Meet Nirupama Rao, the poet; who are other bureaucrat-poets?

DID you know, India’s former foreign secretary and 1973 batch retired IFS Nirupama Rao has a private passion -- writing poems? The former diplomat on Thursday released two of her poems -- one on life in Jaffna (2005) and the other on women safety in Delhi (2011) in a social media site. Over a decade ago, Rao came out with a poetry book titled “Rain Rising Poems”. First, a part of a poem on city of Delhi written by Rao:

Political Udaan: IPS Kanchan Chaudhary is an AAP candidate; ex-Mumbai police commissioner gets BJP ticket

Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, India’s first woman Director General of Police (DGP) and the one who was just a batch junior to first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi, has been nominated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to contest from Haridwar. The name of this former Uttarakhand DGP, on whose life a popular Hindi TV serial Udaan (Fight) was aired by DD National in 1989–91, was announced by AAP as its Lok Sabha candidate on Saturday, the day the BJP too announced the…

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...

5 things to know about new MCX chairman and former IAS Satyananda Mishra

Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) battling with a Rs 5,600-crore payment crisis in one of its group companies NSEL, has roped in former IAS of Madhya Pradesh cadre and ex-RTI chief Satyananda Mishra as its chairman. Many in the corridors were surprised by the move as unlike former IAS and ex-MCX director Ashok Jha, Mishra is not a corporate type. He does not know how to play golf, keeps a photo of his Guru at his chamber and speaks English with a thick Oriya accent. Here are five things you may like to know about new MCX boss Satyananda Mishra:

RTI chief Satyananda Mishra, his colleagues, and the shocker to Netas

CIC Mishra

FORMER IAS officer and Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra has always enjoyed the tag of an efficient and highly honest civil servant. Now, he has one more feather in his cap. Mishra along with former IPS officer…

Soft spoken retired IAS, Satyananda Mishra, set to become new CIC

1973 BATCH retired IAS of Madhya Pradesh cadre Satyananda Mishra is set to become the new RTI chief. A three-member high-level committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday zeroed in his candidature as the next Chief Information Commissioner in place of AN Tiwari who is retiring on December 16.

A soft-spoken bureaucrat who understands the nuances of government rules thanks to his long innings in the personnel ministry, Mishra is currently the senior most information commissioners. Two other members of the selection panel include law minister Veerappa Moily and leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj.

Hailing from Orissa, Mishra had earlier served as Establishment Officer and special secretary in department of personnel and training (DoPT), before being elevated as DoPT secretary in January, 2007. Current steel secretary and 1976 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS PK Mishra was the Establishment Officer then.

At present, the other five Information Commissioners are Annapurna Dixit, Deepak Sandhu, Sushma Singh, ML Sharma and Shailesh Gandhi.

(In picture: Mishra, left, with first CIC Wajahat Habibullah)

Sebi to keep tab on bureaucrats investing in MF

A bureaucrat investing in mutual fund will now be recorded. Market watchdog Sebi is set to keep a tab on mutual fund investments made by bureaucrats and politicians. According to new rules effective from January 1, 2010, all the new and existing MF investors will have to disclose their actual identity. This would even apply to Member of Parliament, MLA or MLC.

Another Indian envoy asked to pat down in US airport

Hardeep Puri, 1974 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and Ambassador to the United Nations, was recently asked to remove his turban during an airport ‘pat-down’ search in the US. But he refused to oblige and instead opted for another procedure. Recently, Indian ambassador to US Meera Shankar was forced to pat down despite she showed her diplomatic credentials.

Also Read

Is Shankar’s Sari responsible?

It’s Official: Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao gets extension till July 2011

INDIA’S foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, a 1973 batch IFS officer, who was to retire on December 6, 2010 is getting a seven months extension thanks to an amendment of existing government rules. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal to amend Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (d) to provide extension in service to the foreign secretary “for such period or periods as may be considered necessary in public interest, subject to the condition that the total term as foreign secretary does not exceed two years.”

Already, cabinet secretary, home secretary and defence secretary have two-year tenures, and if the current instance of two-time extension of the cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar is anything to go by, the government can change rules to pave the way for a four-year term for other important secretaries with fixed term tenures.

