Obama’s 150 bureaucrats are gays: Reports

OBAMA administration has appointed gay officials more openly than his predecessors, media reports from US said. According to estimates, about 150 key bureaucrats in charge of policy and staff happen to gays now. It’s a part of Obama administration’s effort to bring in diversity in administration, reports said. 

In 1993, there were furor when then President Bill Clinton nominated a confirmed gay and San Francisco Supervisor, Roberta Achtenberg as assistant secretary for Housing and Urban Development. Achtenberg was the first openly gay official to be appointed at such a high position, according to reports.

The interest about Barack Obama administration has increased among Indian bureaucrats ahead of US President’s visit to India next week. Obama would first land up in Mumbai on November 6 and stay at the Taj hotel which became the target of attackers during the Mumbai strike almost two years ago. He would be addressing Indian Parliamentarians on November 8 in Delhi.

Action and Appointments

a) Rajan S Katoch, a 1979 batch MP cadre IAS presently in the cadre, has been appointed as additional secretary and financial adviser in the department of commerce, ministry of commerce and industry in the vacancy of Sutanu Behuria, a 1976 batch HP cadre IAS.

b) Dr Amarjit Singh, a 1982 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, presently Executive Director, Jansankhya Stllirta Kosh (JSK) has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of school education and literacy on lateral shift basis in vacancy of Ms Anita Kaul, a 1979 batch Karnataka cadre IAS.

c) The competent authority has approved the proposal of the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) for extension in the tenure of Shashi Ranjan Kumar, a 1992 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS, Director in that department for a period of three months beyond December 20, 2010.

d) Virendra Kumar Pareek, a 1982 batch Indian Defence Service of Engineers  has been selected for appointment as director in the ministry of urban development for a period of five years.

Poet By Heart: Bureaucrat Bishnupada Sethi’s World of Words

MEET this bureaucrat by mind but poet by heart. For Bishnupada Sethi, a 1995 batch Orissa cadre IAS and director, Census Operation of Orissa, life is a bigger canvas and poetry is his art. Bishnupada Sethi is a confirmed poet with two poetry books already in his kitty.
His latest book, My World of Words is a collection of poems with an underlining theme that words are central to human existence. After all, human experience, intelligence, belief etc. are linked to the world of words.

Sample this:

Lying quietly on a wooden cot,

kept on the verandah of a mud hut,

I move my eyes slowly

like the rare waves

in the cool waters of a static lake.

You may wonder about me-

Relating to people like you,

while knowing that I do not have any name,

like other old members of the tribe

as naming was never our old tradition.

This is Sethi’s one of many poems called “An Unknown Tribal” where he narrates what life means for a simple tribal villager. For the record, there has been a massive debate in Orissa about tribal rights vis-à-vis commercial utilization of its vast resources.

Sethi’s first book named, “Where Shall I Go” was published in 2005. The book became so popular that its Urdu version was published later in 2009, and its Oriya version in under print.

Amarendra Khatua, a 1981 batch IFS officer, is yet another bureaucrat-cum-poet. His Ek Kavi Ka Khamosh Ho Jana received accolades in the poetry circle.

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Action and Appointments

a) Anil Kumar, a 1976 batch Nagaland cadre IAS, presently Principal Adviser, Planning Commission has been appointed as secretary, department of AYUSH, under the ministry of health and family welfare in place of Ms S Jalaja, a 1974 batch Bihar cadre IAS who is retiring on October 31, 2010.

Pillai’s US Comments: But bureaucrats call him ‘No non-sense officer”

AFTER a couple of months’ interval, here is yet another controversial straight talk from India’s home secretary and 1972 batch IAS, GK Pillai, forcing US establishment to react to his statements on India’s disappointment with US over non-sharing of information on Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Coleman Headley, the main accursed of Mumbai terror attack two years ago.
Pillai’s straight talk and tough actions have earned him many an enemy both in political and business circle, but he is becoming an icon among bright young bureaucrats who would like to move up the ladder and make a difference to Indian babudom. Pillai’s earlier comments on Pakistan intelligence ISI’s role in Mumbai attack had virtually collapsed India-Pakistan talks at the level of external affairs ministers, but he earned accolade from a section of politicians and bureaucrats because he was armed with enough evidences and what he said was perceived to be accurate. In August, he openly gave instances how forest officials had developed close networks with Naxal, a statement which created tensions among Indian Forest Service officials.

But Pillai, who as commerce secretary pushed Special Economic Zones and became darling of India Inc., has lost popularity among corporate India thanks to his tough positioning against Blackberry-maker RIM and a few other tech companies. Yet, BoI team which met a number of IAS, IFS, IPS and IRS officers from cabinet secretariat, external affairs ministry, finance ministry etc. over the last one month has got one response. The bureaucrats irrespective of their services and cadres, have termed GK Pillai “a no non-sense officer”.

