Chandigarh: The Haryana government has sought the repatriation of four Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers currently serving on central deputation, citing an acute shortage of officers in the state. The move comes as the post of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini remains vacant and Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, an IAS officer of the 1990 batch from the Haryana cadre, is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2026.
A senior Haryana government official confirmed that the state has requested the Centre to repatriate four IAS officers: V. Umashankar, Rakesh Gupta, Nitin Kumar Yadav and Vikas Gupta.
The Centre has not yet indicated whether it will release all four officers. Their return could help Haryana manage its senior-level administrative responsibilities amid several impending retirements and a limited pool of available officers.
Haryana Seeks Return of Four IAS Officers on Central Deputation
The four officers sought by Haryana are currently serving in different positions in the Central government and its institutions.
- V. Umashankar (1993 batch): Currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- Rakesh Gupta (1997 batch): Serving as Additional Secretary in the President’s Secretariat.
- Nitin Kumar Yadav (2000 batch): Serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce since June 2024.
- Vikas Gupta (2001 batch): Currently serving as Commissioner of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
The Haryana government is seeking their return at a time when the availability of senior IAS officers has become a major administrative concern.
Read also: Haryana Faces Shortage of 44 IAS Officers; 8 Senior Officers to Retire by December 2026
Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Post Vacant Since September
The post of Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has remained vacant since Arun Kumar Gupta retired on September 30, 2026.
The situation is expected to become more challenging with the impending retirement of Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on December 31. Rastogi has already received two extensions, according to the report.
V. Umashankar is being viewed in bureaucratic circles as a possible successor to Rastogi. He is due to retire on June 30, 2028, which would leave him approximately 18 months of service after December 2026 if appointed Chief Secretary.
Umashankar previously served as Additional Principal Secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister from October 2018 to October 2020 and as Principal Secretary from October 2020 to October 2024. He subsequently moved to the Central government.
His wife and IAS batchmate, Deepti Umashankar, is serving as Secretary to the President of India.
Background of the Four IAS Officers
The four officers have held significant administrative positions in Haryana and at the Centre.
Rakesh Gupta: Before moving to the President’s Secretariat, Gupta served as Additional Principal Secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister from October 2014 to October 2018. He was associated with several governance initiatives of the BJP government, including the Chief Minister’s Good Governance Associates (CMGGA) programme, where he served as project director. He also served as the nodal officer for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative.
Nitin Kumar Yadav: Yadav has served in key administrative roles in Haryana, including Secretary (Home). He also previously served as Home Secretary in the Chandigarh Administration before moving to the Department of Commerce at the Centre.
Vikas Gupta: Gupta is currently the Commissioner of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. During an earlier term of the BJP government in Haryana, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Parivar Pehchan Patra Authority.
Haryana Has 179 IAS Officers Against Sanctioned Strength of 226
The scale of Haryana’s bureaucratic shortage is reflected in the state’s sanctioned and actual IAS officer strength.
Haryana has 179 IAS officers against a sanctioned strength of 226, leaving a shortfall of 47 officers. Furthermore, 10 of the 20 officers listed at the top of the state’s gradation list are currently on central deputation.
The shortage of senior officers has added to the pressure on the state administration, particularly as several important positions require continuity and experienced leadership.
The availability of officers has also been affected by the ongoing IDFC First Bank fraud investigation, in which several IAS officers have been named or are facing allegations, according to the report.
Pankaj Agarwal is in jail over his alleged role in the case involving the alleged ₹645-crore bank fraud. Vineet Garg, who is posted as Additional Chief Secretary for Printing and Stationery, has been named in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s chargesheet.
Mohammed Shayin, Saket Kumar and Ram Kumar Singh are also among the officers facing scrutiny in connection with the case. Pardeep Kumar, another officer named in the CBI chargesheet, has retired.
These developments have added to the administrative challenges faced by Haryana, although the legal status and allegations relating to each officer differ.
Series of Retirements to Put Further Pressure on Administration
Several senior IAS officers are scheduled to retire over the coming months, potentially increasing the pressure on Haryana’s administrative machinery.
The upcoming retirements include:
- Sanjay Joon: Commissioner of Faridabad division, due to retire on October 31, 2026.
- Sudhir Rajpal: Additional Chief Secretary, currently on central deputation, due to retire on November 30, 2026.
- Abhilaksh Likhi: Senior IAS officer on central deputation, due to retire on November 30, 2026.
- Geeta Bharti: Commissioner of Hisar division, due to retire on November 30, 2026.
- Anurag Rastogi: Haryana Chief Secretary, due to retire on December 31, 2026.
- Sumita Misra: Additional Chief Secretary, due to retire on January 31, 2027.
The concentration of retirements between October 2026 and January 2027 is expected to make the management of senior administrative responsibilities more challenging.
Haryana Relaxes Restrictions for Senior Officer Amid Administrative Needs
The state government has already taken steps to manage its limited pool of senior officers.
According to the report, Haryana recently exempted Additional Chief Secretary Sudhir Rajpal from restrictions on the powers of officers during their final two months of service. The exemption was granted on the grounds of “administrative exigencies”.
Rajpal oversees several important departments, including Home, Jails, Environment, and Finance and Planning. His responsibilities highlight the importance of maintaining administrative continuity as the state faces a shortage of experienced officers.
The request to repatriate four IAS officers is part of Haryana’s effort to address the immediate shortage and manage key administrative positions amid the upcoming retirements.
The Centre’s decision on the repatriation request will be significant for Haryana as it prepares for changes at the highest levels of its bureaucracy.
Read also: Six Haryana IAS Officers Named in CBI Chargesheet Over ₹504-Crore Funds Case
