The Government has said that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), functioning under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has 53 officials in position compared to 95 technical posts. Manpower requirements are in areas like forensic audit, tax, capital market frauds etc. Besides, 7 contractual appointments have been made against the vacancies. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Sachin Pilot, Minister of Corporate Affairs, said that recruitment to SFIO is mainly on deputation basis from other government agencies/PSUs as per the decision of the Cabinet at the time of constitution of SFIO. Government is making efforts to obtain required staff from lending organizations on deputation. Advertisements are also issued in leading newspapers for recruitment of staff.

Shri Pilot informed the House that to tide over the existing shortage of manpower, the following steps have been taken by the Ministry / SFIO:

1. A proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Personnel for amending Recruitment Rules in SFIO to provide for direct recruitment in case officers are not available for appointment on deputation basis.

2. Engagement of services of retired government officers to be appointed as consultants in various disciplines.

3. Induction of more experts on contract basis in specialized areas like Cyber Forensic and Data Analysis, is under active consideration.

4. Renewing efforts with lending organizations for sparing officers on deputation for SFIO.

Manpower shortage mitigation for SFIO: amend recruitment rules for direct hires and use deputation, consultants, and contract experts. Measures to address manpower shortage in the Serious Fraud Investigation Office include proposing amendment of Recruitment Rules to permit direct recruitment where deputation is unavailable, seeking officers from lending organizations on deputation, advertising vacancies, engaging retired officers as consultants, and appointing contractual specialists in areas such as cyber forensics and data analysis to fill technical gaps.