Gandhinagar: During the Question Hour of the Gujarat Assembly, in response to a question regarding the total sanctioned and vacant posts of IAS officers in the state as on 31/12/2024, as well as the status of Central Deputation, Minister  Rushikesh Patel said that the sanctioned strength of IAS officers in the state is 313. Out of which 14 officers are currently on deputation to the Center and 56 posts are vacant.

Minister  further said that during February-2025, 20 IAS officers will be promoted from SCS (State Civil Service) officers and 02 from Non-SCS officers through selection, making a total of 22 IAS officers, as well as an estimated 08 IAS officers from direct recruitment by October-2025, making a total of 30 IAS officers.

Giving further details, he said that 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, 313 posts have been determined 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 are – 05. 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.

The Minister further said that 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. But the decision taken by the then Congress government not to appoint any IAS officer through direct recruitment in the state in the three years between 1992 and 1994 is still being felt in the state.

Giving further details, the Minister said that there are 218 posts determined by direct recruitment for IAS in the state, 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 a total of 313 posts determined, 257 have been filled.

It is noteworthy that, 84.86% of the posts in Gujarat have been filled as against the average of 83.39% filled in the country through recruitment. While the posts to be filled by promotion have been filled as against the average of 74.86% in the country, 78.95% have been filled in Gujarat. DeshGujarat