M Ramachandran who narrowly missed the cabinet secretary’s post writes his memoir: The Mavericks of Mussoorie

1972 BATCH retired IAS and former union urban development secretary M Ramachandran, who had narrowly missed post of cabinet secretary, has come out with his memoir, “The Mavericks of Mussoorie” where he opens up on how and why the country’s top bureaucrat’s post eluded him. As the district magistrate of Rae Bareli in 1980s, he personally knew successive Prime Ministers -- Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, but the bureaucrat missed the bus during the UPA period itself…

Ayodhya Revisited— a new book by former IPS Kishore Kunal claims “Ram temple” was not destroyed by Babur

NOW a former IPS officer Kishore Kunal has come out with a 824-page book —Ayodhya Revisited, and also a new theory — Ram temple of Ayodhya was destroyed during Aurangzeb’s time, and not by Babur as was believed earlier. The new book on Ayodhya written by this 1972 batch Gujarat cadre former IPS (incidentally a batch mate of cop-turned politician Kiran Bedi), has been published at a time when major political parties are gearing up for…

This retired IAS narrates Tamil Nadu’s Make in India; 5 observations

Sitharam Gurumurthi is a 1972 batch Tamil Nadu cadre retired IAS who was closely associated with the loan negotiations with the IMF during 1991-92 when India had faced a serious balance of payments crisis. In fact, Gurumurthi was then a staff member with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC (1989-92). In a recent article published in a business daily, The Hindu Business Line, Gurumurthi talks about Tamil Nadu’s Make in India which has primarily been driven by its thriving automobile industry. Here are 5 observations of the retired IAS, among others, about the Chennai chapter of Make in India:

Will two ex-IAS officers be able to ring-fence MCX and MCX-SX from Jignesh Shah and Rs 5,600 crore-NSEL fiasco?

Pillai (top) and Mishra

WILL two highly efficient retired IAS officers, former chief information commissioner Satyananda Mishra and former home and commerce secretary GK Pillai, be able to keep the batting Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) and MCX Stock Exchange Limited (MCX-SX), at an arm’s length of Financial Technologies group founder Jignesh Shah and Rs 5,600 crore-NSEL scam? Mishra, a...

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...

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)

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao strongly defends GK Pillai on ISI remark

INDIA’s home secretary GK Pillai’s remark on ISI’s role in Mumbai attack was strongly defended by foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, a 1973 batch IFS saying that it was “perfectly within his rights” to state the Indian position. Mr Pillai, a 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS, came under a controversy after Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pillai was making negative comments and even equated him with Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed. And all that took place in a press conference when India’s foreign minister SM Krishna was present there, but did not react to Qureshi’s attack on Pillai.
Back in India, minister Krishna supported Pillai. Also, Ms Rao said there were a “huge number” of journalists in the controversy and in that noise EAM (external affairs minister) did not react.

Both the Congress and the BJP have condemned Qureshi’s remarks on home secretary Pillai. Significantly, Pillai went to Pakistan only last month and held secretary level talks with his Pakistani counterpart.

ALSO READ

GK Pillai's straight talk on NE, SEZ and Maoism

Imagine secretary Pillai being debarred from briefing press!

Numerological influence for 1972 batch IAS?

Action and Appointments

a) The competent authority has approved that AC Padhi, CMD, NSFDC may be allowed to hold additional charge of the post of CMD, NHFDC in addition to his own charge for a period of three months with effect from May 14, 2010.

b) The ACC has approved the extension of tenure of Sanjay Sinha, a 1978 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IPS as minister (personnel and community affairs) in the embassy of India, Washington for a period beyond June 30, 2010 till his successor is appointed.

c) DD Padsalikar, a 1982 batch Maharashtra cadre IPS has been appointed as minister (personnel and community affairs) in the embassy of India, Washington (joint secretary level).

d) Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, a 1990 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS, presently working as director in the department of rural development has been promoted to the rank of joint secretary in the same department.

BoI Extraa…

Gateman honoured for averting a rail accident

K Madhu, a newly recruited gateman was honoured by M.S Jayanth, General Manager, South Central Railway for exhibiting his presence of mind and alertness to avert a major rail disaster near Secunderabad on July 15, 2010. The General Manager presented an award of Rs 5000 to the employee. 

