CBIC Struggles with Staff Shortages Despite High Vacancy
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is facing a significant staffing crisis, with over 37,000 vacancies. A parliamentary panel has raised concerns after the board recruited only 4,600 people in 2024, highlighting a substantial gap between the sanctioned and working strength.
As of July 1, 2024, CBIC’s sanctioned strength was 91,472, but its working strength stood at just 54,883, leaving 36,859 posts vacant. While the board did recruit 4,653 officers and promote 418 others in 2024, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance noted that this effort is not nearly enough to address the problem. The committee also pointed out that a significant number of these vacancies are at the crucial Inspector level, which is essential for effective field enforcement and efficient taxpayer services.
The committee is worried that this persistent staff shortage will undermine the efficiency of tax administration and cause delays for taxpayers. They have urged CBIC to create a more structured manpower plan for timely and adequate recruitment and to explore strategies for retaining employees to reduce attrition.
To address the issue, CBIC has reported 8,912 vacancies to the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for recruitment, including 3,184 Inspector-grade positions. However, the committee’s report, tabled in Parliament, emphasizes that the current scale of recruitment is not sufficient to close the gap.
