The Domestic Funding of Foreign Training (DFFT) Scheme is a scheme introduced by the Government of India in 2001 with the objective to upgrade the knowledge & skills of Government officers as well as provide exposure to international best practices by deputing them to different long/short‐term training programmes.

The officers belonging to IAS, CSS, and SCS are eligible to undergo foreign training under the Scheme. Officers of the other two All India Services, viz., IPS and IFoS, and those of other organized Group `A’ Central Civil Services are eligible under the Scheme only when they are holding posts on deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme.

The circular is issued every year and hosted on the website of this Ministry (www.persmin.nic.in)

The circular for training programmes to be conducted in a financial year (April to March) is generally issued in the month of October of the preceding year, e.g., for training programmes to be offered in FY 2011‐12, the circular was issued in October 2010. The circular also contains an application form for filling up by interested officers.

Yes

The long‐term programmes are mainly in the fields of public policy, public management, public administration, etc. while the themes for the short‐term programmes are leadership, executive development, fiscal decentralization, tax analysis & revenue forecasting, project management, corruption & anti‐corruption, health sector reforms, public administration, public finance management, infrastructure, and PPP, training of trainers, and advance competencies for trainers, environmental policy issues, etc. The specific programmes both Long Term and short term are included in the Circular issued each year.

It is mandatory to apply `online’ for the training programmes under the DFFT scheme. A software‐based eligibility list is generated, followed by a merit list. Based on the date available through these lists, a duly constituted Committee recommends officers for long‐term and short‐term training programmes taking into account the relevance and suitability factors and takes approval of the competent authority.

The entire cost of the participation of officers in training programmes under the DFFT scheme is met by the Training Division, except for certain pre‐departure expenses. A detailed circular dated 19th January 2011 indicating various entitlements is available on the Ministry’s website (www.persmin.nic.in).

Yes, the travel in the entitled class (on an excursion fare basis) is arranged through Air India by the DOPT. For this purpose, vouchers are issued to the Air India office at Safdarjung Airport. The name and contact details of the concerned officers in Air India are intimated to the nominated officers who then get in touch with them and reserve tickets to their respective destinations.

Not necessarily. The concerned institutes also have their own selection procedures which may sometimes reject the nominations made by DOPT.

The applications can be made throughout the year but only after securing admission to the chosen programme/ University. However, the period from April to June is ideal as most of the programmes commence in August/September.

DOPT administers the partial funding scheme. However, the Central Establishment Board is the final authority in the matter which may lay down its own criteria such as public interest, budget, etc. while deciding the cases of partial funding.