Union Minister Jitendra Singh backs AI for domain-based IAS postings

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Monday suggested use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in identifying IAS officers for domain-specific postings and targeted government projects.

The minister's proposal came during an event in which he launched the electronic civil list, 2025 in the form of an e-book -- a digital compendium of serving Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers across the country.

Singh, while unveiling the e-book, said the IAS continues to attract some of the finest minds in the country and plays a vital role in strengthening India's federal governance.

He highlighted the e-civil list as an important tool for transparency, offering a structured view of the country's administrative leadership.

Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, proposed an AI-based search option into the e-civil list.

This enhancement, he noted, could allow domain-specific searches to help identify suitable officers for mission mode and other targeted government projects, while ensuring that access to such features remains appropriately restricted, according to a Personnel Ministry statement.

The minister also stressed the importance of regularly updating the digital list to maintain its relevance and utility.

The e-book, published by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), contains comprehensive details of IAS officers — including their name, batch, cadre, present posting, pay level, educational qualifications and retirement dates — as updated on January 1.

It also provides cadre-wise strength, the number of officers retiring over the next five years and appointment data from 1969 onwards.

For the first time, officers' photographs have been included in the digital document, the statement said.

Designed as a searchable PDF with embedded hyperlinks, the e-book offers a user-friendly interface that enables instant access to information.

"The civil list is an important resource not just for administrators and decision-makers but also for the general public," Singh said, adding that the move reflects the Centre's larger push for digital governance.

The minister described the initiative as part of the government of India's Digital India mission, aimed at modernising systems and improving citizen-centric services, the statement said.

By discontinuing the printing of hard copies, the department is also saving on government expenditure and contributing to eco-friendly governance practices, it added.

The DoPT, as the cadre-controlling authority of the IAS officers, compiles the civil list annually using inputs from central records and state cadres. The 2025 edition reflects a total authorised cadre strength of 6,877 officers, with 5,577 officers in active service across 25 state cadres.

The launch event was attended by several senior dignitaries, including Director General of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) S N Tripathi, Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) Sriram Taranikanti and Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Rachna Shah, along with other senior officials.

The e-book civil list, 2025 is now available to the public on the DoPT website https://dopt.gov.in.