Cabinet secretary contender M Ramachandran could be made Election Commissioner of India

URBAN development secretary and 1972 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS, M Ramachandran, who missed the bus to become the country’s top bureaucrat, may now be considered for the post of Election Commissioner that will be vacant after Chief Election Commission and 1969 batch retired IAS Navin Chawla retires in July this year, and Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi, a 1971 batch retired IAS, possibly takes over as CEC, a person close to the development said.

In fact, the second one-year extension of current cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar dashed the hopes of all 1972 and 1973 batch IAS officers to grab the top bureaucrat’s post, and leading the pack was none other than Dr Ramachandran. Though no one questions the efficiency and integrity of Mr Chandrasekhar, there has been a general discontentment and tension among top IAS officers about the trend set by Mr Chandrasekhar’s four-year term for a post that by rules has a two-year-long tenure.

However, if Mr Ramachandran who retires in the end of this month, gets the post of Election Commissioner, he will have almost a five-year term, apart from having a chance of becoming the Chief Election Commissioner at a later stage. The Election Commissioners including the Chief Election Commissioner retire at the age of 65.

Also, there are speculations that another 1972 batch IAS and tourism secretary, Sujit Banerjee, could get an extension till the Commonwealth Games are over. Mr Banerjee retires in July this year.

Retired CBDT and CBEC Members included in Nilekani-led Advisory Group

The Technical Advisory Group for Unique Projects (TAGUP), under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani, will have SS Khan, former member, CBDT and PRV Ramanan, former member, CBEC as its members. The other members will be CB Bhave, chairman SEBI, R Chandrasekhar, secretary, department of IT, Dhirendra Swarup, former chairman PFRDA and Dr Nachiket Mor, president, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth.

Action and Appointments

a) The extension of tenure of VK Sadhu, a 1976 batch CSS and Principal Commissioner (joint secretary level), of Delhi Development Authority upto December 31, 2011, has been approved.

b) The ACC has not approved the proposal for the appointment of Raghava Chandra, a 1982 batch MP cadre IAS as joint secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), in place of Kumar Sanjay Krishna, a 1985 batch Assam cadre IAS who is now a principal secretary in the cadre.

c) The proposal of the ministry of defence for extension of Central deputation tenure of T Ramachandru, a 1984 batch Orissa cadre IAS for a period of three months upto September 12, 2010, has been approved.

d) Arun Kumar Bal, a 1986 batch West Bengal cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of defence.

1972 batch bureaucrats continue to take the centre-stage of India’s power corridors

IN January this year, babusofindia.com (BoI) presented the rise of 1972 batch officers with a tagline of “Numerological Influence” after bureaucrats of that batch continuously scripted success stories in grabbing key government posts including national security adviser (NSA), RBI Governor, home and defence secretaries and Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) just to name a few.

Now, with Sudha Pillai (In Picture) of 1972 batch becoming Member Secretary of Planning Commission with a rank of a Minister of State post retirement, and urban development secretary and her batch-mate M Ramachandran emerging as the top contender for the cabinet secretary’s post that will be vacant next month, it may not just be numerological influence, but sheer indispensability of some bureaucrats for whom retirement age of 60 is strictly not applicable.

But the bigger question here is what makes some officers so indispensable in the government that Prime Minister and his spin doctors don’t want them to lose whereas hundreds of other bureaucrats simply retire and go into oblivion. Ms Pillai, who has already made a mark in social sectors, first as labour secretary and then as Planning Commission secretary, there is no surprise in the decision of the top brass of the government to keep her engaged even after retirement.

Or for that matter, RBI Governor and the topper of 1972 batch Duvvuri Subbarao is unlikely to be out of action even after his tenure in the central bank ends. If the earlier trends continue, GK Pillai who is now on a two-year fixed term as home secretary, could emerge as strong contenders for gubernatorial positions in any North-East state!

