Centre Increases Telangana's IAS Cadre Strength to 218

 Hyderabad: The Centre has enhanced the cadre strength of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in Telangana from the existing 208 to 218, bringing relief to the state government which has been grappling with an acute shortage of IAS officers since its formation in June 2014. The government received a communication to this effect from the Centre's department of personnel and training (DoPT).

Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in June 2014, it took almost two years for the Centre to complete the distribution of IAS officers between the two successor states. In January 2016, Telangana’s cadre strength was fixed at 163 officers. This number proved inadequate and, responding to repeated appeals from the state government, the Centre increased the cadre strength to 208 in April 2016. After nearly ten years, the latest enhancement raises the sanctioned strength to 218.

Despite the cadre strength being fixed at 218, only 171 IAS officers are working in the Telangana cadre, leaving 47 posts vacant. This has forced the state government to make alternative arrangements.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has been consistently urging the Centre to address the shortfall in IAS officers. In March 2024, during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, the Chief Minister submitted a representation seeking the allotment of 29 IAS officers to Telangana to bridge the growing administrative gap. While the Centre has now approved an increase of 10 posts, the State continues to face a considerable deficit between sanctioned and working strength.

The shortage has had a visible impact on governance, particularly after the steep rise in the number of districts from 10 to 33 during the previous BRS regime. The expansion created a sudden demand for IAS officers to manage key posts such collectors and additional collectors. Many of these crucial positions have been entrusted to in-charge officers drawn from non-cadre services, including the state’s Group-I services, or to relatively junior IAS officers.

Several senior officers are required to handle multiple departments simultaneously, which is affecting administration and timely decision-making. Important administrative and developmental schemes are often facing delays due to overburdened roles of senior IAS officers.