Quite naturally, 1985 batch IAS officers are waiting with bated breath to see their names on the empanelment list of secretaries along with the awaited list for the 1984 batch. The original strength of the 1985 batch was 146 out of which 68 were empanelled (64 as AS and 04 as AS Equivalent). Out of 04 (AS Equivalent), one has already retired, two more will be retiring in August 2017, whereas Santosh Mathew has service till 2021. It may be underlined that out of 64 IAS officers (empanelled as AS), none is retiring this year but 05 officers will retire in 2018. If one goes by the assumption that the PMO may prefer to pick officers on a long-term basis for Secretary level postings (post empanelment), 58 officers seem to have brighter prospects as they will retire in 2019 or beyond. It may be worth underlining that out of those having service till 2019 or beyond, 12 will be retiring in 2019. A maximum of 20 will be playing their innings till 2020 - 14 will remain in service till 2021, 09 officers till 2022 and 03 officers will have the longest tenure as secretary (subject to their empanelment) till 2023.