High Five

Wish to see a photograph of five young and stylish IAS officers of 1972 batch during their Army attachment period? Just click at this PUBLICLY AVAILABLE LINK, then scroll it down to the eighth black and white picture. One in the middle with spectacles and tight trouser is home secretary GK Pillai (husband of Sudha Pillai) who is flanked by former agriculture secretary T Nanda Kumar, urban development secretary M Ramachandran, and former Maharashtra chief secretary Johny Joseph. 

94 IAS officers get clearance for exposure tour to USA; visit scheduled for May 15 to 29

THE two-week exposure visit to US organized in collaboration with Duke University for mid-career IAS, which was put on hold thanks to the health ministry travel advisory in the wake of H1N1 threat, is now re-scheduled for May 15 to 29, 2010. In fact, a mid-career officer cannot be said to have technically completed the mandatory training in terms of IAS (Pay) Rules without undergoing this programme.

As many as 94 IAS officers belonging to 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 batches who participated the first part of the programme in June-August, 2009 at Mussoorie, will be eligible to undertake the course in US. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) in an office memo dated February 1, 2010, gave the clearance saying that it has no objection to the US visit of 94 Indian officers “from political angle”.

The two-week exposure visit to Duke University, USA, is designed to provide officers with a global perspective and exposure to international best practices.

List of 94 participating IAS

Zero rupee notes to greet bureaucrats

A social organization has been campaigning among people to hand over specially designed Rs 0 notes bearing the image of Mahatma Gandhi to corrupt officials if they ask for bribes. The notes printed by Fifth Pillar look like Rs 50 bank notes though it is filled with inscriptions like “Eliminate corruption at all levels” and a pledge “I promise to neither accept nor give bribe”.

The concept is believed to be working in reducing corruption. “Next time someone asks you for a bribe, just take your country’s zero currency note and hand it to them. This will let the other person know that you refuse to give or take any money in order to perform services required by law or to give or take money to do something illegal,” Fifth Pillar campaigners say.

Also Read 

Tinoo and Arvind Joshi's date with Delhi's key ministries

Dr Singh's prescription to check corruption

US companies bribing Indian civil servants 

My Take on European bureaucrats

RS Pandey appointed interlocutor for NSCN (I-M) talks

Raghav Sharan Pandey, a 1972 batch Nagaland cadre IAS who has recently retired as petroleum secretary, has been appointed as interlocutor and representative of the Government of India to hold talks with Naga underground outfit NSCN (IM). Mr Pandey is a batch-mate of home secretary GK Pillai. He had also served as additional secretary in the ministry of agriculture and secretary in steel and heavy industries ministries. Mr Pandey attended a one-year long course on poverty alleviation from the University of Sussex, UK (1985) and a 4-week-long course on disability and rehabilitation form an US university (1987)

Chief secretaries to meet on Monday to deliberate issues on security, technology, global challenges and opportunities

CHIEF secretaries of all Indian states and Union Territories are landing up in New Delhi to attend the first annual conference of chief secretaries, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday. The two day conference, which is aimed at institutionalizing the process of interaction with states and Union Territories, will act as a standing forum for exchange of views between the Centre and the states and provide an occasion for interaction on internal matters, a government release said.

The conference, which is organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, will deliberate upon the latest trend in technology, emerging global challenges and opportunities and key security concerns to name a few. Global developments that have a bearing on the country would also figure prominently during the conference.

The conference will also be attended by the minister of state for Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions Prithviraj Chavan, cabinet secretary KM Chandrashekhar, in addition of various Government of India secretaries.

Action and Appointments

a) S Sundareshan, a 1976 batch Kerala cadre IAS, assumed charge as new petroleum secretary on Sunday. Mr Sundareshan took charge from RS Pandey, a 1972 batch Nagaland cadre IAS, who demitted office on superannuation. (See Picture: Sundareshan (right) with outgoing secretary Pandey).

BIO-DATA of S Sundareshan

b) Kumar Sanjay Krishna, a 1985 batch Assam cadre IAS, has assumed charge in the cadre as Assam’s principal secretary of planning and development. Mr Krishna served as a joint secretary, first in the PMO and then in the DEA under the ministry of finance.

