Bhubaneswar: Odisha is currently facing a significant shortage of senior civil service officers, with 182 crucial posts lying vacant across the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS).
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi disclosed this alarming situation during the Assembly session on Monday, highlighting the challenge it poses to effective governance and public service delivery.
Critical Vacancy Numbers Across Key Services
Responding to a question raised by BJD MLA Arun Sahoo, CM Majhi revealed detailed figures on sanctioned versus filled posts. Out of a total of 584 sanctioned posts in these three services, only 402 are currently occupied. The IAS cadre has 45 vacancies from 248 sanctioned posts, the IPS cadre faces a shortage of 66 officers out of 195 sanctioned posts, while the IFS cadre is the worst hit with 71 vacancies out of 141 sanctioned posts.
Impact on Governance and Administration
The shortage of officers is having a direct impact on multiple fronts in Odisha’s administration. The lack of IAS officers is slowing down crucial policy formulation and implementation, while the deficit in IPS personnel is affecting law enforcement and internal security management. The IFS vacancy crunch is also hampering forest management and conservation efforts, which are vital for the state’s ecological balance.
State Government Seeks Central Intervention
Chief Minister Majhi assured the Assembly that the state government has formally requested the Central government to fast-track the recruitment and deployment of officers to fill these critical gaps. The demand is for more timely cadre allocation and recruitment processes to bolster the administrative machinery in Odisha.
Calls for Urgent Reforms from Lawmakers and Citizens
This revelation has triggered concern among lawmakers across parties and the general public. Many voices in the Assembly have called for urgent reforms in the officer allocation and recruitment process to ensure that Odisha’s governance is not compromised due to personnel shortages.
