Lokpal empowered to attach properties acquired by officials through corrupt means

THE properties acquired by officials through corrupt means will become government assets if the new draft Lokpal bill gets the Parliament nod in its current form. The Lokpal draft bill, approved by Union cabinet on Thursday, has a clear provision of empowering the Lokpal to attach property of public servants acquired through corrupt means.

Though the debate on the draft bill has so far been concentrated on exclusion of Prime Minister from its ambit, and Team Anna calling it Jokepal, the draft has however included in its ambit any Group A officer or equivalent and chairperson or member or officer equivalent to Group A in any body, board, corporation, authority, company, society, trust or autonomous body established by an Act of Parliament or wholly or partly financed by the Central government.

According to the draft bill, the Lokpal will inquire into allegations of corruption made in respect of Prime Minister, after he has demitted office, a minister of the Union; a Member of Parliament apart from all Group A officers.

Action and Appointments

a) On an expected line, Pulok Chatterji, a 1974 batch UP cadre IAS officer, presently Executive Director in World Bank, will be Principal Secretary to Prime Minister with effect from the October 3, 2011. Current incumbent TKA Nair, has been appointed as adviser to Prime Minister. Nair will continue to hold the rank and status of a minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office with effect from the October 3, 2011.

b) Pankaj Agarwal, a 1978 batch UP cadre IAS, presently in the cadre, has been appointed as additional secretary in the department of consumer affairs in place of Rakesh Kacker, a 1977 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS.

Looking for Domestic Funding of Foreign Training?

IF you are an Indian officer looking for domestic funding of foreign training, here are the must-know facts. The following are the Frequently Asked Questions under the Domestic Funding of Foreign Training (DFFT) Scheme, as is provided by DoPT.

What is the DFFT Scheme?

Domestic Funding of Foreign Training (DFFT) scheme is a scheme introduced by the Government of India in 2001 with an objective to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the government officers and to provide exposure to international best practices by deputing them to different long or short-term training programmes.

Who is eligible?

The officers belonging to IAS, CSS and SCS are eligible to undergo foreign training under the scheme. Officers of the other two All India Services, viz., IPS and IFoS and those of other organized Group A Central Civil Services are eligible under the Scheme only when they are holding posts on deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme.

Where can I find the circular giving the terms and conditions?

The circular is issued every year and hosted on the website: www.persmin.nic.in

How and when can I apply?

The circular for training programmes to be conducted in a financial year (April to March) is generally issued in the month of October of the preceding year, e.g., for training programmes to be offered in FY 2011-12, the circular was issued in October, 2010.

Is there a common circular for the long term as well as the short term programmes?

Yes.

Which are the areas for long term and short term programmes sponsored under the DFFT

scheme?

The long term programmes are mainly in the fields of public policy, public management, public administration, etc. while the themes for the shor-tterm programmes are leadership, executive development, fiscal decentralization, tax analysis and revenue forecasting, project management, anti corruption, health sector reforms, public administration, public finance management, infrastructure and PPP, training of trainers, advance competencies for trainers, environmental policy issues etc. The specific programmes both long term and short term are included in the circular issued each year.

How are the selections made?

It is mandatory to apply online. A software based eligibility list is generated, followed by a merit list. Based on date available through these lists, a duly constituted committee recommends officers for long term and short term training programmes taking into account the relevance and suitability factors and takes approval of the competent authority.

Who bears the cost?

The entire cost on participation of officers in training programmes under the DFFT scheme is met by the training division, except certain pre departure expenses. A detailed circular dated 19^th January 2011 indicating various entitlements is available in the website: www.persmin.nic.in.

Is the air travel also arranged by the DOPT?

Yes, the travel in the entitled class (on excursion fare basis) is arranged through Air India by the DOPT. For this purpose, vouchers are issued to the Air India office at Safdarjung Airport. The name and contact details of the concerned officers in Air India are intimated to the nominated officers who then get in touch with them and reserve tickets to their respective destinations.