Numerological Influence? 1972 batch bureaucrats continue to grab key posts from RBI Governor, NSA, Home and Defence secretaries...

CALL it sheer talent or influence of numerological calculation, 1972 batch bureaucrats have continuously scripted success stories in occupying key government posts. With Shiv Shankar Menon, a 1972 batch retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer getting picked up for the coveted post of national security adviser (NSA) in place of MK Narayanan, and the next cabinet secretary in all probability is going to be a 1972 batch IAS, the journey of the men of that batch in securing important posts may continue for sometime more.

In fact, 1972 batch civil service topper and former finance secretary Dr D Subbarao of Andhra Pradesh cadre was already appointed as 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 are India’s home and defence secretaries respectively for a period of two years.

As two of the senior IAS of 1972 batch will continue as secretaries in two of the most important ministries, home and defence, the government is unlikely to spring a surprise and appoint someone from 1973 batch (finance secretary Ashok Chawla is a contender) as the next cabinet secretary when current incumbent KM Chandrasekhar, a 1970 batch Kerala cadre IAS, is retiring in mid-June this year. Urban development secretary M Ramachandran, a 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS is the top contender so far, but there is a rumour doing the rounds that the appointment for the next cabinet secretary could be advanced by a fortnight so as to facilitate Planning Commission secretary and 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS Sudha Pillai becoming the India’s first woman cabinet secretary. Ms Pillai is retiring on May 31, 2010, but once appointed, she would get a fixed tenure of two years.

There are a few other officers of the batch including Central Information Commissioner and former Information and Broadcasting secretary Sushma Singh, who have managed decent post-retirement postings. Interestingly, the only high profile officer of 1972 batch who has not secured any key post so far is former IPS Kiran Bedi.

Read: Sudha Pillai still a contender for cabinet secretary's post

In Pictures: Menon (top) and Subbarao taking charge as foreign secretary and RBI Guv respectively 

Action and Appointments

a) AK Mangotra, a 1978 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS and presently additional secretary and financial adviser in the department of food and public distribution has been appointed as additional secretary in the department of commerce in place of R Gopalan, a 1976 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS.

b) Desh Deepak Verma, a 1978 batch UP cadre IAS and presently in the cadre, has been appointed as additional secretary and financial adviser in the department of food and public distribution.

c) The proposal of the department of AYUSH for the extension of Central deputation tenure of B Anand, a 1987 bacth Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, as Joint Secretary in that department beyond January 30, 2010 has been rejected.

d) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the period of overstay of AK Dubey, a 1982 batch Kerala cadre IAS, for the period from April 19, 2008 to March 4, 2009, while on deputation to Delhi University as Registrar, as a deputation under Rule 6 (1) of the IAS (cadre) Rules 1954 (deputation under Non-Central Staffing Scheme) on ex-post facto basis.

There is a little bit of RTI in everybody’s life now; Chief Justice of India comes under the Act

IN YET another step towards openness and transparency in power corridors, the Delhi High Court said on Tuesday that the judiciary including the Chief Justice of India, would come under the purview of the Right to Information Act (RTI). Significantly, Indian bureaucrats have so far considered RTI as a deadly weapon to end the era of official secrecy.
A special three-judge Bench, led by Delhi High Court Chief Justice AP Shah, said that democracy expects openness and openness is concomitant of free society. “Wielders of power—legislative, executive and judicial—are entrusted to perform their functions on condition that they account for their stewardship to the people who authorise them to exercise such power,” the Bench said. Justices Vikramjit Sen and S Muralidhar are the other tow judges in the bench. The verdict has been widely hailed by legal experts across the country, some even terming it a very historic judgment which will enhance the stature of judiciary in the country.
Read:
RTI Regime: Prez Patil hopes bureaucracy to shed image of red-tapism
Government should create RTI implementation cell: Study
RTI finds number of free tickets doled out to Air India CMD's family
DoPT's online course on RTI
Disclosure of file notings by bureaucrats

Babudom over Netagiri
SSP Yadav, a 1972 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre and vice-chairman and MD of the state-owned road transport corporation hiked bus fares last week without even consulting the political masters forcing Andhra Pradesh transport minister saying that he was “shocked” by Yadav not consulting him or the chief minister before taking such an important decision. Mr Yadav had earlier lost his prestigious assignment of the state’s director-general of police (DGP) after the helicopter crash death of then chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy in September, 2009. He was then made vice chairman and MD of the state transport corporation.
Though Mr Yadav took the politically sensitive decision of hiking the fare by almost 21% citing the mounting losses of the corporation in the wake of Telangana agitation, it was in reality an unprecedented case of Babudom over Netagiri.

