Are autonomous bodies’ employees central government employees?

Autonomous bodies in India are organizations that are set up by the central government or state governments to perform specific functions or services. These bodies are usually granted a degree of administrative and financial autonomy, but they remain under the overall control and supervision of the respective government. Autonomous bodies may be created by an act of parliament or state legislature, or by an executive order. They may be set up as statutory bodies, regulatory bodies, public sector undertakings (PSUs), research organizations, educational institutions, or other types of organizations.

Some examples of autonomous bodies in India include the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the National Institute of Technology (NIT). 

Employees of autonomous bodies are not considered central government employees, as they are not directly employed by the government. However, their terms and conditions of service may be governed by rules and regulations that are similar to those of central government employees. For instance, the pay scales, allowances, retirement benefits, and other service conditions of many autonomous body employees are decided by the government, based on the recommendations of the Pay Commission or other expert committees.

In terms of accountability and transparency, autonomous bodies are required to comply with various laws and regulations, including the Right to Information Act (RTI). This means that citizens, including employees of autonomous bodies, can file RTI applications to seek information from these organizations, subject to certain conditions and exemptions. However, the procedure and rules for filing RTI applications may vary depending on the specific autonomous body and the nature of the information sought.