Indian ambassador to France Ranjan Mathai turns top contender for next foreign secretary

INDIAN ambassador to France Ranjan Mathai, a 1974 batch IFS officer, is emerging as the top contender to clinch the coveted foreign secretary’s job in July end, 2011 when incumbent Nirupama Rao completes her two years tenure. Of late, Mathai’s chances have brightened after his batchmate and another strong contender Alok Prasad was sent to Tokyo as Indian ambassador to Japan earlier this month. Prasad who was the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka before becoming the Deputy National Security Adviser was believed to be the front-runner, but his chances slipped after he was shifted out to Japan.

According to sources close to the development, the only other officer who could upset Mathai’s chances of becoming foreign secretary is another 1974-batch IFS officer Hardeep Puri, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN.

Born on May 24, 1952, Ranjan Mathai completed his post graduation in political science from the University of Poona before joining Indian Foreign Service in 1974. Earlier, he had served in Indian Embassies in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels and worked as joint secretary in the ministry of external affairs between January 1995 to and February 1998. He was the Indian Ambassador to Israel, Indian Ambassador in Qatar, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK in London before becoming Ambassador of India to France.

Whatever be the final outcome, it’s certain that a 1974 batch IFS officer would become the country’s next foreign secretary. And if Pulok Chatterjee, known for his proximity to 10 Janpath, becomes the next cabinet secretary in June, 2011 as is widely speculated in corridors of power, both top posts of IAS and IFS would remain with 1974 batch officers for the next two years!

Action and Appointments

a) Government employees in Bihar including over 400 IAS and IPS officers have furnished their details of their assets ahead of the February 28 deadline. The state government had earlier announced that those who would fail to meet the deadline would find their salaries being withheld.

BoI Extraa…

Himachal Pradesh government has instructed bureaucrats to keep the phones on even after office hours. The state government is upset of the fact that officers prefer to keep their mobile phones off.

CBI arrests NALCO chief AK Srivastava, wife for taking bribe

THE Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), leading investigation agency in India on Friday arrested AK Srivastava, the chairman-cum-managing director of the National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) along with his wife Chandni Srivastava for allegedly accepting bribe. Two accomplices were also arrested. The CBI arrested Srivastava after it found how his wife was accepting illegal gratifications of three gold bricks, each weighing one kg from the wife of a middleman brokering a deal with a Madhya Pradesh-based private company.

Srivastava’s wife was operating a benami bank locker in the Bank of Maharashtra in Delhi. According to reports quoting CBI sources, the total recoveries amount to 10.188 kg gold and Rs 29.5 lakh in cash, and the total value of the seizures was about Rs 2.43 crore at current prices of gold.

A mechanical engineer by profession, AK Srivastava became the NALCO chief in April, 2009. He had done his B Tech in mechanical engineering and M tech in industrial engineering from IIT, Delhi. Srivastava has 30 years of professional experience in the public sector enterprises in different fields of engineering and management. (In picture: Nalco Building)

Action and Appointments

a) Petroleum Secretary S Sundareshan , a 1976 batch Kerala cadre IAS, has clarified that there is no change in the policy of the government regarding pricing of petrol at retail and at refinery gate. Any reports to the contrary are incorrect. He made it clear that oil marketing companies continue to have freedom to determine the price of petrol. So wait for another round of petrol price hike!

b) Shaktikanta Das, a 1980 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS and joint secretary in the department of economic affairs under the finance ministry, has been appointed as additional secretary in the same department by temporarily upgrading the post held by the officer.

No relaxation of 10 years norm for minister’s private secretary, says government

THE government has reiterated that it has not relaxed its earlier order of not permitting an officer to work as private secretary to a minister beyond 10 years. Minister of state in the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions V Narayanasamy said it in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

It was also mentioned that the directions of the appointments committee of the cabinet regarding the 10-year tenure were circulated to all ministries or departments of the Government of India for ensuring compliance. The appointments in the personal staff of ministers at levels below deputy secretary and director are done by the ministries themselves. No centralized information is maintained for the same, it was added.

Read

Yes Boss

Private Life: Lessons from Chandolia saga 

Secretaries In Action

Raghu Menon, secretary of information and broadcasting ministry, said innovations in technology led to increased access to quality information, facilitated better connectivity with affordable services and created a platform for mass empowerment and participation amongst the people. The emergence of new media had resulted in unconventional ways in which news and information was now being circulated. This has resulted in a series of policy initiatives which have aimed to create an enabling environment in the media and entertainment industry. Menon said it while inaugurating the BES Expo 2011 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday.

Action and Appointments

a) Sanjay Singh, a 1976 batch IFS, presently ambassador in Tehran, has been appointed as secretary (east) at the ministry of external affairs in place of Vijay Latha Reddy who has retired.

b) Reetu Jain, a 2001 batch economic service officer has been appointed as deputy secretary in the G-20 secretariat in the department of economic affairs under the ministry of finance.

c) R Vineel Krishna, the 2005 batch Orissa cadre IAS who was abducted by Maoist extremists on February 16 was finally released. Krishna told a section of media that he was kept somewhere in a hilly area and was surrounded by Telugu speaking Naxals. 

CIC may have more job openings; sanctioned strength could rise to 160

WITH more appeals and complaints pouring in, the Central Information Commission (CIC) is set to become bigger and have more job openings. The CIC which has now 116 sanctioned posts excluding the information commissioners, may soon have a sanctioned strength to 160 if its proposal gets the government’s nod.

