Andhra Pradesh faces AIS staff shortage

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government is facing a shortage of All India Service (AIS) officers and would write to the Centre for a cadre review vis-Ã vis three categories — Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS). Every four to five years, the Centre will review its AIS cadre posts for redeployment.

In IAS category, while the total allotment strength for the state is 211, the present strength is 166. Among these, 16 IAS officers are working with the Centre on deputation. In the total allotment of IAS posts, 33 per cent quota should be filled by promotees and the remaining are of direct recruitment.

At present, of the 166 IAS officers, 64 are promotees. About 45 IAS posts are vacant. The Centre would allot about five to six IAS officers to the state.

Due to shortage of IAS officers, the state government has changed some posts. For example, a special chief secretary cadre IAS officer is generally appointed as chief commissioner of land administration (CCLA), but now the state has appointed a principal secretary cadre officer as CCLA.

In the same way, an IAS officer used to be appointed as commissioner of information and public relations. Now, the state has appointed a non-IAS officer as director of information and public relations. The state government would ask the Centre to have a review in respect of appointing IAS officers in various posts.

As regards IPS cadre, the state government has allotted 144 IPS officers but the present strength is only 129. Among these, 43 are promotees. In this cadre, there is a shortage of 15 IPS officers.

The total allotted strength of IFS officers is 82 but the present strength is only 64. In IFS category, the strength of promotees is 24 while the present strength is 12. In IFS, six direct recruitee and 12 promotee posts are vacant.