The UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy 2026 marks an important administrative reform by the Government of India.
Under this policy, the Centre has revised the cadre allocation system for All India Services. It provides a new grouping structure and clearer rules for insider and outsider allocation.
The revised framework applies to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS). It replaces the earlier zonal system that had been in place since 2017.
The new policy was notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) after consultations with State Governments. The main objective of this UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy 2026 is to ensure fairness, transparency, and administrative efficiency in cadre allocation.
Why Was the UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy Revised?
Earlier, several state governments raised concerns about:
- Uneven vacancy distribution
- Limited inter-state exposure
- Lack of transparency in allocation
Therefore, the Centre decided to revise the system. As a result, the earlier zonal arrangement has now been replaced with an alphabetical grouping structure.
This change aims to preserve the national character of the All-India Services while also addressing practical administrative issues.
What is the New Grouping Structure Under Cadre Allocation Policy 2026?
To ensure a fair and transparent process, all State Cadres and Joint Cadres have been arranged alphabetically and divided into four groups.
| Group | State / Joint Cadres Included |
| Group I | AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram and Union Territories), Andhra Pradesh, Assam–Meghalaya, Bihar, Chhattisgarh |
| Group II | Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh |
| Group III | Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu |
| Group IV | Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal |
Under the new policy, cadre allocation will be based on these four groups. Candidates will express their preferences accordingly.
Who Decides Vacancies Each Year?
Under the revised guidelines, cadre-controlling authorities will determine vacancies annually. The authorities are –
- The Department of Personnel and Training will determine the vacancies for IAS
- The Ministry of Home Affairs will determine the vacancies for IPS, and
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will determine the vacancies for Indian Forest Services (IFoS).
These vacancies are distributed across categories such as:
- Unreserved (UR)
- Scheduled Castes (SC)
- Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Other Backward Classes (OBC)
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
Important Rule on EWS Vacancies:
According to the new policy:
- EWS vacancies will be treated as part of the Unreserved (UR) category.
- They will be reflected accordingly in the cadre roster
This clarification brings consistency with existing reservation principles.
What are the changes made in relation to Insider Cadre Allocation?
One of the most important changes relates to insider candidates. An insider is a candidate opting for their home state cadre.
Key Rules:
- Allocation will strictly follow order of merit.
- Availability of vacancies is mandatory.
- Willingness to serve in the home state is compulsory.
- Without expressed willingness, the candidate will not be considered for insider allocation
This removes ambiguity and ensures transparency.
Time-Bound Vacancy Determination Process:
The revised cadre allocation policy clearly defines a time-bound vacancy determination process. To begin with, vacancies are calculated based on the cadre gap as on 1st January of the year following the Civil Services Examination. After this, State governments are required to submit their vacancy requisitions by 31st January. However, if any requisition is received after the prescribed deadline, it will not be considered. Once the vacancy figures are finalised, they are formally communicated to the State governments and published on the websites of the concerned ministries. As a result, this structured timeline ensures predictability, transparency, and administrative discipline in the cadre allocation process.
What is the Rotational Cycle System in the new UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy 2026? – How Cadres Are Allotted:
Under the new policy, cadre allocation follows a rotational cycle system.
How It Works:
- There are 25 state and joint cadres.
- Allocation happens in cycles of 25 candidates in merit order.
- If multiple candidates fall in the same cycle:
- Higher-ranked candidate gets priority
- Others move to the next cycle
This system brings objectivity and reduces discretion.
Outsider Allocation Process Explained:
After the process of insider allocation is completed, the outsider allocation begins. This stage is carried out in a structured and systematic manner to ensure fairness. First, allocation is done for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), giving them priority as per reservation norms. After this, the remaining outsider vacancies are filled by other eligible candidates. Throughout this process, the roster system is strictly followed. It will help to maintain social justice, balance, and transparency in cadre allocation.
How Is the Latest UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy 2026 Different from the Earlier One?
Earlier Cadre Allocation Policy (Zonal System):
- Zone I: AGMUT, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana
- Zone II: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha
- Zone III: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
- Zone IV: West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam–Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland
- Zone V: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
New Cadre Allocation Policy, 2026 – Alphabetical Grouping:
- Removes zonal imbalance
- Ensures rotational fairness
- Improves inter-state exposure
What are the Significances of UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy 2026?
The revised policy is important because it:
- Promotes national integration.
- Ensures fair distribution of vacancies.
- Enhances administrative efficiency.
- Reduces long-standing disputes over cadre allocation.
- Aligns with the original vision of the All-India Services.
Officials believe it will also provide broader field exposure to young officers.
Conclusion:
The UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy 2026 represents a major step toward transparency, fairness, and efficiency in India’s civil services system. By replacing the old zonal structure with an alphabetical grouping and introducing a clear rotational cycle, the Centre has addressed long-standing concerns of aspirants and states alike.
Sources:
FAQs on UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy
The UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy 2026 is a revised framework that explains how IAS, IPS, and IFoS officers are allotted state and joint cadres. It introduces a new alphabetical grouping system and clearer rules for allocating insiders and outsiders.
The policy was revised to address issues such as uneven vacancy distribution, limited interstate exposure, and a lack of transparency under the earlier zonal system. The new structure aims to improve fairness and administrative efficiency.
Under the new policy, all state and joint cadres are arranged alphabetically into four groups instead of zones. This grouping is used for rotational and merit-based cadre allocation.
Insider candidates are allotted their home state cadre strictly based on merit and vacancy availability. Additionally, expressing willingness to serve in the home state is now mandatory for insider allocation.
The rotational cycle system allots cadres in cycles of 25 candidates, corresponding to the total number of cadres. Higher-ranked candidates get priority within each cycle, ensuring objectivity and reducing discretion.
