https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Empanelment, NOCs, and Delays: Why Fewer UP Officers Are Reaching the Centre

As of now, only four IAS officers from the UP cadre are serving in secretary-level positions at the Centre.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Lucknow/New Delhi: The steadily shrinking representation of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers from the Uttar Pradesh (UP) cadre in the central government has raised concerns across bureaucratic and political circles. Once a dominant force in national administration, UP’s influence appears to be on the wane.

Only Four UP-Cadre IAS Officers at Secretary Level

As of now, only four IAS officers from the UP cadre are serving in secretary-level positions at the Centre:

  • Devesh Chaturvedi (1989 batch), Secretary, Department of Agriculture
  • Archana Agarwal (1990 batch), Member Secretary, NCR Planning Board
  • Kamran Rizvi (1991 batch), Secretary, Heavy Industry
  • Nivedita Shukla Verma (1991 batch), Secretary, Chemicals and Fertilisers

Notably, there are no secretary-level officers from the 1992, 1993, or 1994 batches, apart from Amit Ghosh (1993 batch), serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

A Sharp Contrast to the Past

Uttar Pradesh, which has the largest IAS cadre in India with an authorised strength of around 620 officers, once held a significant presence at the Centre. Many past cabinet secretaries hailed from the UP cadre. The steep decline in representation marks a significant departure from that era.

Empanelment and 360-Degree Appraisal System Under Scrutiny

A key reason cited for the drop is the 360-degree appraisal system introduced in recent years for empanelment at senior levels. The system, based on anonymous feedback from seniors, peers, and juniors, is considered by many to be non-transparent and subjective.

“The 360-degree system is opaque and needs to be reviewed,” said Alok Ranjan, former Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, while speaking to a prominant media organization. “How can a UP-cadre officer who was selected for the Prime Minister’s Award not be considered fit for empanelment?”

NOCs and Deputation Roadblocks

Another contributing factor is the denial or delay of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for officers who seek deputation to the Centre. Some officers, sources say, are either not relieved by the state or are blocked at the initial stage itself.

“We don’t want to allow good officers to leave. We need them in Uttar Pradesh,” admitted a senior official.

Delayed Promotions Add to the Bottleneck

Promotions within the state have also been delayed. While other states have promoted 1995 batch officers to the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) rank, UP is yet to clear promotions for the 1993 batch, despite recommendations from the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC).

Future Uncertain

Unless procedural and structural bottlenecks are addressed – including empanelment processes, NOC policies, and promotion delays – experts warn that Uttar Pradesh may soon find itself with no representation at the top tiers of the central bureaucracy.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT