Indian bureaucracy at centre facing acute shortage of manpower in Assistant Grade may soon find a big relief with the fresh appointment of approx 1200 officers in the grade. These officers are being appointed directly through SSC (Staff Selection Commission). 'Indianmandarins' has learnt that DoPT is working 24X7 finalise the appointment process of these officers in Assistant Grade which indeed forms the backbone of Indian Bureaucracy. Having the sanctioned strength of 12,000 the CSS cadre has approx 6000 officers in Assistant Grade out of which 4800 Assistants are promotee and 1200 officers are directly recruited in the grade. All together there is a shortfall of 40 per cent officers in Assistant Grade. The top order bureaucracy at centre would feel strengthened with 1200 new officers in Assistant Grade which not only forms the backbone of bureaucracy but also adds to the institutional memory of government and government institutions.