The General Administration Department has issued instructions directing employees to use the Human Resource Management System (HMRS) portal or mobile application for all types of leave applications. The new rule covers Casual Leave (CL), Earned Leave (EL), and other categories of leave available to government employees.

Officials said the move is part of the state's broader effort to improve governance through technology and reduce dependence on manual paperwork. Under the new system, leave requests submitted through traditional handwritten or printed applications will no longer be accepted.

To use the facility, employees must first register themselves on the HMRS platform by downloading the mobile application or accessing the online portal. Once registered, they can submit leave requests digitally from any location without visiting their office to file an application.

The approval process has also been integrated into the online system. Concerned officers will review applications electronically and either approve or reject them through the HMRS platform. This means the complete workflow—from application submission to final approval—will be handled digitally.

Government officials believe the change will significantly improve efficiency in personnel management. Employees will be able to track the status of their leave requests in real time and receive updates regarding approvals or pending applications without relying on manual communication.

The transition is also expected to reduce delays that often occur in traditional file-based processing. Since applications will be available instantly to authorized officers, decisions can be made more quickly, improving overall administrative functioning.

Another key feature of the new system is the creation of a comprehensive digital leave record for every employee. The HMRS platform will automatically maintain details of leave availed, remaining leave balance, pending requests and past approvals. This information will be accessible whenever required, eliminating the need to search through physical records.

Administrative experts view the move as an important step toward modernising human resource management in government departments. Digital records not only improve transparency but also help departments monitor workforce availability and plan staffing requirements more effectively.

The Bihar government has increasingly focused on technology-driven governance initiatives in recent years. The mandatory online leave system aligns with broader efforts to enhance accountability, improve service delivery and streamline administrative processes across departments.

Employees are expected to benefit from the convenience offered by the system. Instead of preparing physical applications and obtaining signatures through multiple levels, staff members can complete the process using a smartphone or computer. This is particularly useful for employees posted in remote areas or those requiring urgent leave approvals.

Officials have also indicated that the digital platform will help reduce paperwork and administrative costs over time. By maintaining centralized records, departments can improve data management while ensuring greater transparency in leave administration.

With the new rules now in effect, government employees across Bihar are being encouraged to complete their HMRS registration and familiarize themselves with the online process. The administration expects the transition to create a more efficient, transparent and technology-enabled leave management system for the state's workforce.

The Madhya Pradesh government witnessed a massive wave of administrative reshuffling after the temporary relaxation of its annual transfer restrictions. According to official estimates, more than 17,000 transfers were carried out across various departments during the 16-day transfer window granted by the state government.

A significant portion of these transfers took place on June 16 alone, when nearly 2,500 transfer orders were issued after Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav approved a one-day extension for departments seeking additional time to process pending transfer proposals. The relaxation came after ministers requested more time following the official conclusion of the transfer period on June 15.

Officials said transfer orders continued to be issued until midnight on June 16, resulting in a surge of administrative movements at both district and state levels.

The School Education Department, one of the state's largest departments, has not yet finalized its transfer list, as the online application process for employees is still underway. As a result, the total number of transfers is expected to increase further in the coming days.

Major Departments See Large-Scale Transfers

The June 16 extension saw transfer orders issued across a wide range of government departments, including Excise, Jails, Forest, Panchayat and Rural Development, Commercial Tax, Registration and Stamps, Public Health and Medical Education, Urban Development and Housing, General Administration, Water Resources, Public Works, and Environment.

Several other departments also carried out extensive reshuffling, including Revenue, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Tribal Affairs, Women and Child Development, AYUSH, Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development, Higher Education, Technical Education, Skill Development and Employment, and Cooperative Affairs.

Officials indicated that both administrative and field-level employees were affected as departments sought to complete pending transfer requests before the extended deadline expired.

Department-Wise Transfer Figures

The General Administration Department formulates and issues the state's transfer policy but does not maintain a centralized record of transfers across all departments. Instead, transfer data is compiled separately by individual departments.

According to information gathered from various departments, some of the highest numbers of transfers were recorded in:

• Panchayat and Rural Development Department: 1,100 transfers
• Public Health and Medical Education Department: 1,700 transfers
• Tribal Affairs Department: 1,200 transfers
• Urban Development and Housing Department: 900 transfers
• Revenue Department: 400 transfers
• Public Works Department (PWD): 500 transfers
• Water Resources Department: 300 transfers
• Forest Department: 200 transfers

Additional transfers included more than 200 personnel in the General Administration Department, around 150 in the Commercial Tax Department, 75 in the Excise Department, and 50 in the Transport Department.

Administrative Impact

The large-scale transfer exercise is expected to have a significant impact on departmental functioning across the state. Transfers are often used to address staffing requirements, improve administrative efficiency, and fill vacancies in key positions.

However, such extensive reshuffling also requires departments to manage transitions carefully to ensure that public services and developmental projects continue without disruption.

With the School Education Department yet to issue its transfer orders, the final number of employee movements is expected to rise beyond the current figure of 17,000.

The deadline for transfers across Madhya Pradesh, set for 15 June, lapsed on Monday with several major departments yet to issue final orders, prompting the state government to consider a one-week extension of the MP transfer deadline, officials said. A formal notification on the extension is expected on Tuesday, according to sources in the General Administration Department (GAD).

Limited orders issued
The transfer window, which the government opened from 1 June to 15 June, produced orders in only a handful of departments. Officials in the Health Department’s National Health Mission (NHM) and the Public Works Department (PWD) confirmed they had completed most of their scheduled transfers during the fortnight. Outside those pockets, however, several key departments remained mid-process late on Monday.