Rao, who assumed charge as foreign secretary on August 1 last year, will remain in the post till July 31, 2011. The decision was taken as the government felt the assignment of foreign secretary has “increasingly acquired critical dimensions from national security and strategic perspective and the need to ensure continuity and swiftness in the decision-making process”, a government release said.

An MA in English Literature from Marathwada University and fellow at the Centre for International Affairs in Harvard University specializing Asia-Pacific security, Rao was India’s Ambassador to Peru, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of India, Moscow, joint secretary (external publicity) and official spokesperson of the MEA and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and then Indian Ambassador to China.

Babusofindia.com has rated Rao as India’s 5^th Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2010. While releasing the BoI list of 5 Most Powerful Indian Bureaucrats in September this year, Team BoI said, “For over one year now, she has been instrumental in motivating her colleagues to act like economic ambassadors of the nation and paint a good image of the country. Her firefighting in GK Pillai’s “ISI remark” episode which had resulted into the collapse of India-Pakistan foreign minister level talks, was the most remarkable during the recent time. She walked across the road to North Block to have a cup of tea with Pillai demonstrating real-diplomacy inside Raisina Hills!”

(Picture: Rao during PM's recent visit to Tokyo)

Also Read

Rao's definition of diplomacy

Nirupamacy in Home Turf

Army officials embroiled in illegal sale of arms

A case relating to sale on Non Standard Pattern (NSP) weapons by Army officers and a JCO has come to light. 41 officers, 1 JCO and 4 retired officers were found to have sold the NSP weapons without taking sanction of competent authority. Court of Inquiry held to investigate into the case has identified six arms dealers buying the illegal arms from the army personnel. Suitable remedial measures by way of amendment of SAO 1/S/96 and issue of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure have been taken by Army Headquarters. This information was given by defence minister AK Antony in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

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. 

House of Shankars: Mr Ambassador welcomes Manmohan Singh in US

ON Sunday, Indian government issued this official photograph saying “The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh being received on his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, to attend the Nuclear Security Summit, in Washington on April 11, 2010”, without actually naming who is the one shaking hands with the PM and welcoming him in the airport.

In fact, the man in the photograph is Ajay Shankar, a 1973 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, who retired as industry secretary in December last year. No prize for guessing what he is doing in US, and more significantly, why is he welcoming the PM and his wife in the Maryland Air Force base?

Yes, you must have guessed it right by now. Mr Shankar is the husband of Indian ambassador to US Meera Shankar, a 1973 batch IFS, and has been staying in US after his retirement on December 31, 2009. Where is Mrs Shankar then? If you enlarge the photograph, you will notice ambassador Shankar in a yellow Sari behind PM’s wife.

ALSO READ

Meera Shankar is one of the Top 3 women bureaucrats 

PM's Salad Bowl in Meera Shankar's party in Washington 

Meera Shankar's letter on Railway officers and dollar bribe

A bureaucrat and a diplomat in Washington

Pandey is back in Maya House

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday reshuffled the postings of four IAS officers, including Vijay Shankar Pandey, a 1979 batch IAS, who was shunted out of the chief minister’s secretariat last month after Mayawati got upset about bad publicity over the Rs 200-cr B-Day extravaganza. Now, Mr Pandey will again be re-associated with the CM secretariat as he is attached to Mayawati’s residential office. In addition, he will be the principal secretary Food and Drug Authority (FDA).

On Sunday, Mayawati administration transferred 21 senior IPS officers, including eight Inspector General of Police.

Also Read

Pandey declares bank deposit of Rs 1.17 lac

Who is this anonymous Reddy?

Just a few days after one assistant agriculture officer SV Rao from Karnataka’s Hindupur, was arrested for impersonating as an IAS officer in order to avail better facilities, the police seems to be clueless about who is Dr Srinivas Reddy? A man identifying himself as Dr Srinivas Reddy, has been e-mailing a senior IAS officer, E Rajshekarappa, Director, Economic and Statistics, Karnataka Agriculture Commission seeking information. The man has even e-mailed Karnataka chief minister PS Yeddyurappa, media reports said.

Taste of Time: Job in Ministry of Road

It does not matter whether you have a taste for good food or not? If you are in government service for 6 years in the pre-revised scale of Rs 3200-4900 per month, you can try your luck to be a canteen manager. Click at CANTEEN MANAGER’S JOB.

Also, if you are scouting for a government job, Insider’s posts in http://www.jobcorridor.com/ are ready references. 