Inter-ministry wrestling to have 120-kg category too
If you are a fat government official with a weight upto 120 kg, you can still try your luck in an inter-ministry wrestling competition beginning in New Delhi from February 4, 2010. There are seven weight categories starting with 55 kg and going upto 120 kg.
According to a government circular issued to all welfare officers of the ministry, those who wish to participate in the inter-ministry wrestling tournament are being requested to send their entries in the prescribed proforma to the Central Civil Services Cultural and Sports Board in New Delhi’s Lok Nayak Bhawan, on or before February 3, 2010. But there will be no competition if there are less than five competitors in any category.
Read the CIRCULAR, dated January 8, 2010

Sudha Pillai is still a contender to be India’s next cabinet secretary. But how?

SUDHA Pillai, Planning Commission secretary and 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS, is back in the race for the next cabinet secretary’s post in place of KM Chandrasekhar who is retiring on June 13 this year. And if the sources in power corridors turn true, it also means an early retirement, or getting a better assignment for the present incumbent.
The calculation works like this. Ms Pillai, who was born on May 1, 1950 will retire on May 31, 2010 which means she ceases to be a contender for the top bureaucrat’s post by just 13 days. According to the rules, no retired bureaucrat can be considered for cabinet secretary’s post, but once someone is in, he or she would get a fixed tenure of two years if not more.
If the sources are right, the appointment for the next cabinet secretary could be done in May itself making Ms Pillai eligible for the top bureaucrat’s post, and creating a history in Independent India to have women both as a cabinet secretary and a foreign secretary. Already, Nirupama Rao, a woman IFS from 1973 batch, is the country’s foreign secretary or the top diplomat.
However, it’s a pure discretion of the Prime Minister to have his own cabinet secretary and there are instances in which PM did not necessarily pick up the senior most candidate, and preferred someone who he thought would do the best. Though there was a buzz earlier that finance secretary Ashok Chawla, 1973 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, is also a contender for the cabinet secretary, his name is virtually ruled out now because two senior secretaries of 1972 batch --- home secretary GK Pillai and defence secretary Pradeep Kumar --- who are on fixed tenure of two years are unlikely to be subjected to a junior IAS as cabinet secretary. GK Pillai who was the second most senior bureaucrat of 1972 batch in merit-cum-seniority list after his wife Sudha Pillai, cannot be a contender for the cabinet secretary’s post now as Mr Pillai who turned 60 on November 30, 2009, is on an extended posting.
That means, only two other government of India secretaries, urban development secretary M Ramachandran and tourism secretary Sujit Banerjee, both 1972 batch officers have remained in the reckoning, out of which Mr Banerjee is not considered to be even a contender for the post.
So, the battleground is drawn. Either Sudha Pillai by virtue of an early appointment or M Ramachandran will be the country’s next cabinet secretary.
Also Read:
a) Pati, Patni and Post: It's Pillai vs. Pillai for cabinet secretary (May 11, 2009)
b) Chandrasekhar gets extension; Ramachandran and Chawla to be key contenders now (June 2, 2009)

Will UPA extend retirement age of Indian government employees to 62 years in 2010?

