In a significant cadre progression within the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), the Ministry of Finance has granted Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) to more than 125 IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officers, elevating them to the rank of Additional Commissioner in Level 13 of the Pay Matrix. The upgradation has been approved by the President and notified through Office Order No. 199/2025 dated December 9, 2025.
The advancement applies to officers currently serving in the Junior Administrative Grade across customs formations, GST zones, enforcement units, audit wings, and directorates. The order specifies that the grant of NFSG is subject to vigilance clearance as on the date of conferment. For a majority of the officers, the NFSG will take effect from January 1, 2026, while for a few, the effective date has been scheduled for April 1, 2026.
The list includes officers from batches 2013, 2014, 2016, and select names from the 2011 cadre, marking a key milestone in their career trajectory. Among those elevated are S. Hari Krishna Reddy (2016 Batch), Abhishek Kumar Sharma (2013 Batch), Hemant Kumar (2013 Batch), Pradeep K P (2013 Batch), P. Amitesh (2016 Batch) and Ramchandran N G (2013 Batch). Their advancement reflects routine cadre progression norms that allow non-functional elevation upon completion of specified years of service, irrespective of vacancy constraints.
The order has been duly circulated to all Principal Chief Commissioners, Principal Directors General, Chief Commissioners, and Directors General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, along with the Directorate General of Human Resource Development for implementation. Pay and Accounts Offices and the Directorate of Systems have also been instructed to update records and publish the notification on the official portal.
The notification was issued under the signature of S. Lianlal Lian, Under Secretary to the Government of India. As noted in the document, the Hindi version of the order will be released separately.
The NFSG grant is expected to prompt internal restructuring in certain zones and directorates as officers assume higher functional parity. Seniority alignment and pay fixation in Level 13 of the Pay Matrix will take effect from January 2026 for those granted NFSG on a regular basis. This development forms part of CBIC’s continued efforts toward structured cadre modernization and timely advancement of its senior executive ranks.
