A reshuffle is expected soon in the top echelons of India’s bureaucracy, with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal United (JDU) emerging as key players in government formation at the Centre. According to two senior bureaucrats who have served in the central government earlier, bureaucrats from Andhra Pradesh and Bihar cadres may receive significant and influential postings as the new alliance government comes into power.
‘It is expected that bureaucrats from Andhra Pradesh and Bihar cadres may receive significant and influential postings as the new alliance government comes into power,’ said one official, requesting not to be named. ‘There are several trusted IAS officers who have closely worked with Nitish Kumar, and the Bihar CM may like to accommodate them in the central government.’ The official, who retired in 2023, added that similarly, experienced officers from the Andhra Pradesh cadre may also get the opportunity to serve in the Centre, aligning the policy framework with the alliance’s common minimum programme.
‘When a government changes, it often affects the bureaucracy. Leaders of the ruling party tend to bring along their trusted officers, those who have worked closely with them for an extended period and understand their working style,’ said Dinesh Tyagi, a retired IAS officer who last served as managing director of CSC E-Governance India.
Currently, only a handful of the more than 70 secretary-level posts in the central government are held by bureaucrats from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Most high-ranking bureaucrats heading different central departments hail from the service cadres of Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam-Meghalaya, Gujarat, among others.
To work in the central government, an IAS officer applies for deputation to the DoPT, which controls placement of bureaucrats from different cadres. The selection process includes vigilance clearance and other formalities. Initially, the appointment is made on a deputation basis for three years, which can be extended for up to seven years.