Does nomination by DoPT guarantee admission to the programmes?

Not necessarily. The concerned institutes also have their own selection procedures which may sometimes reject the nominations made by DOPT.

How can I avail the partial funding under the DFFT Scheme?

The officers can avail financial assistance under the partial funding component for pursuing higher studies in programmes. The terms and conditions relating to the partial funding are contained in a circular dated 17^th March 2008.

When I can apply for the support under the Partial Funding Scheme?

The applications can be made throughout the year but only after securing admission in the chosen programme/ University. However, the period from April to June is ideal as most of the programmes commence in August/September.

If I fulfil all the eligibility criteria as per the Circular can I be sure to get the Partial Funding support from the DoPT?

DOPT administers the partial funding scheme. However, the Central Establishment Board is the final authority in the matter which may lay down its own criteria such as public interest, budget, etc. while deciding the cases of partial funding.

1972 batch continues to be lucky; PMO secretary MN Prasad is new World Bank ED

MN Prasad, a 1972 batch retired Bihar cadre IAS will soon be 62 years. But he has a job offer in hand for the next three years. Prasad, presently secretary to the Prime Minister, has been appointed as Executive Director, World Bank in place of Pulok Chatterji for a period of three years. And yes, there is no holidaying for Prasad between his high profile PMO job and the new assignment in the World Bank beginning October this year.

Earlier this month, his batch-mate and former defence secretary Pradeep Kumar had an offer at hand even when he was at the helm of the defence ministry. The government named him as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), and Kumar moved straight from South Block to CVC’s office. For this 62 years old officer, there is no holiday in between.

As early as January 2010, BoI (babusofindia.com) said: “Call it sheer talent or influence of numerological calculation, 1972 batch bureaucrats have continuously scripted success stories in occupying key government posts.”

Shiv Shankar Menon, a 1972 batch retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer was picked up for the coveted post of national security adviser (NSA) in place of MK Narayanan. Similarly, 1972 batch civil service topper and former finance secretary Dr D Subbarao of Andhra Pradesh cadre was made the 22nd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and two of his batch-mates, GK Pillai of Kerala cadre and Pradeep Kumar of Haryana cadre were India’s home and defence secretaries respectively for a period of two years. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai, also a 1972 batch IAS, has turned out to be one of the most outstanding CAGs of independent India. The Planning Commission Member Secretary Sudha Pillai, is also of the same batch.

Action and Appointments

a) DPS Sandhu, a 1987 batch Indian Railway Traffic Service officer has been appointed as adviser to the Executive Director in the World Bank. He will have a three year tenure. 

b) Surajit Mitra, a 1977 batch Assam cadre IAS has been appointed as secretary in the ministry of minority affairs in place of Vivek Mehrotra, a 1974 batch Haryana cadre IAS who is retiring on July 31, 2011.

c) Senior police officers and bureaucrats in Chennai who are believed to be close to the DMK were on Tuesday raided by officials in charge of tackling corruption. The raids included the home of Jaffar Sait, who was the chief of intelligence when the DMK was in power.

Action and Appointments: Court orders police to give "secret" documents to accused IAS

a) The Delhi Police has been asked by a Tis Hazari court to supply suspended IAS officer in the home ministry, Ravi Inder Singh, some “secret” documents annexed with the chargesheet against him. Singh, a 1994 batch West Bengal cadre IAS, is facing charges in a case related to leak of sensitive information.

A special judge asked the police to supply the requisite document to Singh, and said that Singh can’t be denied of those documents even if they are “secret”. Those documents were given on a sealed cover by the ministry of home affairs with a marking “SECRET”.

b) The CBI has recently quizzed 1989 batch from Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS, K Sanjay Murthy on various telecom decisions taken during Dayanidhi Maran’s tenure between 2004 and 2007. Murthy who was a former personal secretary of Dayanidhi Maran, is now secretary (administrative reforms) with the Himachal Pradesh government.

c) The central deputation tenure of Amrit Lal Meena, a 1989 batch Bihar cadre IAS and joint secretary in the ministry of food processing and industries has been extended for a period of one month beyond July 27, 2011.

d) Meenakshi Negi, a 1989 batch Karnataka cadre Indian Forest Service officer, has been re-appointed as director, Ayush.