Top cops vow to hit Naxals in their hearts

CHHATTISGARH’S top cop Vishwa Ranjan, a 1973 batch IPS and a known crusader against the Naxals, has vowed that the state would now hit the Maoists in their heart. Senior police officers including Chhattisgarh’s DGP Ranjan undertook an on-the-spot inspection of Maoist infested Chintalnar area on Thursday and expressed their determination to give Maoists a fitting reply after witnessing the biggest ever Naxal attack killing 76 security personnel.

Mr Ranjan who had earlier served as additional director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been the state police chief from July, 2007 except a three month period before the Parliamentary elections last year thanks to his earlier comments against EC officials. But, Mr Ranjan who remained the blue eyed boy of state chief minister Raman Singh was reinstated once the election code of conduct ended.

On Thursday, Mr Ranjan was also accompanied by several top cops including DGP of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Vikram Shrivastava, also a 1973 batch IPS who flew in from Delhi, inspector general of Bastar range and 1991 batch IPS TG Longkumer, inspector general of anti-Maoist operation and 1994 batch IPS, Shivarama Prasad Kalluri among others.

As Mr Ranjan had earlier said Maoists annually extort up to Rs 2,000 crore, targeting mainly iron and coal mining companies, infrastructure project contractors and 'tendu patta' businessmen and Jharkhand is its largest contributor.

African Safari: Last date for AfDB post extended

The last date of application for the post of Adviser to the ED, African Development Bank (AfDB) has been extended by 10 more days to April 15, 2010. The DoPT in a new circular also clarified that although the permanent headquarter of the AfDB is at Abidjan, the Bank is operating from Tunis, Tunisia and the selected officer will be operating from Tunis. Also, the tenure of the appointment is 2 years and not 3 years.

Also Read

Are you game for an African safari?

Action and Appointments

a) The in-situ elevation of RP Watal, a 1978 batch AP cadre IAS, and presently secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to the level of additional secretary has been approved.

b) Sreeshan Raghavan, a 1983 batch Orissa cadre IFS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of bio-technology.

c) The ACC has approved the proposal for extension of inter-cadre deputation of Yeshi Tsering, a 1983 batch Assam cadre IAS from Assam-Meghalaya cadre to AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh) cadre for a period of one year beyond February 18, 2010.

Indian Premier Bureaucrats: Look, Style and Babus of India

STYLE does matter, particularly when the IPL fever catches everyone including the Indian bureaucrats. If you were hooked into the television set even after Delhi Daredevils thrashed Vijay Mallya’s Royal Challengers on Sunday night, you would have noticed a bearded gentleman wearing a smart casual red and black half shirt, and presenting award to Paul Collingwood for his scintillating innings with seven sixes. No prizes for guessing who was the stylishly-dressed gentleman! He was none other than urban development secretary and 1972 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS Dr M Ramachandran who is turning 60 in just two months. And yes, those who know him from close quarters and always see him in formal suits in Nirman Bhawan, must have been pleasantly surprised to find Dr Ramachandran giving tough competition to Dr Mallya and his style statements in Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

No wonders, Indian bureaucrats who now need to work with young, suave and also stylish politicians, are fast shedding the typical bureaucratic image and following the look and style of corporate honchos. After the Union Budget was presented, finance secretary Ashok Chawla, a 1973 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, figured in an advertisement of a post-Budget debate to be held in Mumbai, making a precedence of a senior bureaucrat finding a place in large billboards in many busy roads of Delhi and Mumbai. For the adman who conceptualized the advertisement for the event, the Einstein look alike Chawla’s image was a perfect fit to the outdoor advertisement.

There are a few senior bureaucrats in Delhi’s power corridor like skin-headed food processing industries secretary and 1975 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS Ashok Sinha who are making an impact not just because of the positions they hold, but thanks to their stylish approach to life. There are others like former finance secretary Ashok Jha or ex-industry secretary Dr Ajay Dua who were more like CEOs than secretaries even when they were at the helm of India’s babudom. In fact, they were regularly spotted in Delhi’s golf circuit and were extremely popular among who’s and who of India Inc. And for that matter, even Amitabh Kant, a 1980 batch Kerala cadre IAS, who can make a brand guru run for his money!

