Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQCS) is a Group A Central Civil Services with induction at Group B grade, responsible for policy formulation, implementation and providing administrative support through civilian officers and staff to the Tri-services headquarters of Indian Armed Forces and Inter-Services Organizations (ISOs) such as DRDO, DGQA, DGAQA, DGNCC etc under the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

[3] In 1942, during World War II, civilian employees under different departments and branches of the Armed Forces Headquarters responsible for providing static ancillary services were reorganized and consolidated under one head which was called the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

[4] In 1987, the post of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), was upgraded to the level of a Joint Secretary (JS).

The highest grade was senior civil staff officer, a level analogous to deputy secretary.

[2][9][10] There are three levels of inductions into the AFHQ service wherein there is a direct entry(DR) through prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by Union Public Service Commission as Section Officer ( Group -B Gazetted), then direct recruitment at ASO level through SSC ( Combined Graduate level) and by promotion from upper division clerk (UDC) (Clerical Cadre) in ASO.

[5] The evolution of the service, its hierarchical structure, pay grades, and levels, are tabulated below: 1968 Band and Scale [after 6CPC] 2008[5] 2008 in Pay matrix 2016[11]: p75 [12] AFHQ Civil Service has 11 posts of Principal Director (Joint Secretary Equivalent) .

[6] Section Officers eligible for promotion to the grade of Deputy Directors on completion of 06 years service.

5400/- in PB-3 on completion of 4 years approved service as Section Officer[5][6] (i) 9300-34800 (on initial appointment) (ii) 15600-39100 (Non-functional scale/Grade Pay on completion of 4 years approved service) (ii) 5400 (Non- functional Grade Pay) (Group 'B', Non-Gazetted) Ministerial.