New Delhi: The Civil Services Bill, 2009, which envisages an enforceable code of conduct for all bureaucrats through a new Central Public Services Authority, is still to see the light of the day.

A final decision to introduce the Bill has not yet been taken, while the Bill was drafted and was proposed to be passed immediately after the Budget session of the Lok Sabha.

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Prithviraj Chavan said that a decision on the Bill is still awaited.

The Civil Services Bill, 2009, envisages to provide a statutory basis for the regulation of the Civil Services in India and to regulate the appointment and conditions of the service of Civil Servants.

"It seeks to lay down the fundamental values of Civil Services, the Civil Services Code of Ethics, Civil Service Management Code, to establish a Civil Services Authority for facilitating review and to develop Civil Services as a professional, neutral, merit based and accountable instrument for promoting good governance and better delivery of services to citizens", Chavan said in his reply.

Once passed, the Bill will initially be applicable to the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service.

Later, all other services for which the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds recruitment examinations, including the Indian Foreign Service, will come under its purview.