Rule 6 of CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964: Joining of Associations by Government Servants

Updated: 14 September 2026

Rule 6 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 regulates membership of associations by Government servants. It does not create a general prohibition against every association. Instead, it bars a Government servant from joining, or continuing as a member of, an association whose objects or activities are prejudicial to specified public interests.

Text of Rule 6

Rule 6 - Joining of associations by Government servants: No Government servant shall join or continue to be a member of, an association the objects or activities of which are prejudicial to the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, or public order or morality.

What Rule 6 means

The rule focuses on the nature and activities of the association. A Government servant must not join, and must not remain a member of, an association if its objects or activities are prejudicial to any of the interests expressly identified in Rule 6.

Sovereignty and integrity of India: the constitutional and national interest in preserving India as a sovereign and territorially integrated nation.
Public order: the maintenance of public peace, safety and orderly civil life.
Morality: the standard expressly included in Rule 6 as a ground on which prejudicial objects or activities of an association can attract the prohibition.
Continuing membership is also covered: the rule applies not only when a Government servant proposes to join an association, but also where the person is already a member and the association falls within the prohibition.

Rule 6 and service associations

Rule 6 should be read with the wider Central Government framework governing service associations. The Central Civil Services (Recognition of Service Associations) Rules, 1993 apply to service associations of Government servants covered by the CCS (Conduct) Rules, subject to the exclusions stated in those rules.

Recognition of a service association and an individual Government servant's conduct are related but distinct questions. A Government servant should therefore consider both the association's status and objects, as well as the applicable conduct-rule restrictions.

Holding elective office in an association

Membership of an association should also be distinguished from holding an elective office in a body. Rule 15 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules deals with private trade or employment and includes restrictions concerning elective office. DoPT has issued instructions requiring prior sanction in relevant cases and limiting the period for which Government servants may hold elective office in bodies covered by those instructions.

For official guidance, see the DoPT Office Memorandum on sanction for holding elective office under Rule 15(1)(c) of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

Practical point: Rule 6 is a conduct restriction. Whether a particular association is permissible can depend on its stated objects, actual activities, recognition status where relevant, and other applicable service instructions. Government servants should consult the current DoPT rules, departmental instructions and competent authority where doubt exists.

Related CCS (Conduct) Rules

Rule 6 sits between Rule 5 - Taking part in politics and elections and Rule 7 - Demonstration and strikes. These provisions address different forms of conduct and should be read separately according to the facts of a case.

Official resources

This page is intended as a general legal-information article. For an individual service matter or disciplinary issue, the applicable rule text, amendments, departmental instructions and facts should be examined together.