According to information provided by the minister of state in the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions V Narayanasamy in written reply to question in the Lok Sabha, the CIC has 15,476 pending appeals and complaints as on January 31, 2011. The CIC disposed of 19,482 appeals or complaints during the year 2009-10 and 20,583 during the period April 2010 – January, 2011. The CIC was allocated a sum of Rs 12.33 crore in 2008-09 and Rs 11.83 crore in 2009-10.

Babus in Demand: One at Manila, other at Abu Dhabi

The government has advertised for two foreign posts --- adviser to the executive director, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila in Philippines and counsellor, community affairs (development) at Abu Dhabi. Significantly, officers at the level of deputy secretary and directors of government of India are qualified to apply for the same.

Read

Details for Manila post

Details for Abu Dhabi post

Maoists make fresh demands to free R Vineel Krishna

The initial report that R Vineel Krishna, a 2005 batch Orissa cadre IAS abducted by Maoist extremists was released at Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district on Tuesday night, turned out to be incorrect. Though junior engineer Pabitra Majhi was freed by the Maoists, the fate of the Malkangiri district collector Krishna remained hanging as the Naxals on Wednesday made a fresh demand for release of five key Naxals in exchange of Krishna’s release.

Read

Who is R Vineel Krishna?

Canadian bureaucrats under fire for sending sensitive data through BlackBerry

MANY top Indian bureaucrats at the level of joint secretaries or secretaries may find their BlackBerry handset convenient for exchanging sensitive data, but their counterparts in Canada have come under fire for using a BlackBerry feature called PIN messaging to discuss sensitive information. Significantly, Canada is home to BlackBerry, one of the most popular smart phones around the world.

According to media reports published in Canada, senior Canadian bureaucrats are virtually playing with fire by sending sensitive government information on their BlackBerry. The debate was sparked off by wire service called The Canadian Press recently. The privacy commissioner and the federal agency responsible for information security have reportedly asked the bureaucrats not to use the PIN service for sending sensitive material. But the mobile-happy bureaucrats in Canada are still using the PIN service as it’s an easier tool to handle and is also faster than emails. The report further said that it is only a perception that such messaging systems are secure because they are encrypted and not stored, but they can actually be cracked.

The views of the Canadian company RIM, the maker of BlackBerry, were not however incorporated in the media reports.

In India, the Union home ministry has been threatening for a ban of BlackBerry service if intelligence agencies fail to get access to their encrypted messaging system, but the ministry kept on extending the deadlines. After all, the ban on BlackBerry in India would impact none other than ministers and senior bureaucrats among others!

R Vineel Krishna freed by Maoists

R Vineel Krishna, the 2005 batch Orissa cadre IAS who was abducted by Maoist extremists last Wednesday was released at Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district on Tuesday night. Krishna is the collector of Malkangiri district. Both R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi were freed moment after an announcement was made at a joint press conference held by mediators and government officials that they would be released within 48 hours. According to reports, thousands of people of Malkangiri town came out on roads to celebrate. 

Wings to Lady Officer’s Dreams: Squadron Leader Jyothi at Desert Rally

BY THE time you read this piece, Squadron Leader Jyothi Yerolkar of Indian Air Force would make history by becoming the first lady officer from the armed forces ever to take on the grueling “Desert Storm-2011 Car Rally” that begins from Ahmedabad on Tuesday, February 22. “There was no special favour done to you,” Air Officer-in-charge Administration, Air Marshal JN Burma told Sqn Ldr Jyothi commending her endeavours while flagging-off the team from Delhi on Friday, according to a defence ministry release. A commendable feat indeed!

But what is interesting is the press release itself. And officers in other ministries too can experiment this style in narrating some offbeat stories in less sarkari, more journalistic fashion. Here are excerpts of the release:

“Growing up watching Indian Air Force (IAF) trainer jets fly over her native town of Bidar in Karnataka, Jyothi Yerolkar always wanted to join the Air Force as a pilot. She also dreamt of living a life full of adventure.

Jyothi went on to become a doctor instead, got married and had two children. After completing Masters in Medicine, specialising in Gynaecology from USA in 1999, and a hiatus of seven years from the profession bringing up her children, Jyothi returned to India in 2006. Not many believed she ever stood a chance to realize her dreams under the changed circumstances.

Upon her return, the unthinkable was about to happen. Jyothi’s dreams were soon to turn into reality, courtesy, the Indian Air Force. Without giving even a second thought about administering their 200-bed, family-run, super-specialty hospital in Bidar, Dr Jyothi wasted no time in applying for the IAF who were seeking doctors to join the service, even if it was, on a short service commitment.

Dr Jyothi joined the IAF as a doctor in 2007 in the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Within a year she was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader on the basis of her MD qualification and has served well in Air Force Hospitals at Yelahanka, Kanpur and Air Force Academy, Dundigal…” A very well-written release prepared by Wg Cdr TK Singha, IAF PRO!

IAS association seeks public support for RV Krishna’s release

Orissa IAS officers Association has urged the state government, civil societies and public to take all possible steps for release of 2005 batch young officer. A four-member delegation led by association secretary UP Singh recently met state chief secretary BK Patanik and home secretary UN Behera in this regard. Many other organizations have also voiced concerns over the abduction of Malkangiri district collector RV Krishna by Maoists.

