Haryana Seeks Repatriation of Four IAS Officers from Centre Amid Shortage Ahead of Chief Secretary’s Retirement
The Haryana government has approached the Centre to seek the repatriation of four Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers currently serving on central deputation, as the state grapples with a shortage of senior bureaucrats and prepares for a series of key retirements. The request comes at a critical time, with the post of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini vacant since September and Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi scheduled to retire on December 31, 2026.
According to a senior state government official, Haryana has sought the return of V. Umashankar, Rakesh Gupta, Nitin Kumar Yadav and Vikas Gupta. All four officers are currently holding important positions in the Central government or its institutions. Their repatriation could help the state fill key administrative positions and ensure continuity in governance, although the Centre has not yet indicated whether it will approve the request for all four officers.
The move highlights the mounting pressure on Haryana’s administrative machinery as vacancies, central deputations and impending retirements narrow the pool of senior officers available to the state government.
Four IAS Officers Sought Back from Central Deputation
The four officers identified by the Haryana government have experience in both state administration and central government assignments. Their current positions and service backgrounds make their possible return significant for the state’s administrative planning.
V. Umashankar, a 1993-batch IAS officer, is currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Rakesh Gupta, a 1997-batch officer, is posted as Additional Secretary in the President’s Secretariat. Nitin Kumar Yadav, a 2000-batch IAS officer, has been serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce since June 2024, while Vikas Gupta, a 2001-batch officer, is the Commissioner of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
The Haryana government’s request is aimed at strengthening its senior administrative ranks at a time when several important positions need experienced officers. However, the timing and terms of any possible repatriation will depend on the Centre’s decision.
Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Post Vacant Since September
One of the immediate administrative concerns for Haryana is the vacancy in the office of the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary. The position fell vacant following the retirement of Arun Kumar Gupta on September 30, 2026, leaving the state government to consider suitable arrangements for the important role.
The vacancy comes ahead of the scheduled retirement of Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on December 31. Rastogi, a 1990-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, has already received two extensions, according to the report. His impending departure adds another major decision to the state government’s administrative agenda for the final months of 2026.
V. Umashankar is being viewed in bureaucratic circles as a possible successor to Rastogi. Umashankar is due to retire on June 30, 2028, which would leave him with approximately 18 months of service after December 2026 if he is appointed Chief Secretary. His potential return could therefore be relevant to the state’s efforts to manage leadership continuity, although no appointment decision has been announced.
Umashankar is also familiar with the Haryana Chief Minister’s Office, having served as Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister from October 2018 to October 2020 and as Principal Secretary from October 2020 to October 2024. He subsequently moved to the Central government. His wife and IAS batchmate, Deepti Umashankar, is currently serving as Secretary to the President of India.
Rakesh Gupta, Nitin Kumar Yadav and Vikas Gupta Have Held Key State Assignments
Rakesh Gupta previously served as Additional Principal Secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister from October 2014 to October 2018. During his tenure, he was associated with several governance initiatives of the BJP government in the state, including the Chief Minister’s Good Governance Associates (CMGGA) programme, in which he served as project director. He also worked as the nodal officer for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative.
Nitin Kumar Yadav has held important administrative assignments in Haryana, including the position of Secretary (Home). He also served as Home Secretary in the Chandigarh Administration before moving to the Department of Commerce at the Centre in June 2024. His experience in home administration and central government work forms part of his professional background.
Vikas Gupta, who currently heads Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan as its Commissioner, has also held a significant role in Haryana. During an earlier term of the BJP government, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Parivar Pehchan Patra Authority, which is associated with the state’s family identity and data framework.
The officers’ previous state-level responsibilities are relevant to Haryana’s current request, as the government seeks to strengthen its administrative capacity. Their return, however, remains subject to the Centre’s decision.
Haryana Has 179 IAS Officers Against Sanctioned Strength of 226
The state’s request comes against the backdrop of a substantial gap between its sanctioned IAS cadre strength and the number of officers currently available. Haryana has 179 IAS officers against a sanctioned strength of 226, leaving a shortfall of 47 officers.
