Government Issues Amendment to the 13th Edition of CSMOP
Amendment to Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure (CSMOP) – Use of Ink Colors in Official Noting
The Government of India, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, issued an Office Memorandum dated 17 October 2014 regarding amendments to the 13th Edition of the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure (CSMOP).
Download Issues Amendment to the 13th Edition of CSMOP in PDF
Key Amendment: Uniform Use of Blue or Black Ink
The amendment revises the existing guidelines related to recording notes and orders in official files.
Earlier Provision (Existing Rule 32(9))
Under the previous rule, all staff and officers were required to use blue or black ink for recording notes and orders. However, officers of the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India and above were permitted to use green or red ink in rare cases.
Revised Provision (Revised Rule 32(9))
The revised rule mandates that all categories of officers shall use only blue or black ink while signing notes and drafts. The provision allowing senior officers to use green or red ink has been removed.
Other Amendments
The Office Memorandum also directs the deletion of:
- Paragraph 50(5) of the CSMOP, which referred to telegram as a means of communication.
- Appendix 10, relating to the Indian Telegraph Rules.
These deletions reflect the discontinuation of telegram services and the shift towards modern communication methods.
Implementation
All Ministries and Departments of the Government of India were instructed to bring these amendments to the notice of concerned officials and adopt them with effect from 01 November 2014.
Significance
The amendment promotes:
- Uniformity in official correspondence and file noting.
- Standardization of administrative procedures across government offices.
- Elimination of outdated communication references from official manuals.
- Improved consistency in record maintenance and documentation.
The Office Memorandum was issued with the approval of the competent authority and signed by Anurag Srivastava, Deputy Secretary (O&M).
Reference: Office Memorandum No. 46012/1/2006-O&M Vol., Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India, dated 17 October 2014.