Indian Forest Service results announced 
The UPSC has announced the result of the Indian Forest Service Examination held in July 2010. The list in order of merit contains names of 85 candidates. Log onto www.jobcorridor.com to check the results.
Merit list of 85 candidates

Kashmir govt forcefully retired IPS officer for allegedly fudging birth certificate

FOR many a bureaucrat, the actual date of birth (DoB) may not exactly tally with the date of birth mentioned in the school certificates. But who do you blame for the anomaly? It was decided either by your parents or by the headmaster of your village lower primary school when you were very young!

For a senior IPS officer from Jammu and Kashmir, however, the charges seem to be far more serious in nature. Farooq Ahmed who was working as the Inspector General of Police (Security) in Jammu and Kashmir was forcefully retired by the state government for allegedly fudging his date of birth, according to media reports. But in his case, the anomaly was not originated in his school. According to reports, Farooq Ahmed, a Kashmir Police Service (KPS) officer who later got promoted to IPS cadre, submitted a new DoB certificate to the department in which his date of birth was shown as November 1951 whereas his actual date of birth turned out to be February, 1949 when a panel probed the matter. The IPS officer served many an important post in the state including IGP Kashmir, DIG Jammu, IG Security and IG CID to name a few.

Orissa tribals protest demanding the release of abducted officials

Tribals in Bhubaneswar on Sunday came out to the streets to demand for the release of two abducted government officials including R Vineel Krishna, 2005 batch Orissa cadre IAS posted as district collector at Malkangiri. It remains to be seen how soon the government can ensure the safe release of the officer even as Maoists-appointed interlocutors and civil liberty activists G Haragopal and R Someswara Rao began preliminary parleys with Orissa government officials.
Read
Who is the Maoists-captured IAS?

Ex-home secretary BP Singh’s twin books released

It was an occasion of a twin book release at Mumbai on Saturday. Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan released two books authored by Governor of Sikkim and former Union home secretary BP Singh. Singh’s books are “Bahudha and the Post 9/11 World” and “India’s Culture: The State, the Arts, and Beyond”. The Oxford University Press has published the books. Vice chairperson of Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage Tasneem Mehta and former director of National Gallery of Modern Art Dr Saryu Doshi were present on the occasion. 

PM’s action on Shunglu Committee report begins; CBI probe to begin

Director General of Doordarshan and 1982 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer Aruna Sharma has lost her Mandi House job. After considering the high level Shunglu Committee Report on broadcasting issues, the Prime Minister decided to revert Doordarshan DG Aruna Sharma to her parent cadre Madhya Pradesh.

According to a release sent out by the PMO, the Prime Minister also directed the ministry of information and broadcasting to seek explanations from the Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati and Director General, Doordarshan on the allegations made against them and recommend an appropriate course of action within two weeks.

The ministry will have to review the claims made by M/s SIS LIVE, jointly with Prasar Bharati and in consultation with their financial advisers to ensure that there is no over-payment. “In the event of any over-payment having been made, the ministry of information and broadcasting has been directed to take appropriate action for recovery, after seeking due legal advice and refer matters relating to the relationship between the government and the Prasar Bharati and that between the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Prasar Bharati, as also issues regarding the governance structure and the oversight mechanism put in place by the ministry of information and broadcasting in respect of such events, to the existing Group of Ministers headed by the finance minister, which is being directed to expedite its work so that necessary corrective administrative and legislative measures could be put in place at the earliest,” said the PMO’s press statement.

The last but not the least, it was decided to refer the report to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Also Read

Shunglu recommends action against DG, Doordarshan

Who is VK Shunglu?

Action and Appointments

a) Suspended Gujarat cadre IAS officer Pradeep Sharma, arrested in cases of land allotment irregularities, has now alleged that chief minister Narendra Modi is trying to keep him behind bars since he knows about the CM’s personal life. Sharma has made this allegations in a letter to the chief secretary A K Joti and wanted his case to be transferred to the CBI.

b) “Sir was very excited. He told the villagers ‘next time I come, I want to see a colour TV in the village, and all of you plugged into the world’,” said an engineer from Orissa to Time of India. The paper has come out with an article titled, “Why abduct an honest, pro-poor officer?, questions Malkangiri” narrating about work of IAS officer RV Krishna, abducted by the Maoist extremists.

Hostage Drama: Know Orissa cadre IAS RV Krishna abducted by Maoist extremists

AS ALL back channel efforts are continuing to release 30-year-old IAS officer R Vineel Krishna, abducted on Wednesday by a group of 50 Maoists in Orissa, Union home minister called up Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik to ensure the safety of the abducted IAS officer. RV Krishna, a 2005 batch IAS officer and district collector of Malkangiri was abducted by Naxals who now sent out a set of demands for the release of the officer. This is the first instance of abduction of an IAS officer by Naxalites in Orissa.

Originally haling from Andhra Pradesh, Krishna was a civil engineer from Chennai before entering into IAS. He had earlier served as a director of District Rural Development Agency in Orissa before taking up the job of a district collector of Malkangiri district in January 2010. He was also the sub-collector of Champua and Baliguda respectively.