Hey There! Babus of India (BoI) which is turning one year soon, is sporting a new look and design. If you wish to make any comment on the new look and feel of your favorite blog, or on any stylish Indian bureaucrats, kindly post a comment below, or write to babu.blogger1@gmail.com

Be imaginative and creative: PM’s yet another prescription for Indian bureaucrats

IN AN apparent move to make Indian administration results oriented, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has asked the bureaucrats to be much more creative and imaginative. While addressing the first annual conference of chief secretaries in New Delhi on Monday, Mr Singh said the administrative apparatus would be able to match the demanding test of time only if it is innovative, flexible and quick.

“It also requires that everyone in the administrative system is well informed, well trained and well equipped to tackle the tasks before him or her; to think not only of what we face today but what is likely to be encountered in the years ahead,” he said. He further added that governance now had become an extremely complex process, and the rising expectations of the people make them impatient with the speed at which results are delivered. “People today resent apathy, sloth, and corruption in any form and at any level of government more than ever before. There is clamour for accountability from all quarters – the legislature, the judiciary and the media,” he added. Prime Minister complimented the cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar for taking the initiative of proposing the conference.

Meanwhile, minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pensions, Prithviraj Chauhan in his address expressed concern over the drastic reduction of the number of All India Service officers deputed at the deputy secretary and director level to Centre during the recent years. He said that states or Union Territories should sponsor more officers for central deputation as they being with them the practical field experience, and in turn they are enriched by their exposure to policy making at the Central level.

Also read:

Doc's prescription to check corruption

PM's advice to diplomats

Dr Singh asks PMO officers to think creatively 

PM's prescription for police officers 

PM retains key officers in PMO

Administrators of 25 districts selected for MGNREGA awards

The government has selected top administrators of 25 districts in the country for the prestigious award of excellence in MGNREGA administration for 2008-09. Some of those officers who would receive the award in New Delhi on February 2, 2010, include M Ravinchandra, Chiroor district, AP, Mukesh Kumar Meena, Kurnool district of AP, Sonmoni Borah, Raipur district, Chhatisgarh, MS Paraste, Bastar district Chhattisgarh, Mohammad Shayin, Ambala distrcit, Haryana, RS Gupta, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, Dr Manish Ranjan, Deogarh district Jharkahnd, Ashok Kumar Singh, Idukki district, Kerala, Dr J Ravi Shankar, Belgaum district, Karnataka, Dr PC Jafar, Gulbarga district, Karnataka and Gulshan Bamra, Balaghat district, MP to name a few.

Also Read:

IAS officers reportedly sabotage a fellow IAS receiving an award

Action and Appointments

a) RK Bhatia, a 1974 batch UP cadre IPS has been appointed as Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

b) Vikram Srivastava, a 1973 batch UP cadre IPS has been appointed as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

c) Sunil Mitra joins on Monday as the revenue secretary in finance ministry.

d) The IPS (Pay) rules were amended to make mid career training mandatory for promotion of IPS officers holding the ranks of SP, DIG and IG. The duration of the course will be 8 weeks, 8 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively, for the three ranks. The first batch under the new Scheme will undergo training in 2010. 

Welcome to North Block: Pranab Mukherjee gets Bengal officer Sunil Mitra as new revenue secretary, Sumit Bose for disinvestment

Sunil Mitra, a 1975 batch West Bengal cadre IAS and currently secretary in the department of disinvestment in the ministry of finance, has been appointed as the next revenue secretary in place of PV Bhide, a 1973 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS who is retiring on January 31, 2010. Mr Mitra’s elevation as revenue secretary is happening at a time when finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s team has been working hard on the Budget proposals to be presented on February 26, and India is targeting to achieve Rs 4 lakh crore only as direct tax collection. Significantly, the current revenue secretary Mr Bhide has not been very popular among senior IRS officers and the rift between the super taxmen in the North Block and revenue secretary came out quite in open in many occasions including during the adoption of the new direct tax code.

Meanwhile, another Bengali babu Sumit Bose, a 1976 batch MP cadre IAS and presently secretary, 13th Finance Commission, has been appointed as secretary in the department of disinvestment in the ministry of finance in place of Sunil Mitra.

Profile: New revenue secretary Sunil Mitra

In Picture: The camel contingent at the rehearsal for the Beating the Retreat Ceremony, near North Block in New Delhi on January 21.

