Central Government Approves Expansion of Gujarat IAS Cadre Strength to 328 Posts: 15 New Positions Added to Meet Rising Governance and Developmental Demands
Strengthening Gujarat’s Administrative Framework
The Central Government has formally approved an increase in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre strength in Gujarat, raising the sanctioned posts from 313 to 328. This expansion, which adds 15 new positions, has been implemented under the All India Services Act, 1951, through amendments to the Indian Administrative Service (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Regulations, 1955. The revised regulations were notified by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and came into effect on February 13, 2026, following consultation with the Gujarat government.
Detailed Breakdown of IAS Posts in Gujarat
The revised cadre strength provides a comprehensive distribution of posts across senior duty, deputation, and reserve categories:
Senior Duty Posts – 178
Chief Secretary: 1
Additional Chief Secretaries: 5
Principal Secretaries: 9
Secretaries to Government: 17
Collectors: 33
District Development Officers: 33
Municipal Commissioners in major cities including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Gandhinagar
Central Deputation Reserve – 71 posts (not exceeding 40% of senior duty posts)
State Deputation Reserve – 44 posts
Training Reserve – 6 posts
Leave and Junior Posts Reserve – 29 posts
Of the total cadre strength, 99 posts will be filled through promotion under the IAS (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, while 229 posts will be filled via direct recruitment.
Purpose Behind the Expansion
Officials have emphasized that the increase in cadre strength is intended to enhance administrative capacity in Gujarat, particularly in light of the state’s growing governance requirements, rapid urbanisation, and expanding developmental activities.
The Gujarat IAS cadre has faced challenges in recent years due to vacancies, promotions, and restructuring. In 2024–25, the sanctioned strength stood at 313 officers, but 56 posts remained vacant, with 14 officers serving on central deputation. To address these gaps, the state government has actively promoted State Civil Service (SCS) officers to the IAS and recruited new officers directly.
Previous Proposals and Recent Promotions
Earlier, the Gujarat government had proposed raising the cadre strength to 343 posts, adding 30 new IAS positions to meet rising administrative demands. In recent months, several senior officers have been promoted to the ranks of Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, while numerous SCS officers have been elevated to IAS, reflecting the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its bureaucratic framework.
Dynamic Nature of IAS Postings
These developments are part of the periodic transfers and postings of IAS officers across districts and departments, designed to ensure administrative efficiency. The cadre strength and vacancies are governed by the All India Services Act, 1951, and are periodically reviewed in consultation with the Central Government and the state. The last formal review before 2026 had set Gujarat’s IAS cadre strength at 313 posts.
Significance of the Move
The expansion of Gujarat’s IAS cadre strength to 328 posts underscores the government’s commitment to:
Strengthening administrative efficiency.
Addressing urbanisation and developmental challenges.
Ensuring continuity in governance despite vacancies and deputations.
Supporting succession planning and the induction of new officers.
This decision is expected to bolster Gujarat’s governance framework, ensuring that the state bureaucracy remains responsive to the evolving needs of citizens and developmental priorities.