WILL the year 2010 see Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's government raising the retirement age of government employees to 62, benefiting over one lakh employees posted around the country? Though there was a serious deliberation within the government last year to raise the retirement age by two years from the current 60 years, finally it did not materialise. There were even speculations that the move would be formally announced during Prime Minister's speech to the nation during the Independence Day.
If insiderers in at least two important Indian government ministries are to be believed, the Centre has not really discarded the move altogether, and the announcement could come sometime during the current UPA regime, and it could be as early as 2010 though it makes more political sense to announce it three years from now possibly in an election year. But economically speaking, the government with a large fiscal deficit, could lessen the burden by raising the retirement age as it may save more money by not paying the retirement benefits such as gratuity etc. for two years though the government's salary budget would immediately be inflated.
However, such an important decision would not be taken purely on economic considerations. Yet, the proposal is still being considered for two reasons. First, it may earn goodwill from about one lakh government employees and their families who comprise an important contituent in any election. Secondly, raising the retirement age is a continuous process and the UPA may like to go down in the history as a catalyst to this process. In fact, the age of superannuation was increased from 55 to 58 following the 1962 war with China during Jawaharlal Nehru’s time. Then the BJP-led NDA governmnent under Atal Bihari Vajpayee raised it further to 60 in 1998.
Significantly, many civil servants at the top get either extension or post-retirement full-time assignments and virtually work till 62. In some cases, the retirement age is much beyond 62. Secretary in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and 1972 batch Bihar cadre IAS M N Prasad, for example, is already officially retired and is continuing in the PMO on a contract basis. Similarly, cabinet, home and defence secretaries get two-year fixed tennure, implying that they generally work till almost 62. There are instances where the government gives further extension to an officer's extended period. Cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar, a 1970 batch IAS, had completed his two-year tennure as cabinet secretary in June, 2009, but got one year’s extension.
Two bureuaucrats who are much older than the rest are 1958 batch IPS and national security adviser MK Narayanan, and principal secretary to Prime Minister and 1963 batch IAS TKA Nair --- both of whom have a rank of a minister of state.

Sudesh Kumar takes over as Member (Electrical) in Railway Board

INDIAN Railway officer of 1972 batch Sudesh Kumar has taken over as Member (Electrical), Railway Board in ministry of railways. Engineering Graduate of IIT, Khadagpur and India Railway electrical engineering service officer, Mr Sudesh took charge of new office on October 8, 2009. He was now posted as General Manager, North Central Railways with headquaters at Allahabad. During his long career in the India Railways, Mr Kumar has served at important positions which include Chief Electrical Engineer South- Central Railways, Divisional Railway Manager Asansol, Additional Member (Electrical). Mr Kumar has undertaken tours to England, South Africa and Switzerland for enriching professional & technical knowledge, a release said.

You can apply for public policy course at MDI till Oct 26 The last date of application for the 4th Post Graduate Diploma Programme in public policy and management in 2009-2011at Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon has been extended till October 26, 2009. A circular from the DoPT has been marked to all chief secretaries of states and Union Territories and secretaries to government of India. Earlier, the last date of application for this training programme, meant for Indian officers, was October 12. DoPT circular on extension of last date

PM continues to retain key officers to bring in continuity; now joint secretaries in PMO get extension

IT SEEMS India’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has made it very clear that continuity of key officers in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is indispensable to effectively execute government’s major action plans during the second innings of the current UPA government. If joint secretary in PMO R Gopalakrishnan’s extension of tenure till June 30, 2011 after the extension of tenure of joint secretary Ms Vini Mahajan and secretary in PMO M N Prasad is any indication, the continuity of key civil servants seems to be a norm in South Block which houses India’s Prime Minister’s Office. Mr Gopalakrishnan, who was overseeing the Bharat Nirman programme in the PMO from the time of its inception, is a 1979 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS. He first got an extension upto September 30 before the term was further extended till June, 2011. Recently, another joint secretary and 1987 batch Punjab cadre IAS Vini Mahajan’s tenure was extended till April 29, 2011. Earlier, Prime Minister decided to retain secretary in PMO and 1972 batch Bihar cadre IAS M N Prasad on a contract basis even after his retirement. No wonder, after Dr Singh assumed office for the second time in May this year, he retained national security adviser MK Narayanan and principal secretary TKA Nair in the same posts with a rank of a minister of state. Also, cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar who would have retired in June, 2009, was also given one year’s extension.

