Lower Division Clerks are typically assigned with routine tasks such as maintaining the File Register, Section Diary, Indexing and Recording, File Movement Register, typing, comparing, preparing arrears, dispatch, and other statements, and submitting routine and simple rough drafts, supervising the correction of reference books, and others. Lower-division clerks are also referred to as Group D clerks as well.
There are two types of clerks, upper-division and lower division. Upper-division clerks are the next promotional post of lower division clerks. This paper is all about different L.D.C. posts, their requirements, policies, rules, examination procedures and responsibilities.Â
Lower Division Clerk
Lower Division Clerks (L.D.C.s) are the first level of clerks in any government agency. A Lower Division Clerk’s (L.D.C.) job description in a government institution includes everyday office responsibilities such as maintaining office data, files, and papers in a systematic manner. Other major tasks performed by L.D.C.s in various government departments include dealing with the entire Clerical Work; registration of mails; maintaining the workflow in the Office; indexing, registering, and entering data on the computer; and maintaining file registers in an efficient manner; obtaining important files and documents for their seniors; receiving documents and maintaining the record of the same; typing official letters, notifications, notices, and other official documents. Along with that, Making Employee Salary Slips; Monitoring Correction of Reference Books and collecting important data from the library of information and presenting it to the seniors.Â
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Promotional Post of LDC
In Indian government offices, a Lower Division Clerk or L.D.C. is a clerical position. Ministries, Defence, and other government agencies are major recruiters for L.D.C. employment. After 3-5 years, one can progress to Upper Division Clerk or U.D.C., and so on. Lower Division Clerks or L.D.C.s may be promoted to Upper Division Clerks or U.D.C.s once their employment in a certain government department is completed. Above that, the candidate must pass a U.D.C. exam administered by the Staff Selection Commission or S.S.C. in order to be promoted. In addition to this experience, there is the possibility of becoming a Section officer in the future.
At each level of the cadre, at least 5 years of experience is required. It means that after 5 years of experience at L.D.C., you will be promoted to U.D.C., and after 5 years of experience at U.D.C., you will become a division clerk and then assistant section officer and so on. The Mean Assured Career Progression (MACP) rules also assist L.D.C. However, the promotion requirements and the job after promotion may differ depending on the department and ministry to which the person is appointed.
The following is the L.D.C. General Career Growth Graph:
L.D.C. or Lower Division Clerk → Upper Division clerk or U.D.C. → division clerk → section officer
Act and Rules for LDC
- Among the vacancies in the grade of Lower Division Clerks, 10% shall be filled by appointment by promotion of employees in group ‘D’
- Five per cent of the vacancies may be filled through a qualifying examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission from among Group ‘D’ employees who have served for at least five years in the grade, have at least a Matriculation or equivalent qualification, and are under 45 years of age at the time of the examination. 50 years allowed for the Scheduled castes or S.C. and the scheduled tribes or ST
- 5 percent of the vacancies may be filled on the basis of the subject to the rejection of the unfit, and seniority, from among the Department’s Group ‘D’ workers who have completed not less than five years of Matriculation or an equivalent examination of a recognized University or Institute
- 90 percent of the vacancies in the grade of Lower Division Clerks, or such higher percentage should be determined in accordance with both the proviso to clause a, shall be filled by direct recruitment as the outcome of the competitive examination held by the S.S.C. or Staff Selection Commission
Examination for the Position
The examination for the post of Lower Division Clerk includes a written test and a typing test, both of which must be passed in order to be considered for the position. Only those who pass the written exam are allowed to complete the typing test.
The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, commonly known as ASRB, is in charge of administering the single competitive examination for the posts of Lower Division Clerks or L.D.C. in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s 63 research institutes or ICAR. Also, the S.S.C. or staff selection commission is responsible for other L.D.C. or lower division clerk examinations in other segments. According to the most recent information published by the board, the examination is conducted online at different examination centres located throughout the country. While entering their information online, candidates can select the examination centre where they want to take the exam.
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Eligibility Criteria for the LDC Examination
According to the educational credentials listed in the L.D.C. Eligibility criteria,
- Candidates must have passed secondary (12th class) or its equivalent qualification from an authorized institution, Candidates must also be proficient in computer operation and typing
- The L.D.C. Eligibility Criteria for Nationality states that both male and female candidates must be Indian nationals and must be between the ages of 18 and 42
Also see – UPSC Question Paper
Conclusion
L.D.C.s are given great career possibilities in several of the departments. For example, an L.D.C. at the Central Bureau of Indirect Taxes and Customs known as CBIC could be promoted to the Class-II position of Inspector or Examiner. Moreover, an officer with great performance and service might be promoted to some of the most prestigious positions, such as “Assistant Commissioner,” by the end of the tenure of service.