New Delhi: The Union government has declined to disclose the total category wise representation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Foreign Service. A question in the Rajya Sabha sought detailed data on the composition of these elite services, including overall representation and vacancies.
CPI MP John Brittas asked for the sanctioned strength of each service, the number of officers in position, cadre wise details, and category wise representation of SC, ST and OBC officers. He also sought vacancy figures across categories.
In a written reply tabled on February 12, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh provided the total number of officers in service and the number of direct recruits from SC, ST and OBC categories between 2020 and 2024. He did not provide the total existing category wise break up or the number of general category recruits during the same period.
The authorised strength of the three services stands at 15,169 posts. Of these, 2,834 remain vacant, which amounts to 18.6 percent. At present, 5,577 IAS officers, 4,594 IPS officers and 2,164 IFS officers serve across cadres.
The IAS has 1,300 vacancies out of 6,877 sanctioned posts. The IPS has 505 vacancies out of 5,099. The IFS shows 1,029 vacancies out of 3,193 posts, the highest proportion among the three.
Between 2020 and 2024, direct recruitment in the IAS included 135 SC, 67 ST and 245 OBC officers. The IPS inducted 141 SC, 71 ST and 231 OBC officers. The IFS recruited 95 SC, 48 ST and 231 OBC officers.
The absence of complete category wise data leaves unanswered questions about overall representation in top civil services.