Also check

12 New Joint Secretaries

Who replaces who in PMO rejig?

AS several officers are on their way out from India’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), here are the replacements.

IN: Pulok Chatterji, a 1974 batch IAS who is recalled from his World Bank assignment half-way. Is joining as secretary, PMO, in place of MN Prasad. He could be elevated to principal secretary if TKA Nair is given a Governor’s post.

OUT: MN Prasad, a 1972 batch retired IAS officer, is likely to replace Pulok Chatterji in the World Bank. Prasad, a Bihar cadre officer has continued in the PMO after his retirement.

IN: BVR Subrahmanyam, a 1987 batch Chhattisgarh cadre IAS. Joining as joint secretary in PMO. Subrahmanyam was the private secretary to PM between 2004 and 2008, and then was on a World Bank assignment.

OUT: Vini Mahajan, a 1987 batch Punjab cadre IAS. Also, Sanjay Mitra, a 1982 batch West Bengal cadre IAS who remained in PMO for over six years, recently joined Mamata Banerjee government as principal secretary.

IN: Sanjay Lohiya, a 1994 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS and Krishan Kumar, a 1997 batch Punjab cadre IAS. Both are joining as directors in PMO.

OUT: Ashish Gupta and DPS Sandhu, both directors. Sandhu, an Indian Information Service officer who had also served PM’s media adviser during the fag-end of UPA-I, is heading for a World Bank assignment. 

Pulok Chatterji is back in PMO; likely to be “eyes and ears of Sonia in PMO again”

IT’S official now. 1974 batch UP cadre IAS Pulok Chatterji, who is known for his proximity to UPA chairwoman Sonia Gandhi, will be back in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) triggering speculations that principal secretary to PM, TKA Nair could be made a governor in a few days time. Chatterji, who had an earlier innings in the PMO as PM's private secretary and then secretary during the UPA-I, was recalled from his World Bank assignment mid-way. He was to complete his World Bank tenure early next year.

When BoI (babusofindia.com) released its first list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats in August, 2009, it placed Chatterji at the top which had surprised many. How could someone stationed in US be more powerful than TKA Nair? BoI then said: “Pulok Chatterji could now be posted far away in Washington DC as an executive director of the World Bank, but his one phone call carries more power than many important files doing round the power corridors of Delhi. But what makes him so special and powerful?”

After all, Chatterji was the “eyes and ears of Sonia in PMO” as was said by fellow bureaucrats and politicians. He had served as district magistrate of Rae Bareli in early 1980s, a director in the PMO during Rajiv Gandhi’s time, a secretary (joint secretary equivalent) in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in early 1990s, and then a private secretary to Sonia Gandhi when she was the leader of the Opposition. He is a highly efficient officer with a clear focus on delivery.

Chatterji is unlikely to face any resistance from any officer. Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth himself is his batch-mate and belongs to the UP cadre.

Action and Appointments

a) Home secretary RK Singh is leaving for Thimphu on Thursday to attend the 4th meeting of interior secretaries of the SAARC nations to be held there on the July 22. This will be his first foreign visit after taking over as Union home secretary recently.

b) Anand Bardhan, a 1992 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS has been appointed as Counsellor, Community Affairs (Development) in the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi for a period of three years.

RS Gujral pipes R Gopalan, Sumit Bose; becomes new finance secretary

Gujral (R) was reportedly sidelined by CP Joshi (L)

NINETEEN days after Sunil Mitra retired as finance secretary, the North Block finally found its new man at the helms --- 1976 batch Haryana cadre IAS, RS Gujral. Till recently, he was not even in the reckoning to clinch the coveted North Block post. But with his appointment as the new finance secretary, Gujral will now be the boss of his two outstanding batch-mates, DEA secretary R Gopalan and expenditure secretary Sumit Bose, both come under finance ministry. Gujral will continue to handle the revenue department which oversees the work of CBDT and CBEC.

