Madhya Pradesh Now Has 391 IAS Officers, Yet Cadre Strength Remains Below Sanctioned 459; Husband-Wife Duo Among Newly Promoted
In a major administrative development, the Madhya Pradesh government has promoted 16 State Administrative Service (SAS) officers to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), following a two-year delay. With this, the total strength of IAS officers in the Madhya Pradesh cadre has risen from 375 to 391.
However, despite the promotions, the state continues to grapple with a manpower shortfall. Out of the sanctioned cadre strength of 459 officers, 68 IAS posts remain vacant, underscoring the persistent deficit in the administrative setup.
Promotions Aligned with Vacancies of 2023 and 2024
The 16 officers have been elevated to the IAS against vacancies pertaining to the years 2023 and 2024, with 8 promotions allocated for each year.
Among the more prominent names are Rakesh Kushre and Nanda Bhalave Kushre, a husband-wife duo who have both been elevated to the IAS simultaneously, marking a rare and noteworthy development in the state’s bureaucratic history.
Clean Chit Paves the Way After Two-Year Stalemate
The promotions were delayed for nearly two years due to ongoing departmental inquiries. Officers such as Narayan Prasad Namdev and Dr. Kailash Bundela, who were earlier under investigation, have now received a clean chit, thereby clearing the way for their elevation.
Officials confirmed that several otherwise eligible officers were unable to secure promotion due to factors such as exceeding the age limit or service-related restrictions.
The list of those who missed out includes:
Jayendra Kumar Vijayvat
Manoj Malviya
Kamal Nagar
Dwarka Barman
Kamlesh Puri
Sarodhan Singh
List of Promoted Officers
For 2023 Vacancies:
Narayan Prasad Namdev
Dr. Kailash Bundela
Nanda Bhalave Kushre
Anil Kumar Damor
Savita Jharia
Sarika Bhuria
Kamal Solanki
Jitendra Singh Chauhan
For 2024 Vacancies:
Santosh Kumar Tagore
Nisha Damor
Rakesh Kushre
Shaili Kanash
Rohan Saxena
Kavita Batla
Sapna Anurag Jain
Ashish Kumar Pathak
Persistent Shortage in the Cadre
Although the addition of 16 new IAS officers has been welcomed as a step toward strengthening governance, the cadre still remains understaffed. With 68 of the 459 sanctioned posts lying vacant, Madhya Pradesh continues to operate below optimal strength.
Senior officials clarified that the final authority on cadre strength and appointments rests with the Central Government, and postings are carried out strictly at its discretion.