IAS, IPS Face Major Shortage: 1,300 IAS Vacancies, 505 IPS Posts Unfilled; Govt Shares Cadre-Wise Data in Lok Sabha
The Union Government has informed the Lok Sabha that India’s premier civil services — the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) — continue to face significant officer shortages.
According to data shared by Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, more than 1,300 IAS posts and 505 IPS posts remain vacant nationwide.
Current Strength vs Sanctioned Posts
IAS: Sanctioned strength — 6,877; In position — 5,577; Vacancies — 1,300+
IPS: Sanctioned strength — 5,099; In position — 4,594; Vacancies — 505
IFoS: Sanctioned strength — 3,193; In position — 2,164; Vacancies — 1,029
Recruitment Process
IAS recruitment continues annually through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Since 2012, 180 candidates have been inducted each year into IAS.
4% of seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
Vacancies are reviewed regularly and filled through the notified recruitment process.
Cadre-Wise Vacancy Data
Uttar Pradesh: 652 sanctioned IAS posts; 571 in position (81 vacancies). IPS — 541 sanctioned, 510 serving.
Madhya Pradesh: 459 IAS sanctioned; 391 serving (68 vacancies). IPS — 319 sanctioned, 271 serving.
Maharashtra: 435 IAS sanctioned; 359 serving. IPS — 329 sanctioned, 306 serving.
Bihar: 359 IAS sanctioned; 303 serving. IPS — 242 sanctioned, 241 serving.
Tamil Nadu: 394 IAS sanctioned; 343 serving. IPS — 276 sanctioned, 242 serving.
AGMUT Cadre (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, UTs): 542 IAS sanctioned; 406 serving.
Reservation-Based Recruitment (Last 5 Years)
IAS: 245 OBC, 135 SC, 67 ST candidates inducted.
IPS: 255 OBC, 141 SC, 71 ST candidates inducted.
Government Clarifications
No backlog vacancies exist in IAS or IPS as of January 1, 2025.
Shortages are due to cadre expansion, retirements, promotions, and service requirements, not pending recruitment.
Vacancy data is maintained by individual ministries and published annually by the Pay Research Unit, Department of Expenditure.
Rozgar Mela Recruitment Drive
The government highlighted its Rozgar Mela initiative, under which several lakh appointment letters have been distributed since October 2022 across departments and services, as part of a larger employment generation effort.
The data underscores the persistent officer crunch in India’s top civil services, affecting governance, policing, and environmental management. While recruitment continues annually through UPSC, the gap between sanctioned strength and officers in position remains wide, particularly in large states and critical cadres.
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