The Maharashtra government has recently promoted 23 Deputy Collectors to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), marking one of the largest inductions of state cadre officers into the IAS in recent history.
These officers, who joined the state civil services in 1997-98, have been inducted into the IAS after nearly 26 years of service. This long wait contrasts sharply with the timeline in most southern states, where Deputy Collectors are often inducted into the IAS within 12 to 13 years of service. In Maharashtra, however, the process typically takes 25 to 30 years, leaving many state officers with only two to three years of tenure in the IAS before retirement.
The delay in the current year’s inductions was attributed to the enforcement of the model code of conduct during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, which postponed the promotion committee meetings.
