Agra: Approximately 213 IAS officer trainees from various batches at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie were required to reappear for examinations between 2020 and 2026 due to poor performance in multiple assessments, according to data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Training Statistics
The data indicates that a total of 1,079 IAS officer trainees underwent training at the academy from January 1, 2020, to January 1, 2026. The number of IAS probationers enrolled annually remained largely consistent over the six-year period, ranging between 182 and 187 trainees each year.
Cadre-wise Distribution
Among the cadres, AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) recorded the highest number of officer trainees who had to reappear for examinations, with 21 such cases. Tamil Nadu followed with 18, Uttar Pradesh with 16, Bihar and West Bengal with 15 each, Madhya Pradesh with 14, Odisha with 13, Maharashtra with 12, and Gujarat with 11, among others.
Integrity in Examinations
Regarding cheating incidents or the use of unfair means during examinations at the academy, the LBSNAA stated that no IAS probationer was found to have engaged in such practices during the period under review.
A serving Chief Development Officer (CDO) who is an IAS officer commented: An IAS officer's training at LBSNAA is rigorous, demanding high levels of competence, adaptability, and accountability. The training extends far beyond classroom academics and includes field exposure, district attachments, physical fitness, and assessments in public administration, law, economics, and governance. Reappearing in examinations should not necessarily be viewed negatively, as the academy continuously evaluates officer trainees on multiple parameters to ensure they are prepared for real-world administrative responsibilities.
The CDO added that the absence of reported cheating or unfair means cases reflects the professionalism and integrity maintained throughout the training process.
Training Programme Overview
The IAS training programme at LBSNAA is a two-year induction process designed to transform civil service recruits into field-ready administrators through academic instruction, field exposure, and practical governance training.