A Humphery fellow from US, Gujral was the Director General of Foreign Trade and had closely worked with Kamal Nath when the latter was the minister of commerce and industry during the last UPA government. When Nath became the minister for road transport and highways, he brought Gujral to his ministry. But Gujral did not get along with new road transport and highways minister CP Joshi over the ministry’s dealings with Planning Commission.

Only three weeks ago, he moved into the finance ministry as revenue secretary. But Gujral’s seniority over his batch-mates Gopalan and Bose helped him getting the finance secretary’s post. Sumit Bose still has a chance to be finance secretary three years from now, as he will retire only in March, 2014, but Gopalan will retire in April, 2012. Gujral will have a fairly long period as finance secretary as he will retire in November 2013.

MHA clarifies on 1981 batch IPS JV Ramudu

After JV Ramudu, a 1981 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IPS, was made a member of Special Investigation Team (SIT), it was now found that Ramudu would not be a part of the panel because of a surgery that he had sometime ago. The surgery requires constant medical check-ups. The SIT was constituted by Gujarat High Court to investigate the alleged fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan and others.

Here is the clarification of the ministry of home affairs: “The medical condition of Shri J.V. Ramudu was brought to the notice of the Ministry of Home Affairs only after his name had been approved by the High Court and Home Ministry had to approach the Hon’ble High Court to nominate another officer from a fresh panel of three names, which has since been accepted by the High Court. Neither the State Government of Andhra Pradesh nor the officer himself had brought to the notice of MHA the inability of the officer to be a part of SIT, although his name had been indicated in the High Court’s order in May, 2011”.

Cabinet secretariat director Alka Sharma appointed as Delhi University’s finance officer

IS Delhi University’s financial health sound any longer? The government has decided to depute a senior cabinet secretariat official Alka Sharma to the University of Delhi as its finance officer. Alka Sharma, a 1988 batch Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) officer and currently a director in cabinet secretariat, will be the University’s finance officer till January 21, 2014.

Ms Sharma will be posted in Delhi University on a deputation basis. In an office memo of DoPT, dated July 13, 2011, it was also mentioned that Ms Sharma would get a PB-4 pay of Rs 37400 to 67000 with a grade pay Rs 10,000, which is essentially the salary of a joint secretary. She is expected to take up the assignment immediately.

Pandey succeeds in narrowing down differences with Naga militants

When 1972 batch retired IAS RS Pandey was appointed in February 2010 as the Central government’s interlocutor for talks with NSCN (I-M), it was considered as a post-retirement assignment. His batch-mate GK Pillai then was the home secretary. Now, if the home ministry’s claims are correct, Pandey who had served as petroleum secretary earlier, turned successful in taking forward the peace process. “Sustained negotiations over the past few months have led to a set of proposals for an honourable political settlement based on the uniqueness of Naga history and situation... While the differences between the two parties have narrowed, some of the proposals would require further negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable solution. By appreciating and respecting each other’s position and difficulties, both the parties are confident of working out a settlement in the shortest possible time,” a home ministry statement said.

Action and Appointments

a) The government has approved the proposal of the department of industrial policy and promotion for shift of RK Malik, a 1988 batch IRPF official and director in the DIPP (a Central Staffing Scheme post) to the post of  Secretary in the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (for Goa and Union Territories). His new post will be a non-Central staffing scheme post.

b) Niraj Kumar, a 1992 batch Indian Postal Service officer, has been appointed as director in the department of heavy industries under the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises for a period of five years. 

Bhaskar Ghose’s book poses a fundamental question: Should IAS run 21st century India?

