Bye Bye 2014: Extra Innings of India’s Babudom

FROM Netagiri Vs Babudom to seeking government permission to change an officer’s name, India’s corridors of power witnessed many a side-story during 2014. It was the year when a railway officer turns a driver on Delhi road and Mr Peon finds a berth in BoI Most Powerful Bureaucrats list. Read on:

Life of a bureaucrat under Narendra Modi; 10 things that have changed since May 26

Modi interacting with Union secretaries (File photo)

INDIAN bureaucrats now reach office dot on time. The 9 to 5 sarkari culture is at danger! Everyone knows, there is someone in the PMO who works 24X7. Here are 10 things that have changed the way a senior bureaucrat works since Narendra Modi took over as prime minister of India on May 26, 2014.

Year End Special: Corridor’s 5 women newsmakers of 2014

Ruchira Kamboj

WHEN the preparation for Narendra Modi’s swearing-in as the 15th Prime Minister of India began, the ministry of external affairs directed one of its diplomats, Ruchira Kamboj, to take the first flight from Paris. Kamboj who had just joined as India’s permanent representative to UNESCO, was to oversee the protocol arrangements of the foreign dignitaries to be present during the oath-taking ceremony. Here are the five women bureaucrats who turned newsmakers in 2014:

Alok Kumar is new secretary CVC; Deepak Shetty appointed as DG Shipping

ON FRIDAY, the government announced a number of key appointments including the post of secretary of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and DG Shipping among others. An old hand in tourism ministry Anand Kumar has been appointed as MD of National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation.  Here are 14 such appointments:

As Assam burned with violence, chief secretary Jitesh Khosla was spotted enjoying an elephant ride in Kaziranga

A TV grab of Khosla's elephant ride (poor photo quality)

ON TUESDAY, Assam witnessed one of the worst massacres of the recent time when armed NDFB(S) militants cowardly fired upon innocent villagers in three districts, killing 78 people including women and children. On Wednesday, the state chief secretary and 1979 batch IAS Jitesh Khosla was spotted while enjoying an elephant ride in Kaziranga. As Khosla’s leisure trip amid bloodshed in the state was televised in local news channels, state chief minister Tarun Gogoi was forced to say that he did not...

Suitable officer needed as TRAI adviser in Delhi office

THE government has been looking for application for the post of Adviser in Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) for the post of Adviser on a deputation basis on foreign services contract. The vacancy is in Trai’s headquarters in Delhi. The pay scale of Trai Adviser is…

Why rumours about Rajiv Mehrishi as the next cabinet secretary sound logical

A YEAR ago, 1978 batch IAS Rajiv Mehrishi moved from Delhi to Jaipur to take charge as chief secretary of Rajasthan. He was then the secretary of a low-profile union ministry, fertiliser. His batch-mate from the same cadre Arvind Mayaram was then the all-powerful finance secretary. Mehrishi’s return journey was also prompted by the fact the he found no hope of career progression in Delhi. A year later, Mehrishi is India’s finance secretary, and if sources in the corridors are to be believed he is being groomed as…

“Make in India” or “Make for India”? DIPP secretary Amitabh Kant on RBI Guv Raghuram Rajan’s idea

Kant with a copy of "arthniti" (File pic)

A FORTNIGHT ago, an economist of global stature and RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said that Make in India’s focus on manufacturing following the Chinese model of export-led growth is not intended. He argued, the world as a whole is unlikely to be able to accommodate another export-led China. So, why not “Make for India”, Rajan argued, asking for tapping the domestic market instead. DIPP secretary Amitabh Kant who is…

Govt reiterates instructions on alteration of date of birth; names 3 conditions

THE government last week reiterated instructions about alteration of date of birth of a government servant. In fact, the date of birth declared by the government servant and accepted by the appropriate authority shall not be subject to any alteration except in rare circumstances. An alteration of date of birth of a government servant can be made with the sanction of the ministry concerned, if…

Viral Video: Who is B Chandrakala? And how this IAS pulled up officials, contractors

LAKHS of Indians on Thursday watched a video where district magistrate of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh B Chandrakala is seen shouting at officials and contractors for shoddy construction work. Chandrakala, a 2008 batch UP cadre IAS, instantly became a hero in social media as she…