Babus In Demand The ministry of home affairs (MHA) in its report card for September said that newly set up National Investigative Agency continues to recruit more officers to strengthen it. In order to fill Group A and Group B posts immediately, a one-time special recruitment process was approved in consultation with the UPSC. A 1975 batch IPS, Radha Vinod Raju, heads the Agency as its Director General.

Action & Appointments a) Air Marshal Ajay Shriniwas Karnik would take over as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), of one of the senior most operational commands of the Indian Air Force on October 1, 2009. A Fighter Combat Leader and a Qualified Flying Instructor, he is an alumni of Air War College, University of USAF, Montgomery, USA. b) Lt Gen AS Lamba took over as GOC-in-C Army Training Command, Shimla. The Officer has a vast experience of conventional warfare and unconventional Counter Insurgency operations and had participated in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War and served in Nagaland, Manipur, and also in Sri Lanka with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). c) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the placement of Anil Bhushan Prasad, a 1976 batch Bihar cadre IAS on compulsory wait in the department of administrative reforms & public grievances in the rank and pay of additional secretary during the period from June1, 2009 to July 23, 2009.

Power corridors witness an action-packed month-end as many race for key secretary posts

IT WILL be an action–packed month-end in Indian power corridors as 15 senior bureaucrats at the level of secretary, being posted at the Centre and states, will retire on September 30, allowing many others compete for key positions. Among those who are retiring this months include health secretary and 1972 batch UP cadre IAS Naresh Dayal, telecom secretary and 1973 batch UP cadre IAS Siddhartha Behura, secretary of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) and 1974 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS Jarnail Singh to name a few. Amongst the high-profile ones retiring at the state level are chief secretary of Punjab and 1974 batch Punjab cadre IAS Ramesh Inder Singh and chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh and 1973 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS P Ramakanth Reddy. According to media reports, Ajit Kumar Seth, secretary, planning & coordination in the Cabinet Secretariat, Atul Chaturvedi of department of fertilisers, Anil Kumar of department of women and child development, and parliamentary affairs secretary P J Thomas are vying for telecom secretary’s post. Both the health and telecom secretary’s posts are quite significant in the backdrop of intervention related to swine flue and imminent auction of 3G spectrum for third generation mobile telephony. Telecom secretary Behura is tipped to be the chairman of C-DoT Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre which is a joint venture initiative between India’s telecom department and French company Alcatel-Lucent.

Justice Sinha is top contender to become TDSAT chairman Justice S B Sinha, former judge of the Supreme Court is tipped to become the next chairman of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Appointment Committee of Cabinet (ACC) is taking a call on his name. Incumbent Justice Arun Kumar has already retired. Justice Sinha could be given a two-year term. According to reports, steel secretary P K Rastogi’s name has also been referred before ACC for the post of administrative member.

LEG SPACE: Govt's austerity measures may make bureaucrats' lives miserable

THE government’s austerity measures have not only stripped off the luxury stay of external affairs minister S M Krishna and his junior minister Shashi Tharoor in Delhi’s five star hotels, but in fact will impact day-to-day lives of Indian bureaucrats too. babu blogger here makes an attempt to decipher fallouts of the office memo issued by expenditure secretary Sushama Nath, on lives of Indian babus.

Memo Says: In view of the current fiscal situation and that arising out of insufficient rain in large parts of the country, and the consequent pressure on government’s resources, there is need for further economy and rationalization of expenditure… It Means: Drought is a passionate subject and no bureaucrat in India will dare to lobby against the move. So, just accept it in the same way your private sector friends have come to terms with their salary cuts in the wake of global financial tsunami.

Memo Says: For the year 2009-10, every ministry/department shall effect a mandatory 10% cut in non-Plan expenditure under the heads: Domestic and foreign travel expenses, publications, professional services, advertising and publicity, office expenses, administrative expenses etc. It Means: You need to be “tight” virtually in every act of expenditure. Forget foreign junkets for a moment!

Memo Says: There will be a complete ban on holding of meetings and conferences at five star hotels. A 10% cut on the budgetary allocation for seminars and conferences shall be effected. It Means: Forget the luxury of attending seminars in comfort zones of five star environment. Try to adapt to old public hall culture.