ARE IAS officers efficient enough to govern twenty-first-century India? Bhaskar Ghose, a former IAS and ex-DG Doordarshan, has posed this fundamental question in his latest book, “The Service of the State, The IAS Reconsidered”. The argument is: Should generalists, meaning IAS, head organizations as complex and diverse as industrial units, museums and rural development boards? But if IAS is to be replaced, who will replace them?

But Ghose has not disappointed his fellow IAS officers. At the end of the day, he has made a case for IAS saying that it is still the best option which substantially fulfils its functions. But Ghose agrees that its once sterling reputation has been tarnished by allegations of corruption, political subservience and declining standards of efficiency. But he goes on to argue that there are still a sufficient number of dedicated public servants who India can bank on.

Do you agree with this argument? Air your voice on the subject and post your comments below.

Also Read

Death of Bengal Bureaucracy

Action and Appointments

a) Anil Navaney, a 1978 batch IPS officer, is taking over as the new Chhattisgarh director general of police replacing Vishwa Ranjan, a 1973-batch IPS. Ranjan who was removed from the post was later appointed as director general (DG), Home Guards, a much low profile post.

b) The tenure of coal ministry’s joint secretary RK Mahajan, a 1987 batch Bihar cadre IAS, has been extended for the period up to September 23, 2011.

c) Ms Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan, 2002 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, has been appointed as deputy secretary in the department of expenditure. 

PMO inducts two new officials -- Sanjay Lohiya and Krishan Kumar

A DAY before the Cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister inducted two director level officers to his office which could give a new look to the PMO. In circulars dated July 11, 2011, 1997 batch Punjab cadre IAS Krishan Kumar and 1994 batch Assam cadre IAS, Sanjay Lohia were appointed as directors in PMO. Lohiya is three batch senior to Kumar, but incidentally both are of 42-year-old.

Who is Sanjay Lohiya?

Service: 1994 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS

Date of Birth: August 30, 1969

Place of Domicile: Rajasthan

Educational Qualifications: B.Sc in physics

Major Postings

* Deputy Commissioner, Darrang

* Commissioner , Guwahati Municipality

* Deputy Commissioner, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia

* Secretary (cadre) Agriculture

* Commissioner (Taxes)

* Now, Director, PMO

Who is Krishan Kumar?

Service: 1997 batch Punjab cadre IAS

Date of Birth: February 25, 1969

Place of Domicile: Haryana

Educational Qualifications: BE, Electronics

Major Postings

* Assistant Commissioner, Muktsar

* SDM, Jalandhar

* Dy Director, Urban Development (cadre)

* Additional Commissioner, Excise and Taxation

* Additional MD, Agriculture and Cooperation

* Dy Commissioner, Nawanshahr

* Now Director, PMO

Past Imperfect: New railway minister Dinesh Trivedi aired possibly the harshest comment against bureaucrats

IT’S a must-know incident for railway babus. Newly-appointed Union railway minister Dinesh Trivedi is definitely a doer, but he is also the man who aired one of the harshest comments against bureaucrats.

Exactly a year ago, Trivedi, then a minister of state for health called Indian bureaucrats “ineffective” adding that college kids would run the health ministry better than the bureaucrats. The minister had a massive problem with then health secretary health secretary K Sujatha Rao over sanctioning of a Rs 140-crore health portal.

“Why do we have to wait for the CBI to unearth them (about scams like Medical Council of India)? Where is the accountability for bureaucracy? Politicians are accountable as they have to go back to the people,” Trivedi told a news channel then.

Trivedi further said that bureaucrats are not innovative, and that’s a major roadblock. “They don’t understand technology. Young people fresh out of college would be able to run the health ministry better that these bureaucrats,” he said.

Then health secretary Sujatha Rao countered the charges and said that Indian bureaucracy “was among the most scrutinized in the world”.

Born in 1950 in New Delhi, Trivedi is a B Com from St. Xavier College, Calcutta University and an MBA from University of Texas, USA. In 1990, he was first elected to Rajya Sabha, and in 2002, he was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha and got nominated to Panel of Vice Chairmen, Rajya Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi pulls up rail officials

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi pulled up railway officials after he had met the injured people in the Kalka Mail accident at a Kanpur hospital. Some victims complained that they had not received the promised compensation. A visibly upset Gandhi expressed his unhappiness over the complaints and asked the railway officials to take immediate steps to provide compensation to the victims.

