CivilServices – OBC, SC, ST Appointments Rise in IPS Cadre
CivilServices – More candidates from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) have joined the Indian Police Service in recent years compared with the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Forest Service, according to data shared in Parliament.
Details Shared in Rajya Sabha
Responding to a written question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, provided figures covering recruitment between 2020 and 2024. The data relates to candidates who successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination and were subsequently allocated to the three All India Services — the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Forest Service (IFS).
The figures show that during the five-year period, 255 OBC candidates, 141 SC candidates and 71 ST candidates were appointed to the IPS. In comparison, 245 OBC candidates were allocated to the IAS, while 231 OBC candidates joined the IFS over the same span.
Category-Wise Allocation Across Services
Breaking down the numbers further, the IAS saw 135 SC candidates appointed during the five years. The IFS, meanwhile, recorded 95 SC appointments. For the ST category, 67 candidates were allocated to the IAS, and 48 joined the IFS.
The data indicates that while representation from reserved categories continues across all three services, the IPS received a slightly higher intake from these groups compared with the IAS and IFS in aggregate terms.
Recruitment to these services follows the Civil Services Examination conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission. Successful candidates are ranked based on performance and allotted services according to merit, preference, and reservation norms laid down by the government.
Persistent Vacancies Across Services
Despite regular recruitment drives and allocations each year, all three services continue to face substantial personnel shortages.
As per the information presented in the Upper House, the IAS currently operates with a deficit of 1,300 officers against a sanctioned strength of 6,877. In the IPS, 505 posts remain vacant out of a total sanctioned strength of 5,099. The IFS has the largest proportional shortfall, with 1,029 vacancies against 3,193 sanctioned posts.
These figures underline the ongoing gap between approved cadre strength and officers actually in position.
Current Strength as of January 2025
Official data shows that as of January 1, 2025, there were 5,577 IAS officers serving across the country. The IPS had 4,594 officers in position, while the IFS cadre stood at 2,164 officers.
The staffing gap has been a matter of discussion in policy circles, particularly in the context of increasing administrative responsibilities at both the Union and state levels. Officers from the All India Services play a central role in governance, law enforcement, environmental management, and policy implementation across India.
While recruitment continues annually, bridging the vacancy levels remains a gradual process. The government has in recent years taken steps to enhance intake through the Civil Services Examination and review cadre strength periodically to align with administrative requirements.
The latest data placed before Parliament provides a clearer picture of representation trends and staffing levels within the country’s premier civil services, reflecting both progress in inclusive recruitment and the operational challenges posed by existing vacancies.