Memo Says: No travel on government account by air will take place by first class. All domestic travel on government account by air will take place only by economy class, irrespective of the entitlement. It Means: This is the second shock in a row as you just forgot the luxury of Jet and Kingfishers’ business class trips thanks to mandatory air travel now only by Air India. Now, you can’t fly business class in Air India too!

Memo Says: The size of delegation and the duration of visit will be kept to the absolute minimum. It Means: Many low-rung officers will miss good tours and excellent hospitality breaking the monotony of 9 to 5 lifestyle.

Memo Says: Proposals for participation in study tours, workshops/conferences/ seminars/presentation of papers abroad at government cost will not be entertained except those that are fully funded by sponsoring agencies. It Means: Don’t worry. Just get those sponsored. The recession is not as bad as it’s made out to be. After all, Sensex is above 16,000 now from the lows of sub-8000 level.

Memo Says: Purchase of vehicles, except for operational requirements of the defence forces, Central paramilitary forces and security related organizations, will not be permitted. It Means: It’s quite sad if you were expecting a ford ikon to replace your old ambassador as it was recently done in case of a number of North Block officials. But the good thing is that ambassadors survive, at least for now. After all, babu blogger claims himself a follower of white ambassadors, and not of ford ikons! Action & Appointments R P Agrawal, a 1972 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS, and secretary in the department of higher education in the ministry of human resource development will hold additional charge of the post of secretary, department of school education and literacy in the HRD ministry during the period of leave of Anshu Vaish, a 1975 batch MP cadre IAS from 9th September, 2009 to 21st September, 2009.

Yet another netagiri Vs babudom: Should Indian politicians deserve a standing ovation from bureaucrats?

THERE is nothing unusual about politicians having a grudge against cushy bureaucratic jobs as civil servants are ever-green in corridors of power and need not go to masses for seeking fresh mandate. But the recent set of instructions for Indian babus, particularly the bizarre fiat of the Rajasthan government that bureaucrats must stand up to receive an elected representative, read politician, is going too far. The directive issued by principal secretary of the administrative reforms and co-ordination department of the Rajasthan government said if any MLA or MP drop in without an appointment, the bureaucrat must them a priority. Also, civil servants are asked to invite local representatives to all the official functions organized in the area he represents, and the seat for the politician should be reserved till the end of the function. As babu blogger mentioned in a post dated August 7, 2009, that Indian political masters recently imposed a set of additional instructions on how officers should behave with the Members of Parliament. Read, “Netagiri & babudom: A new set of instructions issued to help officers communicate with MPs”. Also, politicians from Goa recently criticized their bureaucrats as inefficient and non-cooperative. Tensions reached such a stage that the government of Goa began consultation with the Central government to create a separate cadre for the state of Goa only. Read, “Why do Goan Netas hate babus? State politicians demand separate IAS, IPS cadre only for Goa” posted on August 11, 2009. Also read, “My Take: Low Level European Civil Servants Lead In Brand-Building Of Europe’s Bureaucracy” posted on June 30, 2009. Action & Appointments a) Arvind Mehta, a 1984 batch Himachal cadre IAS officer has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of commerce, in the pay band of Rs 37400-67000 (PB-4) with a grade pay of Rs 10,000 for a period of 5 years. b) Rita Sharma, a 1974 batch UP cadre IAS and secretary department of rural development will hold the additional charge of the post of secretary, department of drinking water supply for a period of three months with effect from September 1, 2009. c) Bhaskar Chatterjee, a 1975 batch Orissa cadre IAS, and presently principal adviser, Planning Commission has been appointed as secretary, department of public enterprises in the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises. d) R Bandyopadhyay, a 1974 batch IAS West Bengal cadre IAS, and presently secretary, department of public enterprises has been appointed as secretary, ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) in place of Anurag Goel, a 1972 batch UP cadre IAS. Mr Goel will now become Member, Competition Commission of India (CIC). babu blogger wrote it on August 3, 2009 that Mr Goel would be a CIC Member. Read, "Post-retirement plan for MCA secretary Anurag Goel & personnel secretary Rahul Sarin firmed up in advance"