Chandigarh: Haryana’s authorised Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre strength has been increased from 215 to 226 officers, but the state currently has only 182 IAS officers, leaving a shortfall of 44 officers. The gap could widen further as several officers are due to retire before the end of 2026.
The revised cadre strength was notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) through the Indian Administrative Service (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Seventh Amendment Regulations, 2026, dated June 11, 2026.
Haryana Has 44 Fewer IAS Officers Than Sanctioned Strength
With the authorised strength now at 226 and 182 officers currently in position, Haryana faces a shortage of 44 IAS officers, or nearly 20% of its sanctioned strength.
The revised figures are:
- Earlier authorised strength: 215
- Revised authorised strength: 226
- Increase: 11 posts
- IAS officers currently in position: 182
- Current shortfall: 44 officers
The increase in sanctioned strength was intended to provide the state with greater room for administrative postings. However, the absence of a matching increase in the number of officers has left the state with a wider gap between sanctioned and actual strength.
Eight IAS Officers Due to Retire in 2026
The shortage could become more pronounced in the coming months, with eight IAS officers scheduled to retire during the remaining months of 2026, according to the state civil list cited in the report.
Among the officers due to retire are:
- Suresh, Principal Secretary, Fisheries Department — August 31
- Anita Yadav, Principal Secretary — September 30
- Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister — September 30
The scheduled retirements could further reduce the number of serving IAS officers available to handle the state’s administrative responsibilities.
Senior Officers Handling Multiple Departments
The shortage has also resulted in some senior IAS officers holding multiple important assignments.
According to the reported details, Sudhir Rajpal, a 1990-batch IAS officer, is handling responsibilities as Additional Chief Secretary for Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation and Administration of Justice, as well as Environment, Forests and Wildlife.
Similarly, Sumita Misra, also from the 1990 batch, holds the Additional Chief Secretary charge for Revenue and Disaster Management, along with Health, Medical Education and AYUSH.
Apoorva Kumar Singh is handling three Additional Chief Secretary-level responsibilities covering Higher Education, Public Works (Buildings and Roads) and Architecture.
Cadre Strength Increased by 11 Posts
The latest revision increased Haryana’s authorised IAS cadre strength by 11 posts, from 215 to 226.
The change was notified under the Seventh Amendment Regulations, 2026, issued following consultation between the Central Government and the Haryana government.
However, the increase in sanctioned posts does not automatically translate into an immediate increase in the number of officers available for posting. The state therefore continues to face a gap between its authorised cadre strength and the actual number of serving officers.
Officer Shortage Could Widen Further
With 182 IAS officers currently available against 226 authorised posts and additional retirements scheduled in 2026, the difference between sanctioned and actual strength could increase further in the near term.
The situation highlights the difference between sanctioned cadre strength and officers actually available for government assignments. While the revised cadre provides for more IAS positions, filling those positions depends on the availability and allocation of officers.
The IAS cadre strength of a state determines the number of authorised IAS posts across state government responsibilities and related reserves. Changes to the authorised cadre strength are made through regulations under the Indian Administrative Service (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Regulations, 1955. Haryana’s latest revision raised its authorised strength from 215 to 226.
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