Union home secretary GK Pillai said that it might take some time to get the abducted officer out of Maoists, but he was confident that the officer would be released. Meanwhile, the state government contacted Naxal sympathiser Varavara Rao and social activist Swami Agnivesh to get the collector freed.

BoI Extraa…

IAS officer acts as a Show host

A young IAS officer and Rajnandgaon collector KS Pardesi turned a programme host of a function organized by Lanco Infratech Limited a few days ago. Though the company hired a well-known anchor for the job, chief minister Raman Singh called Pardesi and whispered a few words in his ear, according to media reports. Understandably at the instruction of the CM, the IAS officer took control of the show, but the question remains: Why did the CM want the officer to anchor the show?

Mayawati undertakes surprise checks, punishes officers

IN A clear sign of emphasizing on good governance ahead of next year’s assembly polls, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has recently ordered action against a few IAS and IPS officers among others after undertaking surprise inspections in Jhansi and Lalitpur districts of the state.

Mayawati’s adventure into undertaking surprise checks was mainly to review progress of development works, welfare schemes and maintenance of law and order situation etc., according to media reports quoting Mayawati’s spokesperson. The chief minister ordered the immediate transfer of district magistrate of Jhansi and SSP of the same district and wanted the administration to take action against them. Mayawati also ordered suspension of a deputy Superintendent of Police in Jhansi district. She took action against a few engineers too.

Putting stay on 3 Delhi officers

The Centre finally agreed to put on hold orders for three IAS officer of Delh, including transport secretary Rajani Kant Verma and Delhi Jal Board chief executive officer Ramesh Negi after Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit took up the matter with Union home minister P Chidambaram. The Union home ministry decides on the transfer of officers in Delhi as they belong to the UT cadre.

D Subba Rao and R Gopalan to accompany FM to Paris

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is leaving for Paris on Thursday on a three days visit to attend G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meet on 18th and 19th February, 2011. The minister will be accompanied by former finance secretary and Reserve Bank Governor D Subba Rao and current DEA secretary R Gopalan. Both these bureaucrats will accompany FM to attend a special reception to be hosted by French President Sarkozy at Elysee Palace.

New training modules for Central secretariat employees soon: DoPT secretary

A NEW training policy that is likely to be unveiled soon for Central secretariat service officials, will keep pace with the requirements of changing demands of governance, said DoPT secretary Alka Sirohi.

Sirohi, a 1974 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS, asked the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) to clear the backlog of training 7000 Central Secretariat employees during a prize distribution function. Sirohi also suggested that distant learning and e-learning courses could be devised for larger coverage and stressed the need to make training modules and courses relevant and topical.

The ISTM, an organization specializing capacity building, consultancy and research support mainly for the Central Secretariat, in 2009-10 conducted 169 courses for UDCs, assistants, section officers and under secretaries and 4252 participants were trained.

Read
Who is Alka Sirohi?

Antrix gifted gold coins to DoS, Isro babus

Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organization, gifted gold coins measuring 4 grams each to officials of department of space and Indian Space Research Organisation, according to a report by The Times of India, quoting concerns raised by India’s national auditor, CAG. The largesse cost Antrix 7% of its profits. The report also mentioned a CVC order of 2004 which prohibited any public sector undertaking from giving gifts to government officials.

Civil servant trainers get special ICT training at Mussoorie

Training bureaucrats on IT 

THE Indian civil servants are likely to get special training on developing skill sets to fully leverage Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for socio-economic development. It’s indicated during the first National Training of Trainers Workshop on ICT essential for government leaders that began in Mussoorie on Monday.

The three-day workshop was jointly organised by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-APCICT), government of India’s department of information technology (DIT) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).

The workshop launched APCICT’s Academy programme, which is designed to equip government officials with the necessary skills to fully leverage ICT for socio-economic development, a government release said. The Academy launch was presided over by PK Gera, joint director of LBSNAA, Shankar Agrawal, additional secretary, DIT and Dr Hyeun-Suk Rhee, director of APCICT. In addition to LBSNAA, the institutions that are participating in the workshop include SVP National Police Academy, National Academy of Customs Excise and Narcotics, National Academy of Direct Taxes, National Academy of Audit and Accounts, Indian Railway Institute of Transport Management, Railway Staff College, Postal Staff College India. Over 30 Indian government officials and senior training instructors from these institutions are now in Mussoorie to attend the workshop.

Private Party at ministers’ office!

At least three private secretaries from IAS and IPS cadres were appointed to Union ministers during the last one week. Here are these three new private secretaries and their batches:

a) Rajeev Singh Thakur, a 1995 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS has been appointed as private secretary at the level of a director to the minister of road transport and highways Dr CP Joshi on a lateral shift basis.

b) Puneet Kansal, a 1996 batch Sikkim cadre IAS has been appointed as private secretary at the level of a director to the minister of state for mines (independent charge) Dinsha Patel.

c) Alok Singh, a 1995 batch UP cadre IPS has been appointed as private secretary at the level of a director to the minister of water resources Salman Khurshid.

Action and Appointments

a) Sanjay Singh, a 1976 batch IFS officer, presently ambassador in Tehran, has been appointed as secretary (east) at the headquarters of the ministry of external affairs in place of Ms Vijay Latha Reddy, IFS, on her relinquishing the charge of the post.

b) Ms Vibha Govil Mishra, a 1997 batch IP and TA and FS has been selected for appointment as deputy secretary in the DoPT.