Regarding his latest salvo, the timing itself is controversial as US president Barack Obama is set to visit India in a week’s time. Pillai said India was disappointed because specific information after 26/11 would have helped Indian agencies apprehend Headley in India itself. Pillai’s comments forced US ambassador to India, Timothy J Roemer, say that US provided regular and consistent information to India both before and after the Mumbai attack.

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Pillai objects forest officials meeting with Naxals

Pillai's straight talk on SEZs

Action and Appointments

a) SK Roongta, former chairman, SAIL, has been appointed as non-official part-time director on the Board of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) for a period of three years.

b) The Central Vigilance Commission advised imposition of major penalty against 86 officers including 27 from ministry of railways, 13 from Canara Bank, 11 from department of telecommunications, 8 from Central Board of Excise and Customs, 6 from State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, 4 from Delhi Development Authority and 3 from Employees Provident Fund Organization.

c) Lt Gen S Ravi Shankar, commissioned into Corps of Engineers (Madras Sappers) in 1972, has taken over as the Director General of Border Roads. A recipient of Vishisht Seva Medal, the General Officer is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadakvasla, Pune, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, College of Military Engg, Pune, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Army War College, Mhow.

Know Shunglu Panel’s second member -- Shantanu Consul, 1974 batch Karnataka cadre IAS

FOR Shantanu Consul, a 1974 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer retiring October 31, there won’t be a rest even for a day. Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has named Consul the only other Member of the VK Shunglu Committee probing alleged financial irregularities in the recent held Delhi Commonwealth Games. Consul is currently secretary department of personnel and training (DoPT) in the ministry of personnel, public grievance and pensions.

An MA in history and certificate holder in German and marketing, Consul started his career as deputy commissioner in Bidar in Karnataka way back on March 1, 1982 only to rise as a government of India secretary. Later in 1990, he competed his MBA from the University of Hull, UK, (1990).

Consul had earlier served as secretary, border management under MHA (February 2008 to July 2008), secretary, ministry of mines and minerals (July 2008 to March 2009) and then secretary, department of drinking water supply (March 2009 to September 2009)

Shunglu panel has been asked to submit its report in three months.

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Railways Gold Track: Now a new sports policy

Call it a golden track. Buoyed by gold rush by the Indian Railways employees in Commonwealth Games recently, minister of railways Mamata Banerjee directed Railway Board to formulate a new sports policy. The policy would provide encouragement, incentive, better career prospects and better professional and practical support to Railway players. In CWG-2010, railway sportspersons won 25 medals for India which include 13 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 9 bronze medals. The Railways gave given them cash awards.

For the record, here is the list of the gold medalists from the Indian Railways according to their zones:

1) Ms Anisha Sayyed, (Western Railway), Shooting (25m Pistol Team)

2) Ravinder Kumar, (Northern Railway), Wrestling (60 kg Greco Roman)

3) Sanjay, (Northern Railway), Wrestling (74 kg. Greco Roman)

4) Ms Anisha Sayyed, (Western  Railway), Shooting (25m Pistol Indv.)

5) Ms Y Renubala Chanu, (Northeast Frontier  Railway), Weightlifting (58 kg.)

6) Rajinder Singh, (Western Railway), Wrestling (55 kg Greco Roman)

7) Ms Dola Banerjee PP, (Eastern Railway),

Ms L Bombayla Devi , (Eastern Railway), Archery (Recurve Team Event)

8) Narsingh Yadav, (Western Railway), Wrestling (74 kg Free Style)

9) Sushil Kumar, (Northern Railway), Wrestling (66 kg Free Style)

10) Ms Krishna Punia, (North Western Railway), Athletics (Discus Throw)

11) Ms Ashwani AC (South Western Railway), Ms Sini Jose (Southern Railway),  Athletics (4X400 Relay)

12) Manoj Kumar (Northern Railway), Boxing (64 kg), ld

13) Pramjit Samota (Eastern Railway), Boxing (91 kg)

85,000 banking jobs

Imagine 85,000 jobs in Indian banking for the next three years? A finance ministry background paper disclosed the figure. For details, check http://www.jobcorridor.com/

Tokyo’s power couple, HK Singh and Mrinalini Singh, playing good hosts to visiting Indian brass

Hemant Krishna Singh, a 1974 batch IFS and his painter wife Mrinalini Singh are now playing hosts to political and diplomatic brass from India. They are avid golfers, but these days, they have more work outside the course.

