NationalMonday, 24 August 2026·The Hindu - National
RTI data shows 8.23 lakh Central govt civilian posts vacant as of March 2024
RTI data shared by the Union Finance Ministry’s Pay Research Unit shows 8,23,556 civilian posts vacant across 80 Central Ministries and departments as on March 1, 2024.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In August 2026, an RTI reply from the Union Finance Ministry’s Pay Research Unit said that 8,23,556 civilian regular posts were vacant in 80 Central Ministries and departments as on March 1, 2024, out of a sanctioned strength of 39,23,212.
Key specifics
- Filled posts were 30,99,556, leaving 8,23,556 vacancies in the Central government civilian cadre.
- Ministry of Defence civilian establishments had 2,41,643 vacancies against 5,56,248 sanctioned posts.
- Indian Railways had 2,40,125 vacancies, with 12,39,576 posts filled out of 14,79,701 sanctioned.
- Ministry of Home Affairs had 1,10,885 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 11,18,233.
- President’s Secretariat and PMO had 35.7% and 28.5% vacancies, against sanctioned numbers of 803 and 441.
Exam lens
TNPSC current affairs may ask vacancy data, ministry-wise ranking, and RTI-based governance facts; remember March 1, 2024, 80 ministries, 8.23 lakh vacancies, and Defence-Railways together accounting for more than 58% of the total.