Other Appointments

a) BK Sinha, a 1975 batch Bihar cadre IAS, presently director general, national institute of rural development, has been appointment as secretary in department of rural development in place of Ms Rita Sharma, a 1974 batch UP cadre IAS, who is retiring on January 31, 2010.

b) Mathew C Kunnamkal, a 1976 batch Kerala cadre IAS, presently special secretary and financial adviser in the department of chemicals and petrochemicals, has been appointed as Director General, National Institute of Rural Development in place of BK Sinha, a 1975 batch Bihar cadre IAS.

Lieutenant General VK Singh will be India’s next Army chief

Lt Gen VK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, presently GOC-in-C, Eastern Command has been appointed the next chief of the Army staff in the rank of General with effect from March 31, 2010 in place of General Deepak Kapoor.

Lt General VK Singh was commissioned into the Rajput Regiment on June 14, 1970. He participated in the 1971 war and IPKF operations against LTTE militants in Sri Lanka. He is presently serving as the Eastern Army Commander.

Besides being an ‘Honours Graduate’ of the US Army Infantry School, Georgia, USA, Lt Gen Singh studied at the Defence Services Staff College, the Army War College and the US Army War College, Carlisle.

He is married to Mrs Bharati and they have two daughters, the elder one is married to an Army officer. The younger daughter is working in the corporate sector.

Shiv Shankar Menon to have a status of a minister of state

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shiv Shankar Menon, a retired IFS of 1972 batch as the National Security Adviser in place of MK Narayanan who is moving into West Bengal Raj Bhawan. The man who superseded over a dozen officers to become the country’s foreign secretary in September 2006, is back in the South Block, this time with a status of a minister of state.

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)

Civil Services prelims exam to be held on May 23, 2010; 965 officers' posts to be filled

THE Union Service Public Commission (UPSC) will hold the civil services (preliminary) examination, 2010 on May 23, 2010 for recruitment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and certain other group A and Group B Central services or posts. The examination, which will be hel at various centers across the country, has more significance this time as the government decided to increase the total intake from 580 in 2009 to 965 in 2010, a whopping 66% increase.

For any difficulty, the telephone nos are: 011-23385271, 23381125, 23098543, 23389366
Fax No 011-23387310. Website: http://www.upsc.gov.in

Action and Appointments
a) Bijoy Chatterjee, a 1973 batch West Bengal cadre IAS and secretary in the department of chemicals and petrochemicals, ministry of chemicals and fertilizers will hold additional charge of the post of secretary in the department of pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals and fertilizers during the absence on leave of Ashok Kumar, a 1974 batch Bihar cadre IAS from January 9, 2010 to January 24, 2010.
b) The competent authority, in view of the request of the state government of Manipur, not to consider the proposal for extension of tenure of J Sursh Babu, a 1986 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS and chairman, Tobacco Board, has approved that it would not be possible to consider extension of tenure of Mr Babu, on completion of his tenure on January 19, 2010.
c) Manoj Saunik, a 1987 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary, in the department of defence production for a term of two years.
d) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet while approving the continuation of G C Chaturvedi, a 1977 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS as additional secretary in the department of financial services, has also approved that ex-post-facto approved of the Cabinet will be obtained for creation of a post of additional secretary in the department of financial services for the requisite period.
e) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the ministry of home affairs of in-Situ upgradation of VS Yadav, a 1987 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IPS, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science to the grade of Inspector General (IG) for a period up to Septemeber 9, 2010 or until further orders.

Vivek Sahai takes over as Member, Traffic in Railway Board

VIVEK Sahai, General Manager, Northern Railway took over as Member Traffic in Railway Board on Tuesday. He would be an ex-officio secretary to the government of India. He succeeds Shri Prakash, who has taken over as Chairman, Standing High Power Committte on Infrastructure Planning, Business Development and Project in the ministry of railways, a railway release said. Mr Sahai will continue to look after the duties of post of General Manager in Northern Railway in addition to his own for a period of three months or until further orders.
Mr Sahai, an IRTS officer of 1973 batch, has held several key posts including General Manager, Northern Railway, General Manager North Central Railway, Additional Member Traffic, Railway Board, Chief Operations Manager, Western Railway, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai, Central Railway, Chief Freight Transportation Manager, Western Railway