Massive Administrative Shake-Up: 300 Senior IAS Officers to Retire in 2026

• Around 300 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers are slated for retirement in 2026, as per Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) data.
• This wave of retirements will impact top administrative roles, including Cabinet Secretary, Chief Secretaries of major states, and central government Secretaries.
• States like Uttar Pradesh (31 officers), Punjab (14), Haryana (13), Madhya Pradesh (15), Odisha (12), Tamil Nadu (13), and the AGMUT cadre (29) will see significant departures.
• Notable officers retiring include TV Somanathan (Cabinet Secretary), Dharmendra (Chief Secretary, Delhi), and Kamran Rizvi (Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries).
• The retirements will necessitate major adjustments, reshuffling, and promotions to ensure administrative continuity at both central and state levels.

Why It Matters: Nearly 300 senior IAS officers retiring in 2026 will trigger a major administrative overhaul across India.