an employee is entitled to MACP between 2nd January and 1st July and if he / she is getting annual increment on 1st January prior to MACP, he / she would automatically entitled to one annual increment on 1st January, which falls prior to her / his MACP.
On grant of MACP the employee concerned will be entitled to financial up gradation to next level in the Pay Matrix after getting one increment (by moving to pay mentioned in the vertically next index) in the pay level applicable prior to grant of MACP.
Then the next annual increment will be granted in the immediate next 1st day of January.
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7. Pay Fixation MACP – When Employee opts for Pay Fixation on the date of next increment under FR 22 (I) (a) (1).
As we all know, Prior to implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, Single Date of Annual Increment, viz., 1st July of Every Year, was in existence. Hence, except Employees who enter in to Government Service after 1st January 2016, Date of annual increment of existing employees prior to 1st January 2016 was 1st July.
In the case of employees joined in Got Service on or before 1st January 2016, getting annual increment in 1st July, and granted MACP between 2nd January and 1st July, if the MACP Pay fixation is effective from actual date of MACP, then the employee concerned may not be entitled to next annual increment in the immediate next 1st day of July.
In those cases, it would be financially beneficial for the employee if he / she opts for Pay fixation on the date of next increment under FR 22 (I) (a) (1) to be eligible for next annual increment in the immediate next 1st day of July. Consequently, annual increment in the case of the employee concerned would continue to be received on 1st July, irrespective of the fact that he / was granted MACP between 2nd January and 1st July
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Illustration 1 : MACP on 1st August 2016:(Applicable to employees granted MACP between 2nd July and 1st January )
- 7th Pay commission Pay of an employee is fixed as Rs. 34900 in Level 5 (as against grade pay of Rs. 2800 in 6th CPC Pay) as on 1st January 2016.
- As on 1st July 2016, he will be entitled to annual increment. Therefore, his pay will be fixed as Rs. 35,900/- at Level 5 Index 8.
- He is entitled to MACP as on 1st August 2016.
- In this case, financial up gradation under MACP is granted as follows.
Step 1: Existing Pay of Employee which is in Index 8 of Level 5 will be provided with MACP Increment and therefore his pay will be placed in Level 5 – Index 9, viz., in 37,000/-
Step 2. Since there is no pay in the next level (level 6) which is equal to Rs. 37,000/-, the next higher basic pay in Level 6 is Rs. 37,600/- which is at Index 3 of Level 6.
For more info on the subject, please dial 99888-17966 or write to us at [email protected] . This post is written by Sumitra Nair from Pune University.