As India’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, Union minister for external affairs SM Krishna, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, national security advisor Shivshankar Menon are busy meeting Japanese political and business leaders and attending power lunches and dinner diplomacy, it’s the Singh couple who are playing perfect hosts.

India's Ambassador to Japan, Singh has held assignments ranging from being country officer for the US (1980-1981), director for Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan (1991-1992) to joint secretary for Western Europe (1992-1995) in the ministry of external affairs. Later, he was first secretary in Washington DC (1981-1985), and Counsellor in Kathmandu (1985-1988) and Belgrade (1988-1991). Ambassador Singh was also the Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN Offices in Geneva (1995-1999) and Ambassador of India to Colombia. He also served as Ambassador of India to Indonesia with concurrent accreditation to East Timor.

And what’s about his better half? Mrinalini Singh is a keen golfer, but no one can ignore that she is an accomplished painter and sculptor. No wonder, she has held several exhibitions of her art in Geneva, Bogota, Jakarta and Tokyo!

It’s life beyond mere art of diplomacy!

Kalmadi not invited for Cabinet secretary’s Commonwealth dinner

Finally, cabinet secretary who organized a thanksgiving dinner after the successful staging of the Commonwealth Games virtually snubbed Organizing Committee head Suresh Kalmadi as the latter was not invited for the party. In addition to bureaucrats who played a key role in the last-minute arrangement of the Games, politicians connected to the Games including Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, Lt Governor Tejender Khanna, and Union sports minister MS Gill attended the cabinet secretary’s party. 

What transpired in PM-Shunglu meet? Panel members to be named this week

THE exact terms and references, and also the members of the VK Shunglu panel, investigating alleged financial irregularities in just-concluded Delhi Commonwealth Games, are likely to be announced this week. The broad consensus took place when Shunglu, a former CAG, met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday. Principal adviser to PM, TKA Nair and cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar were also present during the meeting. According to reports, Shunglu had a preliminary meeting with Nair to finalize the broad contours of the probe before he met with the PM.

India’s largest opposition party, BJP, wants Shunglu committee to probe the alleged role of PMO in addition to demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the matter. BJP president Nitin Gadkari had earlier said in a press conference that he had enough evidences to substantiate his claim that PMO too had a role in the scam, but his comments were widely criticized by analysts as “irresponsible”.

Shunglu committee has been asked to submit its report in three months. A number of government agencies including CVC, CBI, ED and the Income Tax department have launched their independent investigations once the Games were over.

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Mayawati doles out Diwali bonanza to UP employees

It’s party time in UP as chief minister Mayawati has announced a bonus equivalent to one months’ pay for a section of state employees for the financial year 09-10. But this order won’t make all employees happy as only permanent non-gazetted state employees, teachers of aided schools and technical institutes, local bodies and zila panchayats etc. would get the bonus. Even they have to fulfill a few conditions listed out by the state government to make themselves eligible for the bonus payouts. 

What’s bottom-line in Govt? Dr Trivedi says 40% of salary of Central government officers to be linked to performance

THIS could be one of the major system changes in largely static Indian bureaucracy. As high as 40% of the salary of Central government employees will soon be based on performance, Dr Prajapati Trivedi, secretary, Performance Management Division of Cabinet Secretariat said on record while speaking to industrialists in a meet organized by industry lobby Assocham. He was making a point about how the government has made an effort to bring in accountability in the system.
On February 17, 2010, BoI (babusofindia.com) reported that 40% of a government employee's salary could be linked to performance, and promotion to additional secretary won't be a cakewalk.

Inaugurating 2nd CFOs Roundtable Conference 2010 organized by Assocham in New Delhi on Friday, Dr Trivedi said all 62 government ministries and departments on board have signed the tool called Results Framework Document (RFD) which will set targets for each ministry and will finally be the basis for yearly evaluation. “Results will be our bottom-line just like profits are the bottom-line of the private sector” he said, according to an Assocham release.

According to sources, the performance management division of the cabinet secretariat, has reportedly worked out a proposal under which senior administrators like secretary or additional secretary would get a bonus of no less than 20% of their salary provided his ministry meets 100% target and saves money from non-plan expenditure. That means, a secretary to a highly efficient ministry of the Government of India, who gets Rs 80,000 per month as salary may receive Rs 20,000 more, making him an instant lakhpati.

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Action and Appointments

a) Sanjay Kumar, a 1992 batch Nagaland cadre IAS and director in department of economic affairs (DEA) has been appointed as Additional Director in Financial Intelligence Unit-India. The FIU-India comes under the same finance ministry, but under the revenue department.

b) Jyoti Kalash, a 1990 batch Nagaland cadre IAS, currently on "compulsory wait" in the department of heavy industries has been selected for appointment as director in the ministry of home affairs (MHA).

