The CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 are a Paper-I item in the Inspector Posts LDCE syllabus and a standing item in every central-government departmental exam. They are also short — 25 numbered rules plus seven lettered ones — and almost every question about them is a rule-number question. Learn the index and you have most of the marks.
Most rule lists on the internet are missing the lettered rules, which is where several favourite questions live: Rule 3-C on sexual harassment, Rule 13-A on dowry, Rule 22-A on employing children.
The complete rule list
| Rule | Heading |
|---|---|
| 1 | Short title, commencement and application |
| 2 | Definitions |
| 3 | General |
| 3-A | Promptness and Courtesy |
| 3-B | Observance of Government’s policies |
| 3-C | Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women |
| 4 | Employment of near relatives of Government servant in companies or firms |
| 5 | Taking part in politics and elections |
| 6 | Joining of association by Government servants |
| 7 | Demonstration and Strikes |
| 8 | Connection with Press or other media |
| 9 | Criticism of Government |
| 10 | Evidence before Committee or any other authority |
| 11 | Communication of official information |
| 12 | Subscriptions |
| 13 | Gifts |
| 13-A | Dowry |
| 14 | Public demonstration in honour of Government servants |
| 15 | Private trade or employment |
| 15-A | Subletting and vacation of Government accommodation |
| 16 | Investments, lending and borrowing |
| 17 | Insolvency and habitual indebtedness |
| 18 | Movable, immovable and valuable property |
| 18-A | Restrictions in relation to acquisition and disposal of immovable property outside India and transactions with foreigners, etc. |
| 19 | Vindication of acts and character of Government servants |
| 20 | Canvassing of non-official or other outside influence |
| 21 | Restriction regarding marriage |
| 22 | Consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs |
| 22-A | Prohibition regarding employment of children below 14 years of age |
| 23 | Interpretation |
| 24 | Delegation of Powers |
| 25 | Repeal and Saving |
Rule 3 — the rule every charge sheet cites
- Rule 3(1) requires every Government servant at all times to maintain (i) absolute integrity, (ii) devotion to duty, and (iii) to do nothing which is unbecoming of a Government servant.
- Rule 3(2)(i): a Government servant holding a supervisory post shall take all possible steps to ensure the integrity and devotion to duty of all Government servants under his control and authority.
- This is why nearly every Article of Charge in a major-penalty charge sheet ends by naming Rule 3(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) — the specific act is the allegation, and Rule 3 is the rule it contravenes.
If you are preparing IP LDCE Paper-II, this rule is doing double duty: it is a Paper-I fact and the thing your charge sheet has to cite.
Rule 3-C — prohibition of sexual harassment of working women
- No Government servant shall indulge in any act of sexual harassment of any woman at any work place.
- A Government servant in charge of a work place shall take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment to any woman at that work place.
- The rule carries its own definition of "sexual harassment" covering a list of acts or behaviour.
- It was inserted by G.S.R. No. 49 dated 7 March 1998 and amended by G.S.R. 823(E) dated 19 November 2014 — the amendment aligning it with the POSH Act, 2013.
Rule 3-C is the conduct-rule limb; the POSH Act, 2013 is the statutory limb and is a separate Paper-III item. A question asking which conduct rule covers sexual harassment wants 3-C, not the Act.
The rules most often asked about
- Rule 7 — Demonstration and Strikes. The rule against participating in a demonstration prejudicial to the interests of the State, and against resorting to or abetting a strike.
- Rule 8 — Connection with Press or other media. Restrictions on owning, conducting or participating in the editing or management of any newspaper or media.
- Rule 9 — Criticism of Government. No adverse criticism of the policy or action of the Central or a State Government in one's own name or anonymously.
- Rule 11 — Communication of official information. Note the heading: the 2014 amendment reframed this rule, and it now has to be read with the Right to Information Act, 2005.
- Rule 13 — Gifts, with Rule 13-A — Dowry immediately after it. Two separate rules; a question naming dowry wants 13-A.