Does a suspended govt official get LTC? What about pension? 10 things to know

WHAT happen when a government servant gets suspended? Currently, a number of rules such as CCS (CCA) Rules 1965, or Fundamental Rules etc. along with a number of orders constitute the basic framework of suspension rules. Should a suspended official get LTC, or leave? And what happen if he retires and then claims pension. Here are 10 things to know about suspension:

One plus one is equal to what? Better ask textiles secretary and 1980 batch IAS SK Panda

Panda (right) presenting a copy of the book to Vice-President Ansari

UNION textiles secretary and former chief secretary of Tripura Sanjay Kumar Panda is convinced that one plus one is not two but eleven, provided a positive mind-set works in tandem with team-spirit and right technology. As chief secretary of the North-eastern state of Tripura, Panda teamed up with a select bureaucrats, bankers and academics to produce a book titled, “Making One plus One Eleven- Some Innovative Experiences with Tripura”, highlighting some of the unique achievements…

More about Patna Municipal Commissioner Kuldip Narayan, his proposal of rail ticket auction, other “fuzzy thoughts”

Kuldip Narayan: "A simple person in wilderness"

THE Patna High Court on Monday stayed the suspension of 2005 batch IAS Kuldip Narayan as Patna Municipal Commissioner, giving relief to the officer known in his circle as honest and the one who took on the city’s builders lobby. Though the officer was suspended for his inability to spend allocated fund for two consecutive financial years, it was highly suspected that he became the victim of the powerful political-builders nexus. As the case is on, with the High Court asking the state government to submit papers related to the case on Tuesday, BoI here attempts to know the officer more: how he proposed auctioning of cinema and railway tickets (like spectrum) and how he openly criticised the...

Chemistry or Maths: What works in favour of cabinet secretary Ajit K Seth to remain at top?

A rare instance of media interaction

WHEN cabinet secretary Ajit K Seth got yet another 6-month-long extension a week ago, his second extension after Narendra Modi became the country’s prime minister, many in the corridors kept guessing Seth’s secret of success. After all, Modi-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has rejected a number of extension proposals of senior bureaucrats in the last six months, and many babus were prematurely repatriated to their parent cadre. Then, what this low-profile bureaucrat did that forced the new PM feel "this man is indispensable”. Those who have...

Know more about Kuldip Narayan, IAS; Is his suspension a handiwork of Patna builders’ lobby?

Kuldip Narayan

IN A late night order on Friday, Bihar government suspended chief executive officer-cum-commissioner of Patna Municipal Corporation Kuldip Narayan for his failure to utilize allotted fund meant for development of civic amenities in FY2012-13 and FY2013-14. But, as it seems apparent, this 2005 batch IAS officer known for honesty and integrity, has become a victim of all-powerful builders’ lobby in Patna. The Bihar chapter of IAS officers’ association which had earlier met chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is demanding security cover to Narayan for alleged threat on him by…

104 officers including 64 IPS, 12 IRAS and 8 IRS empanelled as joint secretaries at the Centre; Full List

ON FRIDAY, the Centre empanelled as many as 104 officers as joint secretary or equivalent. Those include 4 IAS officers of 1989 batch, 16 officers belonging to Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (8 each of 1983 and 1984 batch), 12 IRAS (Indian Railway Account Service, 1986 batch), 8 IRS-IT (1987 batch) and 64 IPS (of 1992 and 1993 batch). Full list below:

Senior officers may soon take classes in schools every Tuesday and Thursday before reaching office

DON’T get surprised if you spot a high-ranked PMO or home ministry official taking a class at a senior secondary school before reaching his office. In a new government scheme tentatively called “Interaction of officers with School Students” to be launched shortly, senior officials will be encouraged to visit a school, a Kendriya Vidyalayas or a Navo Vidayalaya, between 7 and 9 in the morning and share their perspective with the students. The scheme could be...

