How Many IAS Officers Are Selected Every Year?

How many IAS officers are selected every year? What is the total sanctioned strength of the IAS officers? What are the factors influencing the strength of IAS officers?

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the administrative arm of the All India Services and is considered one of the premier civil services of India.

The recruitment to the IAS is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually through a competitive examination called the Civil Services Examination (CSE).

The number of vacancies for the IAS that are filled through the CSE varies every year depending on the requisitions received from the central government and state governments.

The UPSC notifies the tentative number of vacancies in the official notification for the CSE released every year.

After the completion of the recruitment process, the final appointment orders specifying the service allocation are issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India.

Also read: The Number of Candidates who Apply for IAS Exam – How Fast is the UPSC CSE Competition Increasing?

How Many IAS Officers Are Selected Every Year?

Every year, only around 180 candidates are selected for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

However, this number concerns the direct recruitment based on UPSC CSE.

There are also cases of ‘Conferred IAS’ where senior bureaucrats in state government are inducted into IAS.

Case Study

For the CSE 2023 cycle, the UPSC has announced approximately 1105 vacancies across multiple services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), etc.

The exact vacancy position specifying the number of posts available service-wise and category-wise is disclosed by the UPSC only after the declaration of the final result.

To illustrate, in the previous 2022 recruitment cycle, the number of vacancies filled for IAS, IPS, and IFS were 180, 200, and 38 respectively. These numbers were disclosed by UPSC only after the release of Interview results.

Also Read: Top 10 Myths About UPSC IAs Exam Busted 

Category-Wise Details of IAS Officers Selected in 2022

The category-wise UPSC vacancy 2023 list has not been released yet. It will be out after the declaration of the final result. Till then, candidates can go through the 2022 vacancy list provided below.

Total Sanctioned Strength of IAS Officers

The IAS cadre strength approved by the government of India currently stands at 6,789 officers, as of 01.01.2022. The sanctioned state cadre strength of IAS officers for each state is dependent on factors like the population and area of the state.

Uttar Pradesh has the highest IAS cadre strength of 652 officers, followed by Madhya Pradesh (439), etc. Further details related to the sanctioned strength are provided below:

The central government has in recent years emphasized increasing the cadre strength of All India Services to improve governance and public administration across the country. However, there are still nearly 2000 vacancies in the total approved IAS cadre strength that are yet to be filled.

Going forward, it is expected that the number of IAS vacancies notified annually will be around 180 to 200 in the coming years. However, the final appointment figures may vary depending on requisitions received from state governments and the availability of suitable candidates.

Factors Influencing Selection of IAS

Several factors contribute to the variation in the number of IAS officers selected each year:

Administrative Needs: The number of vacancies is influenced by the administrative needs of the government. Departments may require more or fewer officers based on ongoing projects, policy implementations, and other factors.

Retirement and Promotion: The retirement or promotion of existing IAS officers also impacts the number of vacancies. As officers retire or are promoted to higher ranks, new positions open up for recruitment.

Government Policies: Changes in government policies, restructuring of departments, and new initiatives can lead to fluctuations in the demand for administrative services, affecting the number of vacancies.

Budgetary Constraints: Budgetary considerations play an important role in determining the strength of administrative services. Economic factors and budget allocations influence the government’s decision on the number of officers to be recruited.

Also read: Vacancies for UPSC Civil Services Examination: Statistics

Conclusion

The annual recruitment of IAS officers is a dynamic process influenced by various factors, including administrative needs, retirements, government policies, and budgetary constraints.

The competitive nature of the selection process reflects the high standards set by the UPSC to ensure that only the most capable individuals serve in the Indian Administrative Service.

Aspiring candidates must stay updated on official notifications and prepare rigorously to navigate through the demanding selection process and contribute to the nation-building process through their administrative roles.

Article Written By: Priti Raj