The government has proposed special examinations to induct young officers recruited through the State Civil Services into the elite Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Faced with a shortfall of at least 560 IAS officers across India, a proposal for the UPSC to hold “limited” competitive examinations to allow young officers serving in the states to join the IAS is under active consideration of the Prime Minister’s Office.
A similar move to make up the acute shortfall of IPS officers through a “limited competitive examination” for young officers in Central Police Organi-sations (CPOs), Central Paramilitary Forces (CPFs) and state police forces had been firmed up by the Union ministry for home affairs (MHA) in March this year.
The proposal had been struck down by the UPSC, prompting the home ministry to approach the PMO to overrule the UPSC’s decision. Home minister P. Chidambaram will be meeting law minister Veerappa Moily and minister of state in the ministry of personnel Prithviraj Chavan on Friday to elicit their views, settle contentious issues like age criteria, and other modalities involved in holding such exams.
“We will be taking the views of the stakeholders to resolve any complications in view of the concerns expressed by the UPSC. A final view will be taken after we study their suggestions,” an MHA official said.
Currently, entry into the State Civil Services is through a competitive examination conducted by every state public service commission.
However, state civil service officers can be promoted to the IAS on the basis of their track records. Government sources said that keeping in view the shortfall of IAS officers, the fresh proposal would allow young officers to sit for the proposed special examination for induction into the IAS.
“The move may lead to discontent among state civil service officers who have served 20 years or more who will not be eligible to sit for the proposed examination,” a government official said.