Jaipur: The long-awaited process for promotion of Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officers to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is set to move ahead on Wednesday, September 23, with the UPSC Selection Committee scheduled to hold its meeting at the Rajasthan Secretariat in Jaipur instead of its headquarters in New Delhi.
The meeting, scheduled for 4 pm, will consider proposals to fill 18 IAS vacancies through promotion from the State Civil Service for the 2025 vacancy year. UPSC officials and other members of the Selection Committee are travelling to Jaipur for the meeting.
The decision to hold the meeting at the Jaipur Secretariat has drawn attention in administrative circles because such meetings are ordinarily associated with the UPSC headquarters in Delhi. Reports note that a similar Selection Committee meeting was held at the Jaipur Secretariat in June 2017, when recommendations were considered for 16 vacant IAS posts.
18 IAS Vacancies on the Agenda
The central issue before the Selection Committee is the selection of eligible State Civil Service officers for promotion against 18 vacant IAS posts.
The proposal includes officers from the 1998 and 1999 RAS batches. Reports indicate that 15 officers from the 1998 batch and three from the 1999 batch are part of the proposal for the 18 vacancies.
The process has attracted considerable attention among senior RAS officers because the Selection Committee’s recommendations will determine the next stage of their elevation to the IAS.
1998-Batch RAS Officers in Contention
Among the prominent names from the 1998 RAS batch being considered are Meghna Chaudhary, Om Prakash Jain, Rajesh Singh, Mukesh Kumar Sharma, Mahendra Kumar Sharma, Anju Rajpal, Vivek Kumar, Madan Lal Nehra, Dinesh Kumar Jangid, Poonam Prasad Sagar, Ummed Singh and Mahaveer Kharadi.
The complete consideration will depend on the eligibility and service records of the officers included in the proposal submitted to the UPSC.
Three Officers From the 1999 Batch
Three prominent officers from the 1999 RAS batch are also part of the proposal.
They are Dr Bhagchand Badhal, Aslam Sher Khan and Narendra Kumar Bansal. Their names will be considered alongside the eligible officers from the 1998 batch for the available vacancies.
Why the Promotion Process Was Delayed
The RAS-to-IAS promotion exercise had been delayed for several months.
According to reports, the Rajasthan Department of Personnel had sent the promotion proposal to the UPSC, but the process was held up after the Commission sought additional information concerning an RAS officer from the 2001 batch, particularly regarding the officer’s field experience.
The Department of Personnel subsequently provided information sought by the UPSC on the matter. However, the Selection Committee meeting was not immediately scheduled.
Earlier reporting had said that the final list of eligible officers was sent to the UPSC after objections and procedural issues were addressed. The proposal had initially been forwarded for scrutiny in May 2026.
RAS Officers Approached Chief Secretary V. Srinivas
Amid the delay, RAS officers whose promotions were under consideration reportedly met Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, an IAS officer of 1989 batch, and requested intervention to resolve the outstanding issues.
According to the latest report, Srinivas took up the matter with the UPSC, after which the Selection Committee meeting was scheduled for September 23.
The meeting is therefore being viewed within the Rajasthan bureaucracy as an important step towards completing the long-pending RAS-to-IAS promotion exercise.
UPSC Officials to Travel From Delhi to Jaipur
The September 23 meeting is notable not only for the number of vacancies but also for its location.
UPSC officials will travel from Delhi to Jaipur for the meeting. According to a report published on the day of the meeting, UPSC member Suman Sharma is scheduled to attend, while Union Home Ministry officials Nidhi Pandey and Mahtime Sandeep Namdeo are expected to participate as Department of Personnel and Training representatives. The Rajasthan side is expected to include Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Additional Chief Secretary Abhay Kumar and Department of Personnel Secretary Archana Singh.
The visiting officials have reportedly been accorded State Guest status by the Rajasthan Government.
A Rare Meeting Outside Delhi
Holding the Selection Committee meeting at the Rajasthan Secretariat rather than at the UPSC headquarters in Delhi has become one of the notable aspects of this year’s promotion exercise.
Reports recall that the Jaipur Secretariat had previously hosted a UPSC Selection Committee meeting on June 22, 2017. At that time, recommendations were considered for 16 vacant IAS posts.
The September 23 meeting therefore represents another instance of the Commission’s Selection Committee convening in Jaipur for the State Civil Service-to-IAS promotion process.
Three Sealed-Cover Cases Also in Focus
Apart from the fresh proposals against the 18 vacancies, three earlier cases are also expected to attract attention during the meeting.
The names associated with the sealed-cover cases are Arun Prakash Sharma, Ramswaroop and Gopal Ram Birda. Their cases relate to pending matters from the earlier selection process and may be taken up by the Selection Committee.
Among these, particular attention is being paid to Gopal Ram Birda’s case, with reports indicating the possibility that his sealed cover could be opened during the proceedings.
The treatment of these cases will depend on the Selection Committee’s consideration of the relevant service records and applicable rules.
Some Senior RAS Officers May Fall Outside Consideration
Not every officer from the relevant batches is necessarily part of the current consideration.
Earlier reporting indicated that some 1998- and 1999-batch officers may not be considered because of the applicable age limit. The names reported in this category include Bhavani Singh Palawat, Dr Banshidhar Kumawat, Parshuram Dhanka, Jayanarayan Meena and Dr Vriddhichand Garg from the 1998 batch, and Ramlal Gurjar and Dr Mahendra Lodha from the 1999 batch.
The final list considered by the Selection Committee will therefore depend on eligibility under the applicable promotion rules.
What Happens After the Selection Committee Meeting?
The September 23 meeting is an important procedural step, but the meeting itself does not by itself constitute the final appointment of the officers to the IAS.
The Selection Committee considers the eligible officers and makes recommendations as part of the promotion process. Subsequent procedural steps are required before the final appointments are notified.
A report published on September 23 said that the remaining procedures in Delhi and Jaipur could take additional time after the meeting, with the formal promotion notification potentially coming towards the end of 2026 or in early January. This is a reported timeline rather than a confirmed government schedule.
A Closely Watched Day for Rajasthan’s Bureaucracy
The September 23 UPSC Selection Committee meeting brings together several strands of Rajasthan’s long-pending RAS-to-IAS promotion exercise — 18 vacancies, officers from the 1998 and 1999 batches, questions around eligibility, and three earlier sealed-cover cases.
Its location at the Rajasthan Secretariat also makes the meeting unusual, with the UPSC panel travelling to Jaipur rather than conducting the proceedings at its Delhi headquarters.
For the RAS officers whose names are under consideration, the meeting marks a significant stage in the process of elevation to the IAS. The decisions and recommendations emerging from the proceedings will determine the next steps in filling Rajasthan’s 18 State Civil Service promotion vacancies for the 2025 vacancy year.
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