Finance ministry restricts foreign junkets, buying of new vehicles for bureaucrats

NO more buying of SX4, Ford Fiesta for Central government babus! In a strict finance ministry order dated July 11, 2011, the “purchase of vehicles including those against condemnation of the existing vehicles, will not be permitted.” The order signed by new expenditure secretary Sumit Bose however exempted operational requirements of defence forces, Central paramilitary forces and security related organizations.

The finance ministry has further put restrictions on foreign junkets and foreign study at government expenses. The order said that the higher level officers are discouraged to travel abroad, and “officers of the appropriate level dealing with the subject are sponsored.”

Here are the sets of restrictions in government’s new austerity drive meant mainly for bureaucrats.

* It would be the responsibility of the secretary of each ministry or department to ensure that foreign travel is restricted to most necessary.

* Ministries or departments would lay down quarterly ceilings based on the annual budget under foreign expenses which they may not exceed during the quarter in question.

* Where travel is unavoidable, it will be ensured that officers of the appropriate level dealing with the subject are sponsored instead of those at higher levels. The size of delegation and the duration of visit will be kept to absolute minimum.

* Proposals for participation in study tours, workshops, conferences, seminars, presentations at government costs will not be entertained except those that are fully funded by sponsoring agencies.

* There will be total ban on creation of Plan and Non-Plan posts, except for new organizations which are set up during the course of the current year based on already approved schemes.

Action and Appointments

The government has launched a drive to fill up backlog of vacancies of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs and Persons with Disabilities by March 31, 2012. Two earlier drives launched in 2008 and 2009 respectively enabled various offices to fill up about 26750 such vacancies. 

Is GK Pillai heading for Goa as Governor?

GK Pillai, a 1972 batch IAS who has just retired as Union home secretary, could be appointed as Governor of Goa. Pillai, who withdrew his candidature for the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner at the last moment, is told that he would be made the Governor either of Goa or of a North-East state, sources said.

If he is appointed as Goa governor, he would replace 82-year-old Shivinder Singh Sidhu who became Governor of Manipur in August 2004, and then Governor of Goa from July 8, 2008. Sidhu is a 1952 batch retired IAS.

Though Pillai made a section of the establishment unhappy because of his outspoken nature, he is widely seen as an honest and outstanding officer. If sources in the corridors of power are to be believed, Pillai is bound to get a post-retirement government assignment. Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, a 1973 batch IFS, will head for Washington as India’s ambassador to US after her retirement, and defence secretary Pradeep Kumar will go straight to the CVC’s office after he retires at the end of the month. Even Pillai’s wife Sudha Pillai who was a cabinet secretary contender two years ago, was made Member Secretary of Planning Commission at the rank of a minister of state after her retirement.

Action and Appointments

a) The tenure of Cabinet secretariat’s joint secretary Govind Mohan, a 1989 batch Sikkim cadre IAS, has been extended for a period of one year beyond July 8, 2011. Before joining the cabinet secretariat, Mohan was joint secretary in department of economic affairs under finance ministry handling Public Private Partnership among others.

b) VN Rai, a 1977 batch Haryana cadre IPS, presently serving as additional director general, BSF has been appointed as special director general, BSF.

c) The Central deputation tenure of Vineet Garg, a 1991 batch Haryana cadre IAS, has been extended for three months beyond May 28, 2011. He is currently a director in the ministry of shipping.

Court issues notices questioning appointments of Mayawati's key men

UP chief minister Mayawati’s additional cabinet secretary and 1979 batch UP cadre IAS Ravindra Singh received a notice from Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court questioning him under what authority he was holding the post. The bench issued notices to a few other senior officers, Navneet Sehgal (1988 batch), Durga Shankar Mishra (1984 batch) and RP Singh (1983 batch), asking them how they were posted in the CM secretariat.

