Send more IAS officers to Centre in 2016, Modi government tells states

NEW DELHI: Complaining that many states have not sent adequate number of IAS officers to work at the Centre, causing a shortage, the Narendra Modi government has asked them to depute more personnel in 2016, including women officers and those from the reserved categories. It said the movement of officers to the Centre and back is crucial for building up capabilities at the state level and contributing towards developing national perspectives in the government of India.

"It would, therefore, be appropriate if a conscious attempt is made to forward the names of officers for deputation under Government of India in such a manner that every eligible officer has an opportunity to serve at the Centre at least once at the middle management level," the Centre’s Establishment Officer Rajiv Kumar said in a letter to all state chief secretaries on December 17.

The Centre has attached the latest statement on the Central Deputation Reserve to highlight the shortage of IAS officers at the Centre. The CDR of each state cadre determines how many officers can be sent on deputation to the government of India.

"There is a general shortage... you may like to recommend a sufficiently large number of officers for appointment to posts at Deputy Secretary/Director under the Government of India so as to share the shortage proportionately between Centre and states," Kumar wrote.