Gujarat to get 30 new IAS officers this year

It is critical to fill up the vacancies and appoint officers for the smooth functioning of the state administration. If there is a shortage of officers or vacancies, the administration is adversely affected. The state assembly has expressed concerns about the vacancies of officers.

He said that during February-2025, a total of 22 IAS officers, including 20 from SCS (State Civil Service) officers through promotion and 2 from Non-SCS officers through selection, will be available to the State Government, as well as an estimated 8 IAS officers through direct recruitment by October-2025, making a total of 30 IAS officers.

As per the IAS (Cadre) Rules 1954, the IAS structure is decided by the Central Government in consultation with the State Government. Which is reviewed every five years. According to the last review conducted in the year 2018, there are currently 313 posts in the IAS cadre. In which cadre posts i.e. senior duty posts - 170, Central Deputation Reserve - 68, State Deputation Reserve - 42, Leave Reserve - 28 and Training Reserve - 05 are there.

The Gujarat government has proposed to the Central Government to increase the strength by 343 i.e. 30 new IAS posts in the year 2024. Every year, 8 to 9 IAS have been getting through direct recruitment. In the last five years, Gujarat has got a total of 41 IAS officers through direct recruitment, however, the decision taken by the then Congress government not to appoint any IAS officer through direct recruitment in the three years between 1992 and 1994 is still being felt in the state.

There are 218 posts for IAS in the state through direct recruitment, of which 190 are currently filled. There are 81 posts eligible for appointment in IAS through promotion, of which 57 are filled. Out of a total of 14 posts eligible for appointment in IAS through selection (from non-civil state officers), 10 have been filled. Thus, out of the total 313 posts, 257 have been filled.

It is to be noted that 84.86% of the posts have been filled in Gujarat against the average of 83.39% filled in the country through recruitment. While the posts to be filled through promotion have been filled in Gujarat against the average of 74.86% in the country.

The number of women IPS officers in the state is 34.

Responding to a question asked in the Legislative Assembly regarding the approved establishment of IPS officers in the state, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi states that currently, a total of 208 posts of IPS officers have been approved in the state. Out of them, 198 posts are filled and there is a shortage of 10 posts. In this, one post was filled last month and now there is a shortage of 9 posts. The remaining posts will also be filled quickly.

Replying to a supplementary question asked regarding how many IPS officers from the state are on deputation to the Centre, the Minister said that as per the central policy, 45 IPS officers from the state can be on deputation to the Centre, whereas only 24 IPS officers from the state of Gujarat are on deputation.

In response to a question asked regarding the number of women IPS officers in the state and the allegations of discrimination in the responsibilities given to them, Harsh Sanghvi said that a woman IPS officer Dr. Neerja Gotru is handling the important task of conducting the entire police recruitment process in Gujarat. A woman IPS officer Nipuna Torwane is handling the important responsibility of Principal Secretary of the Home Department. Apart from that, Dr. Lavina Sinha, a female IPS officer of Ahmedabad Cyber Crime, is also the one who found the people who hacked Gujarat's CCTV from 3 thousand km away within a few hours.