The issue cropped up after a retired IAS officer SN Shukla filed a PIL arguing that some IAS officers’ appointments to the CM’s secretariat did not adhere to rules. Shukla further argued that there was no post of an additional cabinet secretary. The petitioner also named five IAS officers posted as a judicial member of the board of revenue (at the rank of commissioner or secretary) whereas he had argued only one IAS officer could be a judicial member.

Shekhar Agarwal becomes defence production secretary

Shekhar Agarwal, a 1977 batch IAS

Shekhar Agarwal, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS, has assumed charge as secretary in the department of defence production. A gold medalist from St Stephen’s college of Delhi University, Agarwal is an MSc in chemistry. He has a vast work experience in home, finance and personnel administration and has worked in all core areas of the governments both in the Centre and Uttar Pradesh. He has been in the ministry of defence for the last three and half years before assuming this new assignment.

Meanwhile, Shashi Kant Sharma, a 1976 batch Bihar cadre IAS, presently secretary, department of financial services, has been appointed as defence secretary in place of Pradeep Kumar who is becoming India’s new CVC.

Also Read

Who is Shashi Kant Sharma?

Action and Appointments

a) Madhusudan Ganapathi, a 1975 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed as secretary (west) in the headquarters of the ministry of external affairs in place of Vivek Katju who is retiring on August 31, 2011.

b) An IAS official was fined by Delhi’s traffic police for driving a private car with a blue beacon on July 3, 2011. The police impounded the beacon after collecting the fine. Media reports have quoted joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg to confirm the incident, but Garg refused to name the IAS officer.

A contractual job advertised for retired deputy secretaries

Sanskriti School, New Delhi

APPLICATIONS are being invited from retired deputy secretaries and under secretaries to Government of India for the post of Assistant Secretary to manage the day-to-day functioning of the Civil Service Society and Sanskriti school. The post will be on a contract basis.

The DoPT’s central secretariat division in a letter dated July 6, 2011 asked all ministries and departments to give wide publicity to the vacancy among under secretaries and deputy secretaries who have just retired or are about to retire soon. The names may be sent to Ms Roopa Sinha, secretary, Civil Services Society, Dr S Radhakrishnan Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi -110021 along with their CVs. The last date is July 31, 2011

Senior food ministry officials asked to undertake tours

All food ministry officers of the rank of additional secretary and joint secretary have been directed to undertake tours of states within next two to three weeks to review the status of offtake of foodgrains allocated Public Distribution System (PDS) and safe storage of the procured foodgrains.

Secretary, food, Dr BC Gupta has stated that the government was fully aware of the gravity of the situation and immediate measures were being taken to improve overall offtake and storage of foodgrains.

Who Will Go Where

a) TS Randhawa, additional secretary, will visit Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa

b) C Viswanath, joint secretary, will visit Punjab, Haryana and Delhi

c) Girish Shankar, joint secretary will undertake tour of Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal

d) T Jacob, joint secretary, will visit Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

e) Dr DK Bhalla, joint secretary, has been asked to undertake tour of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura

f) Naveen Prakash, joint secretary will visit Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan

g) Ms. Ravneet Kaur, joint secretary, will tour Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

Action and Appointments

The government has denied that NSG website has been hacked and some information on it has been stolen etc. The ministry of home affairs has denied any such incident as was reported in a section of media. “There is no indication that NSG website has been hacked. The website does not contain any sensitive data,” says a government release. 

Aamir Khan impresses women and child development babus

ACTOR Aamir Khan who is the Brand Ambassador for ministry of women and child development, had a long chat with the minister and senior officials in New Delhi on Monday. The Bollywood actor has been spreading the message of curbing malnutrition among children.

The ministry babus were quite impressed by the presentation that he and his creative team led by Prasoon Joshi put forward. The presentation was on the strategies to spearhead a campaign on arousing consciousness among people about ill effects of malnutrition and prevent children from trap of malnutrition.

