Though there often is a buzz that Delhi is full of Gujarat cadre officers, the reality emerging is slightly different, at least when it comes to IPS officers. The Centre needs DGPs, additional DGPs and IGs and Deputy IG rank officers to apply for Central deputation but there is not a single senior officer, even from BJP ruled States who wants to come to Delhi. As such, there is a shortage of 1472 IAS and 864 IPS officers across the State.
According to Ministry data, no senior-rank officer has sought a posting in the Union government. The BJP government in 2021 also changed a rule. Now, it is not necessary to get State Government permission for an appointment in the Centre. But still, officers are reluctant to apply for Central posting. That the Centre has the right to dump officers they do not find pliable to them, of course, continues
The Union government has been facing a shortage of IAS officers and to tide over the crisis, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) mooted a proposal in December 2021 to depute Indian Administrative Service (IAS), IPS and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officers to Centre without necessarily taking the State government’s nod. The DoPT said that in spite of existing provisions, States were not sponsoring adequate numbers of officers for Central deputation and the available officers were not sufficient to meet the requirement of the Union. The proposal is still being examined.
According to the latest Home Ministry data, there are 263 vacancies for IPS officers but not a single officer in the rank of
Director General of Police, Additional Director General of Police, Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General expressed their willingness to be posted with the Union government.
Replying to a question by CPI(M)’s V. Sivadasan in the Rajya Sabha on August 4, Personnel Minister Jitendra Singh said there were 14 IAS officers posted in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Two IAS officers each from Gujarat and Bihar cadres, while one each from Uttarakhand, Telangana, Sikkim, Manipur, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and AGMUT cadres.
According to the Ministry data released recently, there are 263 vacancies for IPS officers in 17 Central organisations including the Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Armed Police Forces and the Intelligence Bureau. Most vacancies are in the rank of DIGs (94) and SPs (137). IPS officers are also appointed to other Central government positions including in union ministries.
It must be noted that the Union Home Ministry amended the IPS tenure policy doing away with the mandatory requirement of empanelment of IPS officers at the DIG level in February. It said, “officers with a minimum of 14 years of experience will be eligible for appointment at the level of DIG by the Centre.” Officers are assessed if they are suitable for Central deputation by the Central Police Establishment Board (CPEB) headed by the Union Home Secretary. The names of officers up to the IG level are then sent to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister for approval.
Though respective State government nod or approval for central posting is not required, assent from a concerned officer is sought before an AIS officer is called for Central deputation. The DoPT informed the Parliament recently that as of January 1, there are 1,472 vacancies in IAS and 864 vacancies in IPS in various States. The total sanctioned strength of IAS and IPS officers are around 6,700 and 4,900 respectively. IAS officers are recruited by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on behalf of the Centre and their services are then placed under various State cadres. The DoPT has said that it is incumbent upon the members of service to serve both under the State and the Centre.
In the case of IAS officers, the Establishment Officer in the DoPT invites nominations from State governments. Once the nomination is received, their eligibility is scrutinised by a panel and then an offer list is prepared, traditionally done with the State government on board. Central ministries and offices can then choose from the list of officers on offer. The publication of the offer list on the DoPT’s website was discontinued by the government in 2018 amid reports that not many State government officers were willing to come to the Centre.
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