The shortage is particularly significant at senior levels. According to the report, 10 of the 20 officers listed at the top of Haryana’s gradation list are currently serving on central deputation. This reduces the number of senior officers available for state-level assignments at a time when several leadership changes are approaching.
The government must also plan for continuity in departments and offices that require experienced administrative leadership. The simultaneous vacancy in the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary post and the forthcoming retirement of the Chief Secretary have added urgency to the effort to bring officers back from the Centre.
The report also identifies the ongoing IDFC First Bank fraud investigation as another factor complicating the administrative situation. Several IAS officers have been named or face allegations in connection with the case, although the legal position differs from officer to officer.
Pankaj Agarwal is in jail over his alleged role in the case involving an alleged bank fraud of ₹645 crore. Vineet Garg, currently posted as Additional Chief Secretary for Printing and Stationery, has been named in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s chargesheet. Mohammed Shayin, Saket Kumar and Ram Kumar Singh are also among the officers facing scrutiny in connection with the case, while Pardeep Kumar, another officer named in the CBI chargesheet, has retired.
These developments form part of the broader administrative challenges described in the report. Allegations, inclusion in a chargesheet and other legal proceedings should not be treated as equivalent findings of guilt.
Multiple Retirements Expected Between October 2026 and January 2027
Haryana is also preparing for a succession of retirements involving senior IAS officers over the coming months. The concentration of departures between October 2026 and January 2027 could place additional pressure on the state’s ability to fill important positions and distribute administrative responsibilities.
The officers and their reported retirement dates are:
* Sanjay Joon: Commissioner of Faridabad division, scheduled to retire on October 31, 2026.
* Sudhir Rajpal: Additional Chief Secretary, currently on central deputation, scheduled to retire on November 30, 2026.
* Abhilaksh Likhi: Senior IAS officer on central deputation, scheduled to retire on November 30, 2026.
* Geeta Bharti: Commissioner of Hisar division, scheduled to retire on November 30, 2026.
* Anurag Rastogi: Haryana Chief Secretary, scheduled to retire on December 31, 2026.
* Sumita Misra: Additional Chief Secretary, scheduled to retire on January 31, 2027.
The retirements involve officers serving in different administrative capacities, including divisional leadership, senior departmental assignments and central deputation. Their departures will require the government to make decisions on succession, transfers and the allocation of responsibilities among the officers who remain available.
With the Chief Secretary’s retirement approaching, the state’s need to maintain continuity at the top of the bureaucracy is particularly pressing. The repatriation request is one measure Haryana is pursuing as it prepares for these changes.
Haryana Relaxes Restrictions for Sudhir Rajpal Amid Administrative Requirements
The state government has already taken steps to manage the limited availability of senior officers. According to the report, Haryana recently exempted Additional Chief Secretary Sudhir Rajpal from restrictions on the powers of officers during their final two months of service, citing “administrative exigencies”.
Rajpal is currently on central deputation and oversees several important departments, including Home, Jails, Environment, and Finance and Planning, according to the report. His responsibilities illustrate the administrative considerations involved when senior officers approach retirement while continuing to handle important portfolios.
The exemption indicates that the state is seeking to address immediate administrative requirements while managing the constraints created by retirements and officer availability. It does not, by itself, resolve the wider shortage of IAS officers or the need to fill key leadership positions.
Centre’s Decision on Repatriation Could Shape Haryana’s Administrative Planning
The Haryana government’s request to bring back V. Umashankar, Rakesh Gupta, Nitin Kumar Yadav and Vikas Gupta comes as the state faces a combination of senior-level vacancies, central deputations and scheduled retirements. The immediate concerns include the vacant post of Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and the planned retirement of Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi at the end of December.
The state’s reported shortfall of 47 IAS officers, together with the number of senior officers serving at the Centre, has added to the pressure on its administrative system. Returning experienced officers could expand the pool available for important state assignments, but the final outcome will depend on the Centre’s decision.
For now, Haryana faces a crucial period of administrative transition extending from October 2026 into early 2027. The decisions taken on repatriation and senior appointments will be important to the state’s efforts to maintain continuity in governance during this period.