- Rule 15 — Private trade or employment, with Rule 15-A on subletting Government accommodation.
- Rule 16 — Investments, lending and borrowing, and Rule 17 — Insolvency and habitual indebtedness.
- Rule 18 — Movable, immovable and valuable property: the property-return rule. Rule 18-A deals separately with immovable property outside India and transactions with foreigners.
- Rule 21 — Restriction regarding marriage, and Rule 22 — Consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs, with Rule 22-A on employment of children below 14.
Practice questions
Under the CCS (Conduct) Rules, a government servant is prohibited from engaging in which of the following without previous sanction?
- A. any trade or business, or any other employment
- B. the education of his own children
- C. membership of a cooperative housing society
- D. the purchase of shares through a recognised stock exchange in a small amount
Answer: any trade or business, or any other employment
The rules bar a government servant from engaging directly or indirectly in any trade or business or undertaking other employment without sanction, with narrow exceptions such as honorary social work. Educating one children, joining a cooperative society and modest routine investment are not prohibited activities.
The CCS (Conduct) Rules require a government servant to submit a return of immovable property:
- A. on first appointment and thereafter at the prescribed intervals
- B. only when he retires from service
- C. only if the property is situated outside the state of posting
- D. only if the property is worth more than one crore rupees
Answer: on first appointment and thereafter at the prescribed intervals
A return of immovable property is required on first appointment and at prescribed intervals thereafter, and prior intimation or sanction is needed for transactions. There is no exemption based on the location of the property or a one crore threshold.
From the ProSyllabus IP LDCE question bank — 15 quizzes, 150 questions, each one passed independently by two auditors.
How many rules are there in the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964?
Twenty-five numbered rules, plus seven lettered rules — 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, 13-A, 15-A, 18-A and 22-A — giving 32 entries in the official index of the DoPT consolidated text.
Which rule prohibits sexual harassment of working women?
Rule 3-C, inserted by G.S.R. No. 49 dated 7 March 1998 and amended by G.S.R. 823(E) dated 19 November 2014. It also requires a Government servant in charge of a work place to take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment there.
What does Rule 3 of the CCS Conduct Rules require?
That every Government servant at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty, and do nothing unbecoming of a Government servant. Rule 3(2)(i) additionally requires a supervisory officer to take all possible steps to ensure the integrity and devotion to duty of those under his control.
Which rule deals with dowry?
Rule 13-A. Rule 13 is the separate rule on gifts. A question that names dowry is asking for 13-A.
Which rule covers the property return?
Rule 18 — movable, immovable and valuable property. Rule 18-A separately restricts the acquisition and disposal of immovable property outside India and transactions with foreigners.
Do the CCS Conduct Rules apply to railway servants?
Rule 1(3) applies the rules to every person appointed to a civil service or post in connection with the affairs of the Union, subject to provisos that exclude certain categories including railway servants as defined in the Indian Railways Act and persons holding posts in the Railway Board.
Source: the rule index and rule text are from the DoPT consolidated Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, as amended up to 31 December 2014. Later amendments are notified in the Gazette — check for anything issued after that date before relying on a rule for a current-year exam.
The rest of the India Post series
- IP LDCE 2026 — new 3-paper pattern, full syllabus and exam dates
- IP LDCE Paper II — noting, drafting and the major-penalty charge sheet
- IP LDCE previous year question papers and answer keys
- India Post PA/SA LDCE (LGO) — syllabus, pattern, DEST and the merit rule
- GDS to MTS, Postman and Mail Guard — syllabus and pattern
- The Post Office Act, 2023 — summary and MCQs
- CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 — penalties, procedure and MCQs
- The POSH Act, 2013 — notes and MCQs
- DIGIPIN explained — India Post’s digital address code
- India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) for departmental exams
Practice: IP LDCE quizzes · syllabus · previous papers · PA/SA/MTS