Bureaucrats In Classroom: 14th training workshop on preparation of cabinet notes to be held on Nov 9-10

THE writing training for Indian bureaucrats at the level of deputy secretary and director is continuing. The 14^th training workshop on preparation of cabinet notes will take place on November 9-10, 2010, according to a DoPT circular dated October 19.

All Central government ministries and departments are requested to nominate two of their officers for the workshop. The nominated officers must not attend any of such workshop held earlier. The seriousness of organizing such a workshop could be gauzed as nominated officers would not be allowed to attend any regular office matters during the training.

Cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar’s decision to force senior bureaucrats to attend in writing classes caught the attention of media among others. But poor quality of cabinet notes compelled the cabinet secretariat to start this process of enhancing English writing skill among senior bureaucrats.

For the November session, the officers are advised to report to Chandan Mukherjee, deputy director, ISTM, Administrative Block, JNU Old Campus, New Delhi 110067.

Three top Keralite officers guide over 100 three-year old kids

Last Sunday, leading Malayalam daily Malayala Manorama organized a programme called 'Vidyarambham' in Delhi for which Malayalis brought their pre-nursery children. And guess who turned teachers to initiate the young ones and helped them to write? None other than three influential bureaucrats from Kerala, principal secretary to PM, TKA Nair (1963 batch retired IAS), President Pratibha Patil’s secretary and 1973 batch retired IAS, Christie Fernandez and India’s foreign secretary and 1973 batch IFS Nirupama Rao guided over 100 kids to start their studies by helping them to write Mantras. On the day of Vijaydashami, the Keralites celebrate 'Vidyarambham'. For the parents who want their children to be IAS and IFS officers, it turned out to be a rare moment as their children were guided by three bigwigs of Indian bureaucracy!

Jamaican investment minister Karl Samuda terms bureaucracy as economic pickpocket

IN WHAT could be termed as yet another harshest remark against bureaucracy, Jamaican investment and commerce minister Karl Samuda has branded public-sector bureaucracy an economic "pickpocket". He called them pickpockets as they deny the productive sector “an opportunity to act expeditiously and go about the business of creating wealth", leading newspaper of the country Jamaican Gleaner reported.

According to the media report, he further said when Prime Minister Bruce Golding's Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) came to office three years ago, removing red tape and creating a business-friendly environment were the main priority.

The remark came in the backdrop of the government’s sustained effort to remove impediments of doing business and identify and dismantle barriers.

Action and Appointments

a) RK Mathur, a 1974 batch Chhattisgarh cadre IPS presently working as Director(DG), National Crime ecord Bureau(NCRB) has been appointed as Director, SVP National Police Academy (NPA) in the scale of pay of Rs. 75,500-80,000 on lateral shift basis. Mr Mathur is retiring on September 30, 2011.

b) NK Tripathi, a 1974 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IPS, presently working as Special Director General, CRPF has been appointed as Director, National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) in the scale of pay of Rs 75,500-80000 on lateral shift basis. He is retiring on August 31, 2011.

c) Anirudh Uppal, a 1976 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IPS, presently working as Additional DG, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been appointed as Special Director General, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) located at Jammu in the scale of pay of Rs 75,500-80-000. Uppal is retiring on September 30, 2012.

DoPT releases a tentative list of 12 universities across the world for which Indian officers will get domestic funding

IF YOU are an Indian government official with nine years of service experience as on January 1, 2011, you can try your luck in as many as 12 universities around the world for which the government would take care of the entire funding. For long term courses, the upper limit of age is 45 years as on April 2011, a government circular said.

The training division of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) which will be sponsoring the suitable officers for 2011-2012 under the domestic funding of foreign training (DFFT) scheme, has come out with a tentative list of 12 universities.

These are Asian Institute of Management, Manila, (MDM management), University of Birmingham, UK, (MPA, public administration), University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, (Green MBA), Maxwell School, Syracuse University, USA (Executive Master in public administration), ISS, Hague, Netherlands (MA in public policy and management), IDS, Sussex, UK (MA in governance and development governance), University of Duke, USA, (MA in international development policy), Hubert H Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota, USA (MPA, Public Administration), Harvard Kennedy School, USA (Mason Program, public policy/administration), Australian National University (master in public policy), Carnegie Mellon University, Australia, (Master in public policy and management), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and National University of Singapore, Singapore, (Master in public management).

The officers belonging to the IAS, Central Secretariat Service, State Civil Services, Central Secretariat Stenographers Service (Gazetted) (CSSS) and such officers of the other two All India Services viz. Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) and organized Group ‘A’ Central Civil Services, who are holding posts on deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme, are eligible to apply, in response to this DoPT Circular, for training programmes abroad.

