The government of India 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 Organisations (CPOs), Central Paramilitary Forces (CPFs) and state police forces had been firmed up by the Union ministry for home affairs (MHA) in March, 2010.

The proposal had been struck down by the UPSC, prompting the home ministry to approach the PMO to overrule the UPSC’s decision. The Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, will be meeting the law minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, and the minister of state in the ministry of personnel, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, on Friday to elicit their views. The Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, will be meeting the law minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, and the minister of state in the ministry of personnel, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, on 18.06.2010 to 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 Ministry Home Affairs official said.

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