The Government of India has informed Parliament that nearly one in five posts across the country's premier All India Services remain vacant, with a total of 2,834 unfilled positions in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS) as of January 1, 2025. This revelation came in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh on February 12, 2026.

The data, compiled from the official Civil List, shows the combined sanctioned strength of the three services at 15,169 posts, of which only 12,335 officers are currently in position, resulting in an overall vacancy rate of approximately 18.7 per cent. The IAS accounts for the largest absolute shortfall with 1,300 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 6,877, translating to about 18.9 per cent unfilled. In comparison, the IPS has 505 vacancies out of 5,099 sanctioned posts (around 9.9 per cent), while the IFS faces the most severe proportional shortage with 1,029 vacancies out of 3,193 authorised positions, equating to roughly 32.2 per cent.

These vacancies highlight persistent challenges in staffing key administrative, law enforcement, and environmental management roles across states and union territories. Cadre-wise breakdowns indicate higher gaps in populous states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, as well as in joint cadres like AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories). The shortages could impact governance, public service delivery, and policy implementation, particularly in districts and specialized sectors reliant on these officers.

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The figures underscore ongoing concerns about recruitment delays, cadre management, and the capacity of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to fill positions through annual Civil Services Examinations. While recruitment continues annually, the backlog persists despite efforts to align sanctioned strengths with administrative needs. Experts note that such vacancies have been a recurring issue, often attributed to factors like superannuation, promotions, and limited intake relative to expanding requirements.

The disclosure has prompted discussions on potential measures to address the gaps, including accelerated recruitments, cadre reviews, and targeted filling of posts in high-vacancy areas. As Parliament continues to scrutinize civil services staffing, the data serves as a reminder of the critical role these services play in India's governance framework, with calls for sustained reforms to ensure adequate officer strength in the coming years.

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