Happy New Year, 2013: 5 things you may expect in corridors of power

NOTHING is predictable in today’s corridors of power. Maybe, the regular appointments of the empaneled officials could be the only exception. Yet, BoI presents 5 things that you may expect in corridors of power during the New Year, 2013.

RIP “Nirbhaya”: Bureaucrats express solidarity, lend voices on policing, mentality change

Protests in Delhi (File photo)

FROM “quick and sensitive policing” to suggestions on “national flag flown at half mast” Indian bureaucrats have resorted to social media to lend their voices on Delhi gang-rape case. As the news of Delhi gang-rape victim Nirbhaya’s death in a Singapore hospital shocked the nation on Saturday early morning, here are some voices of Indian bureaucrats:

A vacancy at WTO office in Geneva for an Indian government officer to grab

ARE you an Indian government officer willing to become a Pravasi Bharatiya, that too in Switzerland, for three years? If yes, this is for you. The government has proposed to fill up the post of Counsellor (Services) in Permanent Mission of India, WTO, for a three-year-term. The post is equivalent to a…

Wass Up 2013: Read the mind of a young woman DM posted in an UP district

Cleopatra: A painting by IAS Shubhra Saxena

BORED with gossips in the corridors, or doses of bureaucracy-bashing? As we are getting closer to the New Year, hopefully lucky 13, here is the tale of a young woman IAS, who was recently welcomed at Uttar Pradesh’s Shravasti district with slogans “ziladhikari Shravasti zindabad”. And this is how this 2009 batch IAS introduces herself in her blog post: “Hi I am...

Why CM's secretary must not sign for CM, IPS Amitabh Thakur moves court

DURING Mayawati’s reign as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, her secretary Vijay Singh, an IPS officer, signed on documents with comments that CM approves the matter. Current CM Akhilesh Yadav from Samajwadi Party is also continuing the same practice where his secretary Anita Singh, an IAS officer of 1990 batch, signs on files in his name, alleges 1992 batch IPS officer...

Can govt prevent crimes like Delhi rape; FAQs on sexual harassment in offices

THE recent horrific gang rape in Delhi is a reflection of how women are being treated in our families and in society, say experts. Home secretary RK Singh’s spirited press conference on Friday is a welcome step, but can government alone bring a solution to this deep-rooted menace? The reality is, the cases of sexual harassment within government offices are often spotted, complained and investigated. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers on sexual harassment of women in government offices:

Like to buy a grey T-shirt? LBSNAA displays products on its website

WANT to buy a navy blue pullover or a grey T-shirt where “LBSNAA” is prominently displayed? Merchandise products including apparel and memorabilia of India’s apex training institute for senior civil servants is now on sale through its…

LIST-II: Rajiv Takru, EK Bharat Bhushan empanelled as secretaries, finally

Rajiv Takru

TWO high profile IAS officers of 1979 batch, Kerala cadre EK Bharat Bhushan and Gujarat cadre Rajiv Takru whose names were missing in the first round of secretary empanellment in mid-November, are finally empanelled as secretaries. Whereas Takru acted as CEO of Prasar Bharati, it was EK Bharat Bhushan whose tenure as DGCA was snapped allegedly for…

IFS-IPS combo at driver’s seat: IB chief Nehchal Sandhu is new Dy NSA

Nehchal Sandhu (R) with his would-be boss Menon (File photo)

BIHAR cadre IPS officer and current director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Nehchal Sandhu will be the next deputy National Security Adviser in place of Vijaya Latha Reddy, a 1975 batch IFS officer who is completing her term in March next year. Traditionally dominated by IFS officers, except during veteran police officer…

How to be a good officer? MP chief minister Chouhan quotes Gita

MADHYA Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan quoted Shlokas from the Gita last week to narrate the qualities a good administrative officer should possess. Chouhan addressed the annual service meet of MP IAS officers’ association which was held between December 14 and 16, 2012. Here are the qualities of a good administrative officer, as elaborated by the CM:

Whistle Blowers Killed: Govt explains why it does not know the exact number

THE government says it has no record on how many whistle blowers were killed so far, and who they are. The reason? According to a resolution adopted by department of personnel and training (DoPT) on April 21, 2004, the identity of whistle blowers is…

Should corrupt IAS be punished more than the rest? A CBI judgement alludes

WHILE giving a five-year jail term to a 1971 batch AGMU cadre former IAS S Malaichamy, CBI special court made a few observations about Indian Administrative Service in its 241-page judgement. Here are a few excerpts which indicate why the special judge thinks IAS officers, if found guilty, need to be punished a little more than those in other services:

Headless Departments: ITBP joins government’s temporary arrangement list

THE adhoc appointment of Dr Mahboob Alam, a 1981 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IPS, as director general of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is the latest in the series of government’s temporary arrangements for heading departments and organizations. The only exception was the reversal of the government’s own order of a temporary arrangement for the post of…

New twist to Rajasthan IAS VS Singh’s death; police to probe afresh

WHEN additional chief secretary-ranked IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre VS Singh died in a road accident in Jaipur a week ago, police did not even doubt it could be more than a mere accident. But the statement of deputy commissioner (commercial tax department) Vijendra Singh who was with VS Singh, and in coma since then, contradicted what the driver of the speeding Maruti Alto car said, forcing the police to begin the probe from the scratch. Here is the twist of the tale:

Job for a retired babu; young graduates needed at Rashtrapati Bhavan

HAVE you spent your entire career in government? Why not yet another year? The government is looking for a retired deputy secretary or director level officer to be recruited as a consultant for six months, which is extendable for one year. Or, if you are a young graduate student from a reputed journalism school, or from a leading university specializing in law, literature, political science and history, here is a chance to work...

How CAG Vinod Rai is of some help to the UPA government in Court

1972 BATCH retired IAS and Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai might have given sleepless nights to the government umpteen times, but Rai is of some help to the UPA government when its Attorney General GE Vahanwati dismissed an argument in Supreme Court that “loyal” bureaucrats are being appointed as information commissioners. The government’s top law officer referred to Rai’s example when...

Private sector honchos can apply for the post of Member, PESB

WILL CEO of a top private sector company apply for the post of Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), a body responsible for selection of PSUs’ top management? The government, while looking for a new Member who enjoys the same salary of a Union government secretary, says in its circular dated December 5, 2012:

Xi Jinping regime frames dos and don'ts of behavior for Chinese bureaucrats

THE Western media has highlighted dos and don’ts of behaviour for Chinese bureaucrats which were recently framed by China’s new regime under new leader Xi Jinping. Here are some:

Rajasthan cadre IAS VS Singh killed in a mishap in Jaipur city

ADDITIONAL chief secretary-ranked IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre VS Singh was killed on Monday when a speeding Alto car hit him near central park in Jaipur. The 1978 batch IAS who was the batch-mate of economic affairs secretary Arvind Mayaram and agriculture secretary Ashish Bahuguna, was returning…

Making of a Diplomat: Ex-envoy Prem K Budhwar’s book dispels myths

ARE diplomats a clan that begins its mornings with English breakfast and ends its day with lavish cocktail dinners? An interesting book titled “Making of a Diplomat - Hone your skills” authored by ex-Indian high commissioner to Canada Prem K Budhwar, makes an attempt to…