The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC), in between the preparations for the new Income Tax legislation and other reforms in indirect tax administration, face significant staff shortages. The CBDT has a vacancy rate of roughly 34 per cent, while the CBIC has a 39 per cent vacancy rate, relative to their sanctioned strength.
For administering Corporate Tax, Non-Corporate Tax (for individuals, Hindu Undivided Families, firms, etc.), and Securities Transaction Tax, the CBDT is responsible. The CBIC controls Central Goods & Services Tax, Integrated Goods & Services Tax, Central Excise Duty, and Customs Duty.
The CBDT has a sanctioned strength of over 77,700, with more than 26,000 vacancies as per the data shown by the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary. It specifies that there is a vacancy rate of nearly 34%. The CBIC has a total allowed workforce of 84,400 positions. However, there are currently about 33,000 job openings, indicating they are operating with nearly 39 per cent fewer employees than needed.
Chaudhary explained that “the total vacancies also include promotional vacancies that remain unfilled due to the non-availability of eligible candidates. In addition, certain vacancies have been reserved under the Compassionate and Sports Quota appointments. In some cases, the process to conduct Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) has been delayed due to litigation or stays granted by various courts.”
The process of filling vacant positions is conducted regularly, as stated. Vacancies are reported to the relevant recruiting agencies: the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for Group ‘A’ positions, and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ roles. For the examination year 2025, a total of 11,809 vacancies in the ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories have already been reported to the Staff Selection Commission for Direct Recruitment.
In a recent statement, it was reported that the CBIC has identified a total of 1,796 vacancies for Inspector positions, 183 vacancies for Executive Assistants, 771 for Tax Assistants, and 141 for Stenographer Gr. I/II for the year 2025. The Minister also emphasised the outcomes of the Mission Mode Recruitment Plan, noting that since 2022, the CBIC has successfully recruited 16,320 officers in the Group B cadre and 14,346 in the Group C cadre through direct recruitment. Additionally, under this initiative, 9,125 officers in the Group B cadre and 1,378 in the Group C cadre have been promoted.
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A finance ministry official last year told a Parliamentary panel that the problem of high vacancies is not confined to the tax departments but is a challenge for all government departments. “People who get selected to a department one year often continue to take examinations the next year. If they get through, they will leave the department, creating vacancies again,” as per the officials.
He mentioned that the government is making efforts along with the CBDT and CBIC, which have generated positive outcomes. “We will continue to take it up with the authorities concerned. We cannot directly take up the recruitment,” the Minister added, citing that the bulk recruitments are managed either via the SSC or UPSC. The objective of the effort is to recruit many people to be recruited.
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