New JS in PMO: 10 things about Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS Anurag Jain

ON WEDNESDAY, the Centre appointed 1989 batch IAS from Madhya Pradesh cadre Anurag Jain as a joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).  Known as a confidant of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, this IIT graduate-turned-IAS is known for his IT skills. In some ways, it’s a déjà vu in PMO, as former prime minister Manmohan Singh too appointed a JS from MP, R Gopalakrishnan, who had worked as PS to former MP chief minister Digvijaya Singh. Gopalakrishnan turned out to be a highly efficient bureaucrat playing a stellar role in generating ideas and rolling out of UPA’s Bharat Nirman programme. But he died while in service. Here are 10 things you may like to know about Anurag Jain:

Happy Meal Cell, WhatsApp and young Maharashtra IAS Astik Pandey

Photo Courtesy: Pandey's Facebook

HMC is a WhatsApp group with a difference. Run by a young IAS officer and Kalwan’s sub-divisional magistrate Astik Pandey, HMC, meaning Happy Meal Cell, facilitates sharing of reports and photos on food provided to children in Ashramshalas and hostels in the sub-division under Nashik district of Maharashtra. According to a report published in…

Dance Babu Dance: Circular wants bureaucrats taking part in dance competitions to be cautious

COME January 27, civil servants working in Central government offices will gather at CSOI auditorium in New Delhi’s Vinay Marg to sing, dance and act. In fact, they will participate in inter-ministry music, dance and short play competition. But a government circular dated December 8 reminded the would-be participants that they “being government employees are subjected to the provisions of conduct rules”, and “any violations of…

5 IAS, 1 each from IRTS, IRS, IDAS get appointed as joint secretaries; railway officer given role in textiles ministry

ON SATURDAY, the appointments committee of the cabinet headed by prime minister Narendra Modi cleared decks for appointing eight officers as union joint secretaries, the key highlight being five of them are IAS, and one each from the railways, defence accounts and IRS-IT service. An Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer Madhukumar Reddy Anam was appointed as joint secretary in textile ministry, and joint secretaries of the ministries of science and technology and department of electronics were swapped. Know more about these eight appointments:

Centre Amends Conduct Rules: List of 18 new rules for civil servants to follow

THE government wants civil servants to follow 18 basic principles in their conduct. Those include defending decency and morality, maintaining political neutrality, promoting principles of merit, and maintaining courtesy and good behaviour with the public, among others. The government on November 27, 2014, notified the Central Civil Services (Conduct) (Third Amendment) Rules, 2014 whereby under new Rule 3, the civil servants are asked to…

Why Hyderabad High Court expresses displeasure over IAS officers’ attitude?

A DIVISIONAL bench of the Hyderabad High Court has expressed displeasure over the attitude of IAS officers for not implementing the court’s order. The bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sen Gupta and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar on Thursday pulled up an IAS officer named…

Who are the MPs wishing to know more about bureaucracy? And replies they received

Whither Bureaucracy? Civil servants cleaning a lawn

MORE and more Members of Parliament, most of whom belonging to the ruling BJP, want to know more about bureaucracy. If questions asked in Lok Sabha are any indication, those MPs, many of whom are first-timers, want to know whether IAS, IPS or IRS officers have resigned to join private sector, or whether the government changed the formats in which civil servants need to submit their assets and liabilities post Lokpal Act. Here are 5 such MPs, their questions and what replies they had received from the government:

Midnight Announcement: Bihar cadre IPS Anil Kumar Sinha named as new CBI director; 10 Things

IN A mid-night announcement, CBI’s special director and 1979 batch Bihar cadre IPS officer Anil Kumar Sinha was named as the new Director of CBI in place of Ranjit Sinha who completed his tenure on Tuesday. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Anil Kumar Sinha’s name after a panel comprising PM Modi, Chief Justice of India and leader of the main opposition party in Lok Sabha sat down to select the new CBI head. Here are 10 things about this high-profile appointment:

Centre gives nod for travel by private airlines to Kashmir while availing LTC

THE Centre has allowed the government employees to travel by private airlines to Jammu and Kashmir while availing Leave Travel Concession (LTC). In fact, the decision was taken by the new government on September 26, 2014 which was stated by an office memorandum only recently. The government changed the Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 to relax the earlier norms and allow government servants to travel by private airlines provided…

5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2014: Top slot remains vacant; Doval and "Mishra Square" play key roles

PM Modi with Australian dancers in Sydney. (File photo)

BoI Power List 2014 is finally out. And after considering the views of about 50 people who understand the nuances of changing equation of corridors of power and incorporating Babus of India’s editorial inputs, here are five most powerful bureaucrats under Narendra Modi regime: