Chandigarh: Haryana is facing a growing shortage of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, with the state currently functioning with 44 fewer officers than its sanctioned strength.
The shortage comes at a time when several senior IAS officers are due to retire during the remaining months of 2026, potentially placing additional pressure on the state’s administrative machinery and senior-level postings.
The situation has already seen one senior officer retire in August, while a number of Principal Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries and Divisional Commissioners are scheduled to reach superannuation between September and December.
Senior Officers Retiring in the Coming Months
Suresh, who was serving as Principal Secretary in the Fisheries Department, has already retired on August 31, 2026.
Two more senior officers are scheduled to retire on September 30. They are Anita Yadav and Arun Kumar Gupta, who is serving as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.
The sequence will continue in October, with Sanjay Joon, Commissioner of the Faridabad Division, scheduled to retire on October 31.
November will see another group of senior officers reach superannuation. Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary in charge of Home and Forests; Abhilaksh Likhi, who is currently on central deputation; and Geeta Bharti, Commissioner of Hisar Division, are all scheduled to retire on November 30.
The state’s top administrative post will also see a change at the end of the year, with Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi scheduled to retire on December 31.
Retirement Timeline
The senior-level retirements scheduled for the remainder of 2026 include:
- August 31: Suresh, Principal Secretary, Fisheries Department — retired.
- September 30: Anita Yadav and Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.
- October 31: Sanjay Joon, Commissioner, Faridabad Division.
- November 30: Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Forests; Abhilaksh Likhi, on central deputation; Geeta Bharti, Commissioner, Hisar Division.
- December 31: Anurag Rastogi, Chief Secretary, Haryana.
Administrative Pressure Could Increase
The existing gap of 44 officers between the sanctioned IAS strength and the officers available to the state is significant because IAS officers occupy several critical positions across the state government, including the Secretariat, districts, divisions and major departments.
The impending retirements involve officers holding senior administrative responsibilities. Their departure will consequently require the state government to make fresh arrangements for these positions, either through appointments from the existing cadre or through other permissible administrative arrangements.
The retirement of the Chief Secretary at the end of December will be particularly significant, as the state will have to appoint a successor to the highest-ranking civil service position in Haryana.
Central Deputation Also Affects Available Strength
The state’s available administrative strength is also influenced by officers serving outside the state on central deputation.
Abhilaksh Likhi, who is currently on central deputation, is among the officers scheduled to retire on November 30. While officers on deputation continue to belong to their respective cadres, their absence from the state cadre means they are not available for regular assignments within the Haryana government during the period of deputation.
With 44 fewer officers than the sanctioned strength and several senior officers scheduled to retire, Haryana’s administrative establishment is set to undergo a series of changes before the end of 2026.
The state government will therefore have to manage multiple senior-level vacancies and consequential changes in postings as the year draws to a close.
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