Raipur: Chhattisgarh’s administrative machinery is under severe strain as the state grapples with an unprecedented shortage of senior officers across key services. As many as 29 IAS and 19 IPS posts are currently vacant, while 21 senior IAS officers remain on central deputation, leaving the state secretariat and district administrations stretched thin.
The crisis has deepened further with the Election Commission of India deputing 30 senior officers from the already depleted Chhattisgarh cadre for election duties outside the state. Despite limited manpower, 25 IAS and five IPS officers have been assigned as poll observers for Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.
The growing deficit is beginning to impact governance on the ground, slowing the monitoring and execution of development projects and delaying routine administrative work as the burden on the remaining officers continues to mount.
Read also: IPS Officers’ Asset Declarations Reveal Sharp Property Value Fluctuations in Uttar Pradesh
IAS Cadre Short by 29 Officers; Deputations Worsen Situation
Against a sanctioned strength of 202 IAS officers, only 173 officers are currently serving in Chhattisgarh, leaving a shortfall of 29 officers.
The problem has been compounded by the fact that 21 IAS officers are currently on central deputation, including several senior and experienced officers. Recently, S. Harish and Dr. Priyanka Shukla also proceeded on deputation to the Centre.
These officers are serving the Union government in crucial sectors such as:
- Policymaking
- Internal security
- Agriculture
- Health
- Digital identity
- AYUSH
- Investment promotion
Due to the shrinking pool of officers available in the state, many IAS officers have been assigned additional charges, often handling multiple departments simultaneously, raising concerns over administrative efficiency and workload.
IPS Cadre Also Faces Significant Vacancy
The situation is equally challenging in the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre. Against a sanctioned strength of 153 IPS officers, only 129 officers were serving in the state until recently.
In December, Chhattisgarh received five new IPS officers, bringing the current strength to 134 officers. However, 19 IPS posts remain vacant, continuing to strain law enforcement and internal security operations.
Forest Administration Affected as IFS Posts Lie Vacant
The Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadre is also facing a serious shortfall. While 153 IFS posts are sanctioned, only 118 officers are currently in position, leaving 35 vacancies.
The shortage has implications for:
- Forest governance
- Wildlife protection
- Environmental regulation
- Implementation of conservation policies
30 Officers Sent as Poll Observers Despite Shortage
Against this backdrop of administrative scarcity, the Election Commission has appointed 30 officers from Chhattisgarh for election-related duties.
These include:
- 25 secretary-level IAS officers
- Five senior IPS officers
They will serve as general, police, and expenditure observers in five poll-bound states, further reducing the already limited administrative capacity within Chhattisgarh.
IAS Officers Assigned Poll Duties
Among the IAS officers selected for election observer duties are:
- Ritu Sen
- Siddharth Komal Pardeshi
- Neelam Ekka
- S. Prakash
- Bhuvnesh Yadav
- S. Bharathidasan
- Ankit Anand
- Shammi Abidi
- Avneesh Sharan
- Saransh Mittal
Several other officers of the cadre have also been assigned similar responsibilities.
Senior IAS Officers Serving at the Centre
The 21 IAS officers from the Chhattisgarh cadre currently holding key positions in the Central Government include:
- Gaurav Dwivedi
- Maninder Kaur Dwivedi
- Amit Agarwal
- Harish S
- Richa Prakash Chaudhary
- Namrat Gandhi
- Shiv Anant Tayal
- Saurabh Kumar
- Tamboli Ayyaz Fakirbhai
- Dr. Priyanka Shukla
- Neeraj Kumar Bansod
- K.C. Dev Senapati
- Alex Paul Menon
- Shruti Singh
- Alarmel Mangai D
- P. Amblangan
- Prasanna R
- Sangeeta P
- Ritu Sain
Their absence from the state administration has added pressure on the remaining officers managing critical departments.
The shortfall spans across all major civil services cadres:
IAS Cadre:
- Sanctioned posts: 202
- Officers posted: 173
- Vacant posts: 29
IPS Cadre:
- Sanctioned posts: 153
- Officers posted: 134
- Vacant posts: 19
IFS Cadre:
- Sanctioned posts: 153
- Officers posted: 118
- Vacant posts: 35
The Indian Forest Service (IFS), considered the backbone of administration in forest-rich Chhattisgarh, is also facing a severe shortage, impacting forest management and environmental governance.
Governance Challenges Mounting
The simultaneous shortage across IAS, IPS, and IFS cadres, coupled with the deputation of officers for election duties and central assignments, has created a bizarre and difficult administrative predicament for Chhattisgarh.
With multiple departments being handled through additional charges and limited manpower, concerns are growing over:
- Administrative efficiency
- Policy implementation
- Law and order management
- Service delivery to citizens
