33 OAS Officers Promoted To IAS Rank To Run State Administration: Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday informed the Odisha Assembly that only six new Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers have been allotted to Odisha cadre this year.

To a question by BJD MLA Chakradhar Kanhar, the Chief Minister in a written reply said that many senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers were promoted to the rank of IAS to run the state administration.

He said that 26 OAS officers were promoted to IAS rank in 2017 and seven more in 2018.

At present, the state has 176 IAS officers against the sanctioned strength of 237 and 61 posts are vacant. Of the 176 IAS officers of Odisha cadre, 27 are on central deputation, one on inter-state deputation and another on study leave, he said.

Similarly, Odisha has 117 IPS officers against the sanctioned strength of 188 and 71 posts are vacant. Of the 117 officers, 29 are are on central deputation and one on inter-state deputation, he added.