Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has raised concern over a growing trend of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers not returning to the state after completing their central deputation. Addressing a public gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Civil Service Officers’ Institute in Kunjaban on Sunday, Saha disclosed that he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.
Without naming specific officers, the Chief Minister stated, “It becomes a problem when they are reluctant to return. Some even get involved in indirect lobbying to extend their stay outside the state.” The upcoming institute aims to provide improved facilities and infrastructure for civil servants in Tripura, with the goal of retaining administrative talent. “I hope that after the inauguration, officers won’t request deputation again,” Saha added.
He acknowledged that deputation is a routine bureaucratic process but stressed the need for officers to honour their state cadre commitments. Despite his concerns, CM Saha praised the contribution of bureaucrats, noting a significant rise in the state’s annual budget from ₹27,000 crore in 2024–25 to ₹32,000 crore in 2025–26. Reflecting on his own journey, Saha remarked, “I had no target to be a doctor, but I became one—and now I’m here. It is the people’s blessings.”
