UPSC New Cadre Allocation Policy 2026: Rules, Insider-Outsider System and State Grouping

UPSC New Cadre Allocation Policy 2026 explains how candidates selected through the Civil Services Examination are allotted state cadres. Cadre allocation decides the state or group of states where an officer will serve for most of their career.

The new cadre policy UPSC 2026 applies to IAS, IPS, and IFoS officers selected through CSE 2026 onwards. This policy continues and refines the system introduced under the UPSC New Cadre Policy 2021, UPSC New Cadre Policy 2022, and UPSC New Cadre Policy 2023.

Understanding this policy is very important for aspirants, as it directly affects service location, administrative exposure, and career growth.

What is UPSC New Cadre Allocation Policy?

UPSC Cadre Allocation Policy 2026 for All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFoS). The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) issued this revised framework. It guides how selected candidates receive their state postings. This policy is crucial for aspirants to understand the allocation process, impacting their service tenure and location.

The Central Government revised the UPSC New Cadre Allocation Policy 2026 for IAS, IPS, and IFoS. This new policy is effective from Civil Services Examination-2026 and Indian Forest Service Examination-2026.

What the 2026 Cadre Allocation Policy Covers

The policy clearly explains the full allocation process, including:

• Calculation of cadre-wise vacancies

• Grouping of state and joint cadres

• Insider (home cadre) allocation rules

• Handling of unfilled insider vacancies

• Outsider allocation process

• Special provisions for PwBD candidates

• Annual rotation of cadre groups

The main aim is fairness, transparency, regional balance, and maintaining the national character of All India Services.

Determination of Vacancies

Cadre Controlling Authorities (DoPT, MHA, MoEF&CC) determine vacancies. These include Unreserved (UR), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Insider, and Outsider vacancies.

• Vacancies are based on the cadre gap as of January 1st of the year following the examination year.

• State Governments must report vacancies by January 31st of the year after the examination.

• Economically Wreaker Sections (EWS) vacancies are part of UR vacancies. EWS candidates plot against UR vacancies in rosters.

• Vacancies are communicated to State Governments and published online before final exam results.

UGC Bill 2026

Grouping of States/Cadres

All State Cadres and Joint Cadres are arranged alphabetically and divided into four groups. This ensures balanced distribution during outsider allocation.

Allocation Against Insider Vacancies

"Insider" allocation means posting to a candidate's home state/cadre.

• Candidates list their home states and willingness for home cadre.

• Separate merit lists are prepared for each category (UR, OBC, SC, ST).

• Allocation is strictly by rank and vacancy availability.

• Candidates must express willingness for home cadre. Without it, they are not considered for their home cadre.

• The policy uses cycles (e.g., 1-25, 26-50) for structured insider distribution. Candidates are placed in cycles according to their merit order in their category.

• Reserved category candidates selected on general merit can get UR insider vacancies. If not, they are considered for their own category's insider vacancy.

Unfilled Insider Vacancies

If an insider vacancy cannot be filled by a candidate of the relevant category:

• It can be filled by an insider candidate of another category, if an outsider vacancy of that category is available for exchange.

• PwBD candidates get higher claim for adjustment in their category.

• If still unfilled, the insider vacancy becomes an outsider vacancy. It is filled as such and not carried forward.

Allocation Against Outsider Vacancies

After insider allocations, remaining vacancies fill through "outsider" allocation.

• PwBD Candidates Priority: PwBD candidates not allocated to home cadre are considered first. They can indicate one preferred cadre (other than home). If a vacancy exists, they get allocated. If not, an additional vacancy can be created for them.

• Non-PwBD Candidates: Outsider allocation follows a roster system. Candidates who could not get insider vacancies are arranged by merit. They are allocated to various cadres in cycles.

• The first cycle starts with Group-I cadres. Cadres not receiving insiders get one candidate. Subsequent cycles start with the next group (Group-II, Group-III, Group-IV).

• If a candidate gets their home cadre during outsider allocation, an exchange occurs with the next eligible candidate.

Rotation of Group Order

To maintain fairness, the starting group for outsider allocation rotates annually. The group at the top in one year moves to the bottom the next year. This ensures equitable opportunity for all regions over time.

Cadre Allocation Timeline

IAS cadre allocation happens before the professional course begins at LBSNAA. IPS/IFoS allocations occur soon after appointments are made.

Applicability

This UPSC New Cadre Allocation Policy supersedes all previous policies. It applies to candidates from CSE 2026 and IFoS 2026 onwards.