Domestic Funding Of Foreign Training

Description
The scheme "Domestic Funding of Foreign Training DFFT " is a scheme introduced by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India in the year 2001-02 with an objective to upgrade the knowledge & skills of the Government officers as well as to provide exposure to international best practices by deputing them to different long/short‐term training programmes. The Training Division of the Department of Personnel and Training has been implementing the scheme. The DFFT Scheme envisages leveraging the officers with exposure to international best practices and developments in the field of policy and governance by nominating the officers to Universities/Institutes abroad and enhancing the knowledge, skills, and competence of the officers in their current areas of employment and also in their future assignments.

Benefits
• Long-Term Foreign Training Programmes (6-12 months)
• Short Term Foreign Training Programmes (up to 6 months)
• Partial Funding of Foreign Study (of more than 6 months)

Eligibility Criteria
1. All Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officers / Group ‘A’ officers belonging to Central Secretariat Service (CSS), Central Secretariat Stenographer Service (CSSS), and State Civil Service (SCS).
2. Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFoS), and Group ‘A’ Central Civil Service Officers during the tenure of deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme of DoPT.

Application Process
Step 1: Check Application Status:
Application Process-User Guide
Online — https://dfft.nic.in/Start1.aspx

Check Application Status:
Application Process-User Guide

Required Documents
• Valid Email ID, preferably NIC Email ID
• Service details of the officers
• Mobile Number
• Proof of achievements (if any)
• A signed copy of the undertaking
• Any other documents as required for the programme

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the DFFT Scheme?
A: 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.

Q: Who is eligible for training under the DFFT scheme?
A: 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.

Q: Where can I find the Circular giving the terms and conditions along with the eligibility criteria for applying under the Scheme?
A: The circular is issued every year and hosted on the website of this Ministry (www.persmin.nic.in)

Q: How and when can I apply under the Scheme?
A: 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.

Q: Is there a common Circular for the Long term as well as the Short term Programmes?
A: Yes

Q: Which are the areas for Long term and short term programmes sponsored under the DFFT Scheme?
A: 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.

Q: How are the selections made?
A: 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.

Q: Who bears the cost of the programme and what are the entitlements for living/daily allowances and accommodation allowance?
A: 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).

Q: Is the air travel also arranged by the DOPT? If so,how do we get the air tickets ?
A: 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.

Q: Does nomination by DoPT guarantee admission to the programmes?
A: Not necessarily. The concerned institutes also have their own selection procedures which may sometimes reject the nominations made by DOPT.

Q: When I can apply for the support under the Partial Funding Scheme?
A: 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.

Q: If I fulfil all the eligibility criteria as per the Circular can I be sure to get the Partial Funding support from the DoPT?
A: 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.