JS level officer wanted for replacing 1989 batch IAS Anil Verma in Indian High Commission London

THE government has advertised for the post of minister (economic), High Commission of India in London looking for a joint secretary level officer after it decided to recall 1989 batch West Bengal cadre IAS Anil Verma who caused embarrassment for New Delhi when he reportedly assaulted his wife in London. London police wanted India to waive off Verma’s diplomatic immunity so as to try him under UK laws after his wife Paromita Verma formally lodged a complaint against him before going into hiding in UK.

According to a circular issued by department of personnel and training (DoPT) on February 9, the government wanted to appoint an officer who must have been empanelled to hold joint secretary or equivalent posts at the Centre, but must not be senior enough to be empanelled as additional secretary in next three years. Also, the new minister (economic) should have experiences of working in an economic ministry.

The other mandatory qualifications include at least two years at the Centre under Central Staffing Scheme, age below 54 years as on the date of vacancy and proficiency in computers etc. Also, exposure to international trade and bilateral or international trade negotiations are considered as desirable qualifications for applying for the coveted post. The application must reach the DoPT in just two weeks of issuing the advertisement.

Also Read

British media report on Verma case

Vacancy Circular

Action and Appointments

a) Rajiv Kher, a 1980 batch UP cadre IAS, presently joint secretary in the department of of commerce has been appointed as additional secretary in the department of commerce in place of DK Mittal, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS.

b) Anil Kumar Singh, a 1995 batch UT cadre IAS has been appointed as director in the ministry of home affairs, New Delhi.

Mubarak Ho: How protesters at Cairo targeted bureaucratic hotspot -- Mugamma

Are tech-saavy IAS officers trained on dos and don'ts of internet?

THE groundbreaking social media-led revolution in Egypt that culminated in President Hosni Mubarak’s stepping down on Friday, has also witnessed another facet – paralyzing bureaucracy. During the protests, the efforts were made to block all entrances of Egypt’s imposing central administrative complex, Mugamma el-Tahrir.

Smart, young protesters were aware of the fact that they needed to cripple bureaucracy if they wanted their voice to be heard. So Mugamma that houses 14 government departments with about 18,000 employees working there, remained the target during the protests that began on January 25, 2011.

The Mugamma, the hotbed of Egypt’s bureaucracy, remained shut for first 14 days of protests before it was partially opened on last Sunday when bureaucrats were asked to take the back-door entrance to avoid wrath of the protesters.

According to media reports including one by AFP, the Mugamma over the years has become a symbol of the heavy burden that bureaucracy imposes on Egyptians in their everyday life. This 13-storey government building at Cairo was the main setting for the 1992 movie comedy “Terrorism and Kebab” with a focus on corruption. The lead character of the movie inadvertently ends up taking the mammoth building hostage.

Have these young IAS probationers (picture on top) who met Indian Prime Minister and Vice President in New Delhi, adequately been trained to tackle any crisis including new-age protests through Facebook, Twitter and Blogs? It’s the time the IAS Academy at Mussorie must emphasize on a few training modules on social media!

Life is a process of learning and re-learning: PM to IAS probationers

ARE you an IAS officer with a belief that you have gathered enough knowledge and skills before entering into this elite service? Just think twice. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh wants the officers to operate on the frontiers of knowledge. While addressing the 2010 batch of IAS probationers, Singh said that their attitude to acquisition of new knowledge is critical determinant of where India would be in 20-30 years from now.

“When you join the IAS, please do not think that now that you have entered the IAS, you don’t have to gather more skills. And if India is to realize its full development potential, it is really essential that our officers operate on the frontiers of knowledge. Life has to be viewed as one long continuous process of learning and re-learning. So therefore your attitude to acquisition of new knowledge is critical determinant of where India will be in 20-30 years from now,” PM said.

PM also emphasized that IAS officers need to undertake continuous adjustments in thinking in the light of latest development in human knowledge. “It is equally important that there should be emphasis on character, on probity in public life,” he said.

PM also reminded IAS officers that they have to work more on urban areas as 50% of India are likely to be living in urban areas in the next 20 years. “The management of urban chain, the management of infrastructure, the role of local level administration in meeting the needs of urban development, the needs of law and order, special problems that arise when large conglomerations in metropolitan towns become a fact of life,” PM said.

(In Picture: Dr Manmohan Singh with the IAS probationers of 2010 batch in New Delhi on February 10, 2011)

Nitish government undertakes first major administrative reshuffle

In a major administrative reshuffle, the NDA-II government under chief minister Nitish Kumar shuffled 55 IAS officers and 99 IPS officers. The IAS officials shifted include DMs of Patna, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Saharsa , Samastipur, Gaya and Kaimur. The government promoted two IGs of 1983 batch to ADG rank and 11 SPs of 1996 batch to DIG rank. 

Banking On: Who is 1976 batch IAS Shashi Kant Sharma?

AMID major bureaucratic reshuffle in the ministry of finance ahead of this year’s Union Budget, Shashi Kant Sharma, a 1976 batch Bihar cadre IAS, took over as the new secretary in the department of financial services on Wednesday. Sharma, who was till recently a secretary in the department of information technology, is replacing his batch-mate R Gopalan who in turn was virtually elevated as secretary of a relatively important department, DEA (department of economic affairs). Sharma has over one and half years left for retirement.

Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Sharma began his career as a sub-divisional officer at Banka way back in July, 1978 before taking up various key responsibilities both in state and the Centre. In early 1980s, he had served as Managing Director of Bokaro Industrial Aread Development and then as district magistrate of Bhagalpur. One of his high points of his career in his home cadre included his posting as collector and district magistrate of Patna district.

A post graduate in political science and MSc in administrative science and development problem from the University of York (UK), Sharma moved to the Centre first as a director in the department of youth affairs and sports in 1992, and later as joint secretary in the defence ministry where he was later promoted as additional secretary. Sharma also served as additional secretary in the department of administrative reforms and public grievances.

What transpires in EC’s meeting with Sudhir Chandra on use of money power in elections?

The Election Commission on Wednesday had a meeting with CBDT chairman Sudhir Chandra to update measures taken by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to control the use of money power in elections in the five states of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. The Commission expressed satisfaction over the performance of the officers of Income Tax department during Bihar election and asked the chairman, CBDT to carry forward such exercises during the polls in the five states, said an official release issued by Election Commission. I-T department will play a key role in surveillance in airports, major hotels, railway stations, financial brokers and hawala operators during elections in addition to monitoring suspicious cash withdrawal from the banks. The Commission has asked the I-T department to verify the assets declared in the affidavits by the candidates and to send report to the Commission.

Kerala cadre IAS Sanjay Kaul hired to re-create God's Own Country in Modi's Gujarat

Gujarat’s tourism campaign has always used Guest as God motto to woo tourists, but now it has hired an IAS officer from God’s Own Country Kerala to anchor the state’s tourism drive. Kaul Sanjay Moolchand, a 2001 IAS batch Kerala cadre IAS, is taking over as managing director of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd (TCGL), and is expected to kick-start a campaign involving Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan who was already hired as Gujarat’s brand ambassador.

An engineer by profession, Sanjay Kaul (left in the picture on top) originally belongs to the state of Gujarat and his parents still live in Vadodara. He is now on a deputation to Gujarat cadre for a period of three years. 41-year-old Sanjay had earlier served as a director in Kerala’s tourism department between November 2006 and December 2007. Current MD, TCGL, Anoop Shukla has been sent back to his parent cadre.

Several IAS officers from Kerala cadre have excelled in the field of tourism, the most famous face being 1980 batch IAS Amitabh Kant who was the man behind the “Incredible India” campaign.

For Sanjay Kaul, the challenge now is to create a new campaign and meaningfully rope in Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. While Vibrant Gujarat campaign has been a success story in wooing multi-billion dollar investment into the state, it remains to be seen whether Aavo Padharo or the Gujarati words of welcome can create a similar buzz at the national and international spectrums. 

Mountbatten Musings: CBDT chairman’s direction for early refund to rejoice millions of Indian tax payers

WHEN 1973 batch Indian Revenue Service officer Sudhir Chandra took over as the chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on December 31, 2010, he ordered the backdoor of his historically significant corner room of North Block opened. The door which remained closed for over 60 years leads to a balcony overlooking the monumental beauty of Raisina Hills --- The Rashtrapati Bhawan. What’s more, the pillared balcony has reminiscence of history thanks to the emblem of Lord Mountbatten-headed South East Asia Command being carved on a plaque there.

Over a month later, Chandra issued another directive which stands to benefit lakhs of tax papers in the country waiting for their refund cheques to come. The CBDT chairman has now directed all chief commissioners to upload necessary data so that the refunds could be issued expeditiously, said an official release. Significantly, it will be for the first time that most income tax refunds of the current assessment year will be dispatched to the taxpayers within the current financial year itself. All taxpayers who have filed e-returns and whose refund claim is below Rs 10 lakh would be issued their income tax refunds by March 2011. The move is significant as many tax payers receive their refund money only after a few years of the assessment year.

Significantly, the CBDT chairman’s room has a historical bearing as India’s last viceroy Lord Louis Mountbatten used it during the World War II. An inscription in the room says: “Admiral The Lord Louis Mountbatten, G.C.V.O.K.C.B.D.S.O.A.D.C. Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command occupied this room from October 1943 till April 1944 and thereafter when present in New Delhi until the end of the War against Japan. The emblem of the South East Asia Command is also carved on the plaque within the pillared balcony outside this room.” (In picture: CBDT chairman’s corner room in North Block reminds of colonial power-center)

Shashi Kant Sharma appointed as new financial services secretary

Shashi Kant Sharma, a 1976 batch Bihar cadre IAS, presently secretary in department of information technology has been appointed as secretary in department of financial services under ministry of finance in the vacancy of R Gopalan, a 1976 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS who has recently been made DEA secretary. A post graduate in political science and a MSc degree holder from the University of York, Sharma had earlier served as additional secretary in defence ministry and DoPT. 

2nd Generation: Will telecoms bureaucrats including those of NDA time be questioned?

AS TWO former telecom officials, 1973 batch retired IAS Siddhartha Behura and 1984 batch Indian Economic Service officer RK Chandolia are behind bars, former Central Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha has now alleged that several telecom officials tried to delay CVC’s probe into 2G scam.

Sinha who had served as the head of India’s anti-corruption watchdog for four years till September, 2010, said there was a delay on the part of some telecoms officials in replying to CVC’s queries regarding 2G spectrum allocation, according to media reports. He further said that his Commission advised against the allocation of spectrums on first-cum-first basis.