For details, read the DoPT CIRCULAR of domestic funding of foreign training.

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4 jobs of Assistant Director General at UIDAI

The government is looking for suitable candidates for four more posts of Assistant Director General (deputy secretary/director level) at Nandan Nilekani-headed Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) which was recently renamed as Aadhaar. All four posts will be located in New Delhi. The deputy secretary or director level officers who are eligible under Central Staffing Scheme can apply for these posts. For details, read the CIRCULAR.

Picture Perfect: Guess what makes petroleum secretary S Sundareshan so happy

LOOK at the photograph very carefully. S Sundareshan, secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas was enjoying the moment. Look at his smile. It was an honest expression of his great feelings.

Now guess what Union petroleum minister, Murli Deora said in the conference to make his secretary so happy? You can write about your guess to feedback@babusofindia.com, or post your comment below this piece.

For the record, the occasion was a press conference, after inaugurating the “NELP-IX Promotional Road Show”, in Mumbai on October 18, 2010. The senior minister looks angry and minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Jitin Prasada (Right) seems to be in a different world. He seems to be clueless. So, you need to guess what Deora must have said which made his junior minister clueless and his secretary thrilled.
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Envoys of 7 nations present credentials to Prez

Seven envoys presented their credentials to the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The envoys who presented their credentials were Mr Fatos Kerciku, Ambassador of Albania, Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark, Khaled El Bakly, Ambassador of Egypt, Kim Joong-keun, Ambassador of Republic of Korea, Ahmed Tahsin Ahmad Berwari, Ambassador of Iraq, Andre Sanra, Ambassador of Benin and Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte, Ambassador of Italy.

Welcoming the envoys, the President said India will contribute to global issues in a constructive manner. She also referred to the importance of co-ordinated action by the international community in economic and financial matters.

New pattern of the civil services (prelim) Exam, 2011 announced

Finally, the government has come out with detailed syllabus and pattern of the civil services (prelim) exam from 2011 onwards. From civil service examination 2011, preliminary examination would consist of two papers- Paper I and Paper II. For details, click HERE. For many more government jobs and openings, follow http://www.jobcorridor.com/.

75% people say Indian bureaucrats are more powerful than their political masters, says BoI survey

IN YET another finding of Neta-Babu equations in India, readers of babusofindia.com have convincingly given the verdict that Indian bureaucrats are more powerful in real terms than their political masters.

In an online BoI (babusofindia.com) survey undertaken in September, 2010, whopping 75 percent respondents said bureaucrats are more powerful than politicians. Whereas 46 percent said bureaucrats are more powerful in most cases, 35 percent said they are more powerful than the political leaders in some cases. Only 14.2 percent respondents felt that both bureaucrats and politicians are equally powerful whereas only 12 percent people said politicians are more powerful.

The survey was undertaken in the backdrop of politicians voicing against the growing clout of bureaucracy. During the recent past, minister of state for health and a senior Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi aired the harshest criticism of bureaucracy when he termed Indian bureaucrats “ineffective” and said that young people fresh out of college would be able to run the health ministry better that the bureaucrats. The minister was apparently upset with health secretary K Sujatha Rao when the latter refused to give a go-ahead to his Rs 140-crore pet project of creating a web portal.

Also, Union food processing minister, Subodh Kant Sahay, found bureaucrats in Jharkhand becoming autocrats after the state came under President’s Rule. He said there is a need to tighten the noose on those bureaucrats who have become autocrats.

A few months ago, environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh’s tirade against bureaucrats in the wake of Shyam Saran’s controversial resignation hogged the limelight as Ramesh said he was not a rubber stamp to the bureaucracy. Mr Saran, a former Indian Foreign Service officer of 1970 batch, had serious differences with Ramesh, and there were tensions as he was to be given the rank of a minister of state.

Ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh empowered a set of bureaucrats under cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar to take on-the-spot decisions to fast-track the Games’ preparations. Many politicians apparently did not like the move though no one aired their displeasure keeping in mind the urgency of the situation and prestige of the nation. For the record, a number of young politicians spearheaded the Asian Games’ preparations, and once the event was over, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi reshuffled the cabinet and promoted them for their good work. 

Bangla crash course for non-Bengali IAS, IPS working in West Bengal

Keman Ache? If you are not familiar with Bengali, it means “How are you?” In fact, Netaji Subhash Open University (NSOU) has now planned to offer a six-month crash course in Bangla mainly for non-Bengali bureaucrats including IAS and IPS working in West Bengal.