Departments still working
Sources familiar with the exercise said the School Education, Panchayat and Rural Development, Revenue and Tribal Affairs departments are among those yet to complete internal clearances and file final transfer lists. The School Education Department has reportedly prepared a staggered plan and may continue its transfer process into July for some categories of staff.

Official position and timeline
According to GAD insiders, the proposal to extend the MP transfer deadline has been discussed with Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. “There has been a broad understanding that an additional seven days will help departments finalise pending proposals,” a departmental official said on condition of anonymity. The government is expected to issue a formal order on Tuesday to give districts and departments more time to clear pendency.

What led to delays
Officials pointed to multiple reasons behind the delay: late receipt of vigilance clearances in some cases, technical glitches in online transfer portals, and a heavy volume of proposals in departments such as education and revenue. In education, transfers involving large numbers of teachers and headmasters require multiple levels of verification, which stretched the schedule. “The timeline was ambitious given the scale of transfers in certain departments,” one senior official conceded.

Political and administrative context
The transfer policy had been approved in the cabinet on 20 May, and the GAD issued directives on 22 May asking all departments to complete transfers by 15 June. CM Dr. Mohan Yadav had publicly said earlier that the deadline would not be extended and urged departments to finish work within the stipulated period. Despite that, the on-ground reality has forced a reconsideration, according to sources.

Impact on district administration
District officials said the uncertainty had affected local planning for staffing and administrative duties. “Pending transfer orders mean some postings remain unfilled and district plans for the monsoon season and ongoing schemes get delayed,” a district collector told reporters. In some blocks, officials said employees have postponed relocation and handover tasks until official orders are issued.

Public services and education
The delay holds particular significance for schools and panchayat-level administration where timely postings affect service delivery. The education department’s decision to allow a phased completion — with some transfers pushed to July — aims to avoid disruption during exams and initial monsoon-related work in rural areas, officials said.

Next steps
If the GAD issues the one-week extension, departments will be expected to finalise and upload pending orders within the new timeframe. Officials said the extension would be the final concession and that stricter adherence to timelines will follow. The GAD is also likely to issue clarifications on categories of staff eligible for the extended window and any exceptions.

What to watch
Watch for the formal government notification, expected Tuesday, which will confirm the length of the extension and any conditions attached. Departments such as School Education and Revenue, which have substantial pending lists, will be under immediate pressure to clear proposals. Local administration sources said they will publish transfer orders district-wise as soon as the state directive is released.

The Madhya Pradesh government is facing criticism over delays in appointing senior State Administrative Service officers to key field positions, with nearly 20 districts reportedly operating without regularly posted Additional District Magistrates (ADMs). The prolonged imbalance in administrative postings has also triggered dissatisfaction among younger officers, many of whom are currently assigned desk roles in the state secretariat instead of field responsibilities.

Officials and administrative sources said the disruption in posting arrangements began before the Lok Sabha elections and has continued despite changes in administrative priorities.

ADM Posts Remain Vacant

Several districts across Madhya Pradesh are reportedly functioning without full-time Additional Collectors, forcing collectors to manage responsibilities through additional charge arrangements. Administrative sources indicated that major districts including Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur currently have vacant ADM positions despite multiple sanctioned posts in these cities. The situation has raised concerns about administrative efficiency, especially in districts handling large populations and high governance workloads.

Impact On District Administration

Officials familiar with district-level functioning said vacant ADM posts increase pressure on collectors and existing officers, affecting day-to-day administrative coordination. Additional Collectors are responsible for handling revenue matters, law and order coordination, election duties and implementation of government schemes. In the absence of regular appointments, many districts are depending on temporary arrangements and additional responsibilities assigned to available officers. Sources said the shortage is impacting both decision-making speed and monitoring of administrative work in some districts.

Young Officers Seek Opportunity

A section of State Administrative Service officers has expressed dissatisfaction over the current posting pattern. Many newly recruited and junior officers are presently serving as under secretaries, OSDs and desk officers in the ministry and departmental headquarters. According to officials, several young officers believe the government is not fully utilising their administrative capabilities by keeping them away from field assignments. They argue that junior officers should be given opportunities to work as Deputy Collectors, SDMs, Joint Collectors and Additional Collectors to gain practical administrative experience.

SDM-Level Posts Also Affected

The issue is not limited to ADM positions. Administrative sources said several sanctioned posts in the Joint Collector and SDM cadre also remain unfilled in different districts. Joint Collectors and SDMs play a crucial role in maintaining local administration, handling public grievances and coordinating revenue and law-and-order duties at the sub-divisional level. Officers said delays in these postings are affecting administrative continuity and increasing workload on existing field officials.

IAS Officers Preferred In Some Roles

Sources within the administrative setup indicated that several positions traditionally assigned to State Administrative Service officers, including Chief Executive Officer posts in district panchayats, are increasingly being handled by young IAS officers. This has added to concerns among state cadre officers, who feel their promotion opportunities and field exposure are being reduced. Some officers argued that experienced senior officials currently posted in ministries could instead be assigned desk responsibilities, allowing younger officers to take up district-level roles.

Vacancies Reported In Multiple Districts

Districts where ADM posts are reportedly vacant include Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Narmadapuram, Sehore, Shajapur, Barwani, Burhanpur, Gwalior, Chhatarpur, Niwari and Indore, among others. Officials said the absence of regular postings in these districts has forced collectors to operate administrative systems through additional charges and temporary arrangements. The issue has also sparked internal discussion within administrative circles over manpower distribution and career progression opportunities for state service officers.

Many young officers selected through the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission are still posted in ministry offices instead of districts, according to administrative sources. Some officers believe earlier restrictions related to election duties and administrative exercises were cited as reasons for delaying transfers and field postings. However, they argue that such reasons no longer apply and appointments should now be regularised.