Meanwhile, many more officials who had served in the department of telecoms from 2003 could feel the heat sometime later as telecoms minister Kapil Sibal is keen on CBI investigating the matter right from the NDA regime. The Justice (retired) Shivraj Patil report, for example, has dragged in a former DoT secretary into the controversy. The report says: “TRAI had also recommended that .. additional players could be introduced through multi stage bidding process, which was also accepted by the Union Cabinet on 31.10.2003. However, in deviation with said requirements, the Secretary DOT, on the contrary, on 17.11.2003, approved formulation of procedure of accepting the applications for grant of UASLs by adopting procedure similar to the procedure adopted for grant of BSL…” (Para 3.2(i)/Page 84)

It remains to be seen whether heads of more bureaucrats who had worked in department of telecoms during the last eight years or so, will be rolled in this continuing 2G saga.

Bihar IAS Pratyaya Amrit invited by US Department of State

And finally, here is a good piece of news for Indian bureaucracy. Pratyaya Amrit, a 1991 batch Bihar cadre IAS, has been invited by the US Department of State to participate in International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The program will be on urban planning and economic development, to be held in the US from February 7 to 25, 2011. The leadership program is meant for policy makers, urban planners, architects, public transportation specialists, academics and journalists among others.

Action and Appointments

a) Jayant  Singh, an IRTS official presently working in the ministry of railways, has been appointed as deputy director (director level), in the La1 Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.

b) Dinesh Kumar Yadav, a 1998 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IPS has been selected for appointment as Assistant Director General (deputy secretary level) in the Unique Identification Authority of India under the Planning Commission, New Delhi.

Doc’s prescription to chief secretaries

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh talked about transparency, police reforms and infrastructure deficits among others while addressing the 2nd annual conference of chief secretaries of states in New Delhi on Friday. Here are excerpts of PM’s speech:

On Problems

The problem of high inflation has persisted now for several months driven mostly by supply-side shortages, particularly those of agricultural commodities and also the rising prices of imported products, both primary commodities and petroleum products. The internal security situation has been tense in some parts of our country. There has been unacceptably high level of violence in areas affected by left-wing extremism and in the Kashmir valley. Serious concern has been expressed in many responsible circles about the lack of ethical conduct and probity in our public life.

On Police Reforms

Let me reaffirm today that the Central government stands committed to assisting states in all possible ways in these areas. But, while the Centre can provide resources, guidance and information, the basic task of modernizing state police forces, inducting better equipment, improving the quality of police personnel and strengthening the infrastructure available to them requires the attention of the state governments. Funds are not a constraint, as the thirteenth Finance Commission has recommended substantial grants and the Central government continues making its contribution to augment the resources of the states. What is needed is a recognition of this problem, focused attention on these issues and a commitment to improving the professionalism and the quality of our police forces.

On Corruption

Corruption strikes at the roots of good governance. It is an impediment to faster growth. It dilutes, if not negates, our efforts at social inclusion. It dents our international image and it demeans us before our own people. This is a challenge which has to be faced frontally, boldly and quickly. As you might be aware, we have set up a Group of Ministers to look into all measures, legal or administrative, to tackle this menace. Two bills have already been introduced in Parliament relating to judicial accountability and the protection of whistle blowers. Along with legislation, the necessary revamp of administrative practices and procedures needs to be fast-tracked.

On Infrastructure Deficits

I would urge all chief secretaries to explore ways and means by which the infrastructure deficit in their state can be bridged. This is even more crucial for those states that continue to lag behind in the race for social and economic development. 

Spot 1977 batch IAS officers getting secretary rank

THE 1977 batch IAS officers have a reason to rejoice. Finally, Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved the elevation of 1977 batch officers to the rank of secretary or special secretary with effect from February 1, 2011.

The ACC has also directed the Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 to grant 1977 batch UP cadre IAS GC Chaturvedi, presently Special Director General (Finance and Accounts) in the Organising Committee, an appropriate rank and pay equivalent to the secretary to the government of India with effect from 1st February, 2011. An MSc in physics, Chaturvedi had earlier served as joint secretary in department of economic affairs and additional secretary in the banking division of finance ministry.

The ACC has also approved the following appointments on in-situ elevation basis, with effect from February 01, 2011, by temporarily upgrading the posts held by the officers:

a) Shekhar Agarwal, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS as special secretary in department of ex-servicemen welfare under ministry of defence, in the rank and pay of secretary.

b) Alok Rawat, a 1977 batch Sikkim cadre IAS as secretary, UPSC in the rank and pay of secretary.

c) Naved Masood, a 1977 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre as special secretary and financial adviser in the department of health and family welfare in the rank and pay of secretary.

d) K Jose Cyriac, a 1977 batch Kerala cadre IAS as special secretary in department of revenue in the rank and pay of secretary.

e) Mohammad Haleem Khan, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS as director general, CAPART, department of rural development in the rank and pay of secretary.

f) Sudhir Krishna, a 1977 batch Karnataka cadre IAS as special secretary in the ministry of Panchayati Raj in the rank and pay of secretary.

g) Rakesh Kacker, a 1977 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS as special secretary in the department of consumer affairs in the rank and pay of secretary.