For the record, NSOU is an open university in West Bengal which has repeatedly received requests from IAS and IPS associations to provide courses in vernacular language. The working knowledge in Bengali is essential for non-Bengali officers of the state if they wish to get regular promotions.

In addition to IAS and IPS, other central government offices from excise, customs, income tax and banks would also stand to get benefits from the proposed course.  According to initial plan, the university has designed two courses, one based on printed study material and the other being an online course. According to media reports, the online course is being named as "Bangla Shekho".

The move comes at a time when more and more bureaucrats from West Bengal want to get out of the state and move to Delhi on Central deputation. No wonder, the Bengali lobby in Delhi’s corridors of power is getting stronger, and the Bhadraloks are eagerly waiting for 1974 batch IAS Pulok Chatterjee to come back from Washington and grab the coveted cabinet secretary’s post once KM Chandrasekhar retires in June 2011. 

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Real Games Begin: 1962 batch retired IAS, VK Shunglu to probe corruption allegations related to Commonwealth Games

A DAY after the Commonwealth Games ended with much fun-fare, the real Games virtually begin. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday night appointed a high-level committee headed by former CAG and 1962 batch retired IAS, V K Shunglu to go into allegations of corruption related to the mega sporting event. Shunglu, who was the Comptroller and Auditor General between 1996 and 2002 and has been a trail blazer in ongoing crusade of forcing civil servants declaring their assets, will prepare a report in three months.

A postgraduate in history from the University of Delhi, Shunglu joined IAS in 1962 and rose up the ladder to become special secretary in the ministry of power and then secretary in the department of company affairs, ministry of health and family welfare and then department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP). He was also an alternate leader of the Indian Delegation at the International Conference on Population held in Cairo.

Shunglu had also served in Asian Development Bank in Manila and at the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank.

Thanks to his innings as CAG, he was also made the chairman of the UN Board of Auditors General and a member of the UN Panel of External Auditors. Shunglu was also appointed as the external auditor of the International Maritime Organization headquartered at London and of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at Rome.

In corridors of power, Shunglu is known more as an anti-corruption activist. When five bureaucrats from UP declared their assets last year under the initiative of a low-profile anti-corruption organization called India Rejuvenation Initiative (IRI), very few people know that Shunglu was one of the guiding forces of the initiative. Along with former Punjab Director General of Police Julio Rebeiro, former air force chief S Krishnaswamy and former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) JM Lyngdoh, Shunglu is also a member of IRI.

Even before the judges’ campaign started on declaring assets, Shunglu and a few others wrote to the Prime Minister saying that public service conduct rules should be amended and assets of bureaucrats should be in the public domain.

Babu-turned politician PL Punia becomes NCSC chairman

PL Punia, a 1970 batch IAS officer of UP cadre and Congress MP from Barabanki, assumed charge of the post of chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Friday. Punia, who was the principal secretary to UP chief minister Mayawati, before both fell out on Taj Heritage corridor case. Punia lost his battle in assembly polls of 2002 because of Mayawati’s concerted effort, but won the war as he bounced back in 2009 Parliamentary polls. 

“Medalists” In Corridors Of Power: Bureaucrats who worked hard to make Commonwealth Games a success

AS THE Commonwealth Games in Delhi came to an end on Thursday with a truly exceptional closing ceremony, BoI (babusofindia.com) presents some of the unsung heroes of Indian bureaucracy who deserve the same applause as our sportspersons do. Whether it’s home secretary GK Pillai or cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, or even DD director general and 1982 batch IAS Aruna Sharma, some Indian bureaucrats have worked hard on and off-the-field to make this mega sporting event a success story. Here are the medalists from Great Indian bureaucracy!

Team Pillai

Home secretary GK Pillai, a 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS, deserves more applause than anyone else. Even the establishment and people at large had apprehensions that there could be some kind of terror incidents before or during the Games. But thanks to professionalism brought in by home minister P Chidambaram and his deputy, home secretary GK Pillai into Indian security scenario, such apprehensions were put to rest. For spin doctors in North Block, the attempt was not just to create a security apparatus for the Games per se, but to strengthen policing in the entire country. And the strategy worked well. Those who know Pillai closely would call him a “no nonsense officer” who would not compromise on any issue that might create lapses in security matters. The Blackberry episode is a classic example.

Also, Delhi police commissioner YS Dadwal, a 1974 batch IPS and Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ajay Chadha, a 1977 batch IPS deserve special mention. Mr Chadha who was a young officer posted in Arunchal Pradesh during 1982 Asian Games, has made the traffic arrangement so smooth before the Commonwealth Games that Delhiites themselves were pleasantly surprised.
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Why Nirupama Rao defends Pillai?

