The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a new rule making it compulsory for Indian Police Service (IPS) officers at the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) ranks to serve a two-year Central deputation before becoming eligible for Inspector General of Police (IGP) posts with the Union Government. This order applies to IPS officers from the 2011 batch onward. In a letter dated January 28, the MHA addressed the chief secretaries of all States to notify them about the "modification in guidelines for empanelment of officers of IPS for holding IG post at the Centre." It stated that "a minimum of two years of Central experience at SP/DIG or equivalent level will be mandatory for empanelment of IPS officers at IG/equivalent level at the Centre from the 2011 batch onwards." The Ministry also asked States to inform all IPS officers in their cadres about this new rule. This change comes shortly after Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan wrote to States asking them to send more IPS officers on Central deputation. He noted that while States send names for the senior-most ranks, they often do not propose names for appointments from the SP to IGP levels. In 2021, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had proposed deputing IAS, IPS, and IFoS officers to the Centre without needing State government approval due to a shortage of All India Services (AIS) officers at the Centre. However, after States opposed this proposal, it was not implemented. Currently, officers need both their consent and State Government clearance for Central deputation. As of December 23, 104 of 229 sanctioned SP-level posts and 69 of 256 DIG-level posts at the Centre remain vacant.