h) Alok Perti, a 1977 batch Assam cadre IAS as special secretary in the ministry of coal, in the rank and pay of secretary.

i) Mrutyunjay Sarangi, a 1977 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS as special secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, in the rank and pay of secretary.

j) Pradeep Kumar Chaudhary, a 1977 batch Haryana cadre IAS as special secretary, department of commerce in the rank and pay of secretary.

k) Ms Vilasini Ramachandran, a 1977 batch Gujarat cadre IAS as special secretary, department of expenditure in the rank and pay of secretary.

l) Arun Kumar Mathur, a 1977 batch UT cadre IAS, as Director (Enforcement), Department of Revenue, ministry of finance in the rank and pay of secretary.

m) Radha Krishna Mathur, a 1977 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS as special secretary, department of defence in the rank and pay of secretary.

n) Gireesh B Pradhan, a 1977 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS as special secretary in the ministry of power in the rank and pay of secretary.

o) Shumsher K Sheriff, a 1977 batch UT cadre IAS, as secretary, to the Vice President of India, in the rank and pay of secretary.

p) Ajay Bhattacharya, a 1977 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, as Administrator, Universal Services Obligatioin Fund, department of telecommunications in the rank and pay of secretary.

q) Ms Loretta Mary Vas, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS, as special secretary, department of economic affairs in the rank and pay of secretary.

r) Vishwapati Trivedi, a 1977 batch MP cadre IAS as special secretary and financial adviser in ministry of home affairs in the rank and pay of secretary.

s) Pradeep Kumar Sinha, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS as special secretary and financial adviser in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas in the rank and pay of secretary.

t) Dileep Raj S Chaudhary, a 1977 batch MP cadre IAS as special secretary, ministry of home affairs in the rank and pay of secretary.

u) Sharad Gupta, a 1977 batch Assam cadre IAS, as Duirector General, Bureau of Indian Standards, department of consumer affairs in the rank and pay of secretary.

v) Prasanna Kumar Pradhan, a 1977 batch West Bengal cadre IAS as special secretary, department of health and family welfare in the rank and pay of secretary.

w) Amarjit Singh Lamba, a 1977 batch West Bengal cadre IAS, as special secretary and financial adviser, department of agriculture and cooperation in the rank and pay of secretary.

x) Ms Sangita Gairola, a 1977 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS, as special secretary in ministry of social justice and empowerment in the rank and pay of secretary.

y) NC Vasudevan, a 1977 batch Orissa cadre IAS as Director General, National Productivity Council, DIPP, in the rank and pay of secretary.

z) Ashok Thakur, a 1977 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS as special secretary, department of higher education in the rank and pay of secretary.

z1) Jayant M Mauskar, a 1977 batch Assam cadre IAS, as special secretary in the ministry of environment and forests in the pay of secretary.

z2) Chinmay Basu, a 1977 batch Orissa cadre IAS as special secretary in the department of land resources in the pay of secretary.

z3) Sundaram Krishna, a 1977 batch Punjab cadre IAS, as special secretary in the department of defence in the pay of secretary. 

(In Picture: A night view of Delhi's power-center housing North and South Blocks)

A tribute to doyen of India Strategy and 1951 batch IAS topper K Subrahmanyam

Doyen of India’s strategic affairs and 1951 batch topper of Indian Administrative Service K Subrahmanyam is no more. KS or Subbu, as was fondly called by his colleagues and friends, died in New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences at the age of 82.

The civil servant who was instrumental in shaping India’s nuclear and defence doctrines, has a huge fan following in bureaucracy and diplomatic circle. One of his three sons S Jaishankar is a 1977 batch Indian Foreign Service officer and is currently Indian ambassador to China. (In Picture: The Bina used by K Subrahmanyam's wife remained a decorative item at his residence)   

Subrahmanyam held a number of senior Indian government positions including chairman of India’s Joint Intelligence Committee, home secretary in Tamil Nadu and Union secretary for defence production in the ministry of defence. But he is best known for his stints at Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses which he virtually built almost single-handedly.

The following are excerpts of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s condolence message to his son S Jaishankar.

“It was with great sadness that I learnt of the passing away of your father, Shri K Subrahmanyam, who was one of the country’s leading security experts and strategists. Beginning with his work in the Ministry of Defence in the early sixties, Shri Subrahmanyam's distinguished career in public service spanned many decades as a civil servant who maintained the highest traditions of the bureaucracy through his honesty, dedication and exceptional abilities… Shri Subrahmanyam wrote seminal works on an array of subjects covering our nuclear posture, India-Pakistan relations, intelligence matters, disarmament and issues of regional and global strategic importance. His work as head of the Kargil Review Committee was widely recognized both inside the government and outside it.”

Action and Appointments

a) R C Sinha, a 1962 batch retired IAS and chief of Maharashtra Airport Development Company was told to quit by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, according to reports. Incidentally, Sinha was hired by the then PWD minister Nitin Gadkari, now BJP president, for construction of 55 flyovers in Mumbai.

b) Wajahat Habibullah, India’s first chief information commissioner, was on Wednesday appointed as the chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). The NCM remained headless for over four months now after Mohd Shafi Qureshi had retired. A 1968-batch IAS officer, Habibullah will hold office for a period of three years. Former IPS officer from Mizoram, HT Sangliana is the vice-chiarman of NCM.