Minister of state (independent charge) Krishna Tirath and secretary DK Sikri thanked Khan for this initiative.

24-hour-appointment for an IAS

Information technology secretary of Tamil Nadu Santhosh Babu was appointed as chairman of the state-run Arasu Cable TV Corporation, but within a day he was replaced with K Radhakrishnan, a cable operator from Tirupur. Radhakrishnan is AIADMK’s district youth wing secretary.

Action and Appointments

a) Hardip Singh Kingra, a 1980 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre Indian Forest Service officer, has been appointed as chairman and MD of National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation at the level of a joint secretary.

b) Ms Swarnamala Rawla, a Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS and presently additional secretary in the department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries has been appointed as secretary in the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises.

c) Manoj Kumar, a 1988 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS, has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of corporate affairs.

Pradeep Kumar as CVC: At 62, this Haryana cadre IAS set to be have busier schedule

Kumar with a few mountaineers

FOR quite sometime, 1972 batch officers have turned lucky, but defence secretary Pradeep Kumar is even luckier. He is almost 62 and is retiring as defence secretary next month. But his post-retirement job is ready, as this Haryana cadre IAS officer has been unanimously selected as India’s next Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), a post that unexpectedly lied vacant after the Supreme Court quashed 1973 batch retired IAS PJ Thomas’ controversial appointment as CVC.

Among the high profile 1972 batch officers that are still playing key roles in corridors of power include national security adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon, Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai, RBI governor D Subbarao, Planning Commission Member Secretary Sudha Pillai just to name a few.

Know Your New CVC

Name: Pradeep Kumar,

Cadre: Haryana cadre IAS

Batch: 1972

Educational Qualifications

Masters in Economics

Major Postings

a) Joint Secretary in the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises, New Delhi from September 20, 1997 to September 11, 2002

b) Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhavan, New Delhi

(From April, 10, 2003 to December 19, 2003)

c) Additional secretary, Mines and Minerals, Coal

(From December 19, 2003 to June 23, 2006)

d) Chairman, National Highways Auth of India (NHAI),

(From October 4,2006 to July 30, 2007)

e) Secretary, department of disinvestment, Ministry of Finance

(From July 30, 2007 to August 1, 2008)

f) Secretary, defence production

(From February 2, 2008 to July 2009)

g) Defence secretary

(July 31, 2009 till now)

Foreign degree

MSc in economics and social science, from UK (1986)

Vinay Mittal is new chairman, Railway Board

Vinay Mittal, a 1975 batch officer of Indian Railway Traffic Service, is the new chairman, Railway Board and ex-officio principal secretary to the Government of India. Mittal has replaced Vivek Sahai who retired on June 30, 2011. Prior to this appointment, Mittal was serving as General Manager, South Eastern Railway for nearly five months.

Mittal had earlier worked as the General Manager of North Western Railway, Additional General Manager, Central Railway, Divisional Railway Manager-Bilaspur, Chief Passenger Transportation Manager, Chief Freight Transportation Manager, Chief Commercial Manager and Chief Operations Manager of Central Railway and Executive Director, Traffic Transportation (Movement) in Railway Board.

He was a member of the Indian delegation which visited USA and China in 2005-06 in connection with wagon designs and freight operations.

He is credited with improvements in freight loading and punctuality performance in Central Railway and North Western Railway.

Action and Appointments

a) A Jayathilak, a 1991 batch Kerala cadre IAS, presently in the cadre, has been appointed as chairman, Spice Board, Kochi (Kerala) at the joint secretary level.

b) Manoj Kumar, a 1988 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of corporate affairs.

c) Ms Ravneet Kaur, a 1988 batch Punjab cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) at a joint secretary level.

d) Ms Keshni Anand Arora, a 1983 batch Haryana cadre IAS has been appointed as Deputy Director General (joint secretary level) in the regional office of Unique Identification Authority of India at Chandigarh.