The Centre needs 1,345 IAS officers but it has less than 50 per cent of its strength as states fail to relieve sufficient number of officers for central government work.
Following this, the Narendra Modi government has shot off identical letters to states advising them against restraining officers from taking up assignments on central deputation.
As per the latest official figures, the sanctioned strength of IAS officers across the country is 6,217 but the actual strength is only 4,455. As there are vacancies, the states are supposed to relieve 952 IAS officers in place of 1,345.
However, the states have sent only 643 IAS officers to the centre as on October 31. “You would agree that the movement of the officers from the states to the Centre and back is also crucial for building up the capabilities at the state level and contributing towards developing national perspectives at the decision-making levels in the government of India,” a letter by DoPT Additional Secretary B P Sharma said.
With 4,455 IAS officers in place across India at present, the states are supposed to send 952 IAS officers. Only Kerala and Himachal Pradesh have sent more officers than the stipulated figure.
Forty-four IAS officers from Kerala cadre are on central deputation though the state is supposed to send only 31 while Himachal had sent 23 IAS officers, two more than the sanctioned quota.