The number of candidates shortlisted for the coveted civil services this year is the lowest since 2012. The lowest intake comes at a time when the Union government is faced with an acute shortage of All India Services (AIS) officers who are willing or available to serve at the Centre.
As per the results of the 2021 Civil Services Examinations (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), only 685 candidates have been recommended for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Central Services - Group A and Group B. In 2014, 1,236 candidates were recommended while in 2012 the number stood at 998. In the years 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. 2019 and 2020 the number of candidates recommended for appointment to the civil services stood at 1,122, 1,078, 1,099, 990, 759, 829 and 761 respectively.
There is not only a sharp decrease in the selection of candidates but also a gradual decline in the number of posts advertised for the CSE examinations.
