All India Services (Conduct) Rules 1968
Topic: Civil Services: Role, Accountability and Reforms · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The All India Services (Conduct) Rules 1968 are the rules of behaviour for officers of the three All India Services: the IAS, the IPS and the Indian Forest Service. They require integrity (honesty), political neutrality, accountability and devotion to duty. They limit gifts, political activity, private business and public criticism of the government. Officers must also file returns of their property. These rules matter because breaking them can lead to disciplinary action.
Example
Rule 5 of these rules bars an IAS officer from joining a political party or doing election work. So a serving district collector cannot campaign for any candidate.
Don't confuse with
- Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1964: these cover central government employees. The 1968 rules cover only IAS, IPS and IFoS officers.