Pillai is the third most powerful bureaucrat

Chandrasekhar and his B-Team

When Dr Manmohan Singh took out his trump card – an army of 10 IAS officers under cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar to manage the biggest sporting extravaganza in the final lap of the run-up to the controversy-ridden Commonwealth Games, BoI (babusofindia.com) hailed it the biggest victory of Indian bureaucracy. Except a few hiccups, B (bureaucrats)-team of the cabinet secretary performed upto the mark and took many an on-spot decision thanks to the PM’s decision to make the bureaucrats’ committee an “empowered” one. The B-team included additional secretary of the department of telecom (DoT) Subodh Kumar, 1978 batch Gujarat cadre IAS SR Rao, additional secretary in urban development ministry RC Misra and 1982 batch UP cadre IAS JS Deepak to name a few. (Read: Who are these bureaucrats on Commonwealth duties?) The last but not the least is the role played by principal secretary to PM, TKA Nair, a retired bureaucrat of 1963 batch.

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Why KM Chandrasekhar is India's most powerful bureaucrat? 

BoI list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats

Unsung Heroes

Though some bureaucrats have hogged the limelight thanks to their designated roles in the run-up to the Games, there are many who worked behind-the-scene to make the Games a success. From day one, there were many regulatory bottlenecks and those could be removed only by bureaucrats of various departments. There are serving and retired bureaucrats (Jarnail Singh, a 1974 batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre, for example, was the CEO of the Organizing Committee) who are very much a part of Kalmadi’s team. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) was Vijay Kumar Gautam, a 1987 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer who was an observer in the Melbourne’06 and Beijing’08 Games. Suresh Kalmadi in his speech during the closing ceremony of the Games did mention about DG of Doordarshan, Aruna Sharma, a 1982 batch IAS, who was instrumental in brining the DD platform into a high definition (HD) one.

Welcome to these “gold medalists” from corridors of power…

Government offers a cool job in Washington-based IMF

FOR joint secretary level officers in India, here’s a chance to grab a high-profile post in Washington DC. The government is looking for a suitable candidate the post of Senior Adviser to the Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Washington, (joint secretary level), under the Department of Economic Affairs. 

For the record, Dr Arvind Virmani who had served as the Chief Economic Advisor in the ministry of finance, is India’s Executive Director in the IMF. That means the selected candidate needs to work closely with Dr Virmani. The post which is now upgraded to the joint secretary level, falls vacant on December 14, 2010.

The officer must have been empanelled to hold joint secretary or equivalent posts at the Centre, and must have worked for at least 2 years at the Centre under Central Staffing Scheme as on date of vacancy. Officers must be below 54 years as on the date of vacancy ie December 14, 2010.

Among desirable qualifications include experience of dealing with externally aided projects, degree in international trade or MBA etc.

For details, click the DoPT CIRCULAR, dated Oct 12, 2010

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Dr Virmani as India representative in IMF

A tribute to super cop Chaterjee

B Chaterjee, one of the most efficient police officers of yesteryears and the founder chief of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, died recently in New Delhi. An officer of the 1940 batch Imperial Police, Chaterjee was 94 when he passed away at his residence in Chitranjan Park. Significantly, all of his three sons are noted bureaucrats. His elder son Deepak Chaterjee, IAS, was a former commerce secretary and Indian ambassador to European Union and Belgium. His second son Bijoy Chaterjee, also an IAS, is former petro-chemical secretary of India, whereas his third son Amit Chaterjee is a Commissioner of Income Tax.

Action and Appointments

Dhruv Vijai Singh, a 1976 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS, presently special secretary, in the department of administrative reforms and public grievances, has been appointed as secretary in the ministry of water resources in place of UN Panjiar, a 1973 batch Bihar cadre IAS who is retiring on October 31, 2010.

Home Coming: 4550 modern housing units to be constructed in Delhi for government employees

FOR Central government employees, not getting suitable accommodations in Delhi, has been a familiar story. But there could a twist to the tale soon. The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal of the ministry of urban development for re-development of Kidwai Nagar (East) for construction of residential accommodation for government employees. According to the proposal, approximately 4550 modern and technically advanced housing units of various types will be constructed in place of the existing 2331 old houses, a government release said.
Already, senior officials from CAG, finance ministry etc. would get official residences at the Commonwealth Games village once the sports personalities leave and the state-of-the art flats would be used for commercial purposes.

At present, there is an acute shortage of government housing, especially in the National Capital Region. In fact, the redevelopment programme of replacing old buildings with new ones could be the way forward if government employees in Delhi expect to get suitable official accommodations. (The picture used here is imaginary)

1250 employees of two railway PSUs to get a pay hike

About 1250 employees of two railway PSUs viz. M/s Braithwaite and M/s Burn Standard stand to get a raise in pay thanks to the resolving of long standing wage settlement issue. The employees will get a hike of about Rs 3500- 4000 per month, and the raise will be effective from October 1, 2010.

Action and Appointments

a) Ajay Kumar Yadav, a 1996 batch HP cadre IPS who has been currently working as Deputy Inspector General in CBI has been appointed as Officer -on-Special Duty (OSD) to the Home Minister P Chidambaram at Director level.

b) Ms Rupa Dutta, a 1986 batch Indian Economic Service officer who was recommended for Central deputation by the Department of Economic Affairs, has been selected for appointment as Director in the ministry of women and child development for a period of five years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders.

More professionals to be inducted in Archaeological Survey of India, National Archives, National Museum and National Library

Keep your eyes and ears open. A number of professionals would be inducted against newly created posts in cultural bodies such as Archaeological Survey of India, National Archives, National Museum and National Library. The vacancies will be quite high-profile as they would be equivalent to professors in the university system.

For Details, Click HERE

SX4 Enters Power Corridors: An ordinary bureaucrat can now race with cabinet secretary

IF YOU are a government employee, either serving or retired, you have a chance to give a tough competition to none other than India’s top bureaucrat, cabinet secretary, quite literally. Maruti Suzuki in its latest advertisement for its sedan, SX4, has announced giving special offers for government employees including those who have retired, if they want to buy an SX4. The price tag of an SX4 is Rs 6.92 lakh and above, but thanks to the discounts in this festival season, a retired or serving bureaucrat can own it up at a much lesser price.

Incidentally, the official car of cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar and that of some Members in Planning Commission including Arun Maira, happen to be white SX4 sedans. But unlike those you would like to buy, those VIP SX4 are fitted with red lights on the top.

Though SX4 is not a very fuel-efficient car, it gives a mileage of 15.5 km per litre of petrol, it has a CNG version too. But with automatic climate control and integrated stereo, the SX4 is a luxury from the Maruti stable. As its advertisement says, it is “Power, Glory and …SX4”. After all, it’s Maruti’s attempt to enter India’s corridors of power!

NAME GAMES: The story behind cabinet secretary’s letter on Gandhis and Nehrus

CABINET secretary KM Chandrasekhar’s confidential letter dated October 6, 2010, directing ministries to selectively use the names of Gandhis and Nehrus for government programmes and schemes, is understood to be a well-calibrated move with the direction from none other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
In the letter, excerpts of which got published in some newspapers on Sunday, cabinet secretary said that the practice of using the names of leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi has become “indiscriminate” and it reduces the value of identifying programmes with national figures, particularly as implementation and impact of many of these programmes is not always as ought to be. “As such, many of them do not merit such association,” he wrote in the letter.

It’s believed that Prime Minister must have consulted with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the matter before directing the cabinet secretary to shoot off a formal letter. According to reports, 450 government programmes, schemes and institutions in India were named after the Nehru-Gandhi family, out of which 200 were named after Rajiv Gandhi.

Recently, Sonia Gandhi was upset with surface transport minister Kamal Nath for using her pictures on signboards along national highways. The cabinet secretary’s formal letter is believed to be for reining in Congress ministers who at times go overboard to woo the Gandhi family. 

AP Mishra takes over as Member Engineering, Railway Board

AP Mishra, a 1974 batch of Indian Railway Service of Engineers, has taken over as new Member Engineering, Railway Board and ex-officio secretary to Government of India. Prior to joining as Member Engineering, Railway Board, AP Mishra was holding the post of General Manager, South Eastern Railway. In addition to his new assignment, he will continue to look after the work of General Manager, South Eastern Railway for the time being.
Mishra belongs to the 1974 batch of Indian Railway Service of Engineers. He completed his civil engineering degree from Bihar College of Engineering, Patna and thereafter worked as the lecturer in the same college for two years before joining the Indian Railways, a government release said.

He has worked in various posts including Advisor (Vigilance), Railway Board, Executive Director (PG) to Minister of Railways, Divisional Railway Manager, Allahabad, Divisional Railway Manager/Delhi, Chief Administrative Officer/Con, Northern Railway, New Delhi and Additional General Manager, Southern Railway, Chennai.

He has wide experience of the various railway systems in the world and worked as an expert in Algeria between 1987 to 1990. He has also been to France, UK, USA, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Canada to attend various courses and training. He has presented a number of technical papers on railway track and track modernization in several national and international seminars.

Action and Appointments

Rajiv Takru, a 1979 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, presently Director General, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) under the ministry of textiles has been appointed as additional secretary, ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the vacancy of UK Verma, a 1976 batch MP cadre IAS.