Jaipur: More than three months after being promoted, 20 IAS officers in Rajasthan – 16 from the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) and 4 from other services – are still awaiting field postings. This delay stands in stark contrast to their IPS counterparts, who received postings within weeks of their promotion, sparking sharp criticism and murmurs of discrimination within the bureaucracy.
Five IPS Officers Posted, IAS Officers Left Waiting
While the promoted IAS officers continue to serve in their old roles since their promotion was notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on June 30, 2025, five RPS officers – Piyush Dixit, Vishnaram Bishnoi, Pushpendra Singh Rathore, Kamal Shekhawat, and Avnish Sharma – were promoted to IPS in early September and received their official postings within three weeks.
RAS Association Calls Delay “Discriminatory”
The RAS Officers’ Association has strongly criticized the delay in postings, terming it “unfair discrimination.” RAS Association President Mahavir Kharadi pointed out that promoted officers come with rich field experience and are fully capable of handling critical district roles. He argued that while the government has the authority over postings, denying promoted IAS officers district responsibilities undermines merit and experience.
Sharp Drop in Promoted Officers Managing Districts
Currently, only 12 out of 41 districts in Rajasthan are headed by promoted IAS officers. In comparison, 17–18 districts were managed by such officers during the previous Vasundhara Raje and Ashok Gehlot governments. The skewed allocation has led to a perception that the current government favors direct IAS recruits, many of whom reportedly hold influential positions close to the Chief Minister.
Officer Shortage Delaying Public Services
Rajasthan is currently facing a shortage of IAS officers, forcing nearly 45 departments to be handled as additional charge by other officers. Key departments such as Panchayati Raj, which oversees all village-level governance, are functioning without full-time leadership.
Even Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant is handling RAJFED – a critical agency for fertiliser, seed distribution, and MSP procurement – as an additional responsibility. The Disaster Department is under ACS (Home), while Information & Public Relations is managed by CM’s Special Secretary Sandesh Nayak.
Corruption Cases Influence Posting Decisions?
One key reason behind the delay, insiders claim, is the Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s tough stance on corruption. Several promoted officers have been involved in ACB probes or allegations in recent years. To maintain a clean image, the government is reportedly avoiding sensitive field postings for those under suspicion, even if minor charges are yet to be proven.
Selection & Promotion Process Explained
IAS promotions from the RAS or other services follow a multi-step process –
- Officers are selected based on seniority, performance record, and integrity.
- A panel is prepared by the Personnel Department, cleared by a state-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
- The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts interviews before final approval.
- This year, 16 RAS officers (from 1997–1998 batches) and four others were promoted, including:
RAS 1997 batch: Navneet Kumar, Sukhveer Saini, Harfool Yadav, Rajesh Verma, Suresh Chandra, Mahendra Khinchi, Ajit Singh Rajawat, Avdhesh Singh, Rakesh Rajoria, Rakesh Sharma, Jagveer Singh, Brijesh Kumar Chandolia, Dr. Harsahay Meena
RAS 1998 batch: Jugal Kishore Meena, Lalit Kumar, Dr. S.P. Singh
Other Services: Amita Sharma, Dr. Neetish Sharma, Narendra Kumar Manghani, Naresh Kumar Goyal
Past Governments Offered More Opportunities
Under previous governments, promoted IAS officers were entrusted with field responsibilities, including as District Collectors. In the last Gehlot term alone, 15 promoted RAS officers and three others held collector posts.
Former CM Ashok Gehlot had raised the issue publicly in June 2025, stating that several promoted officers, including those from Tehsildar and IAS ranks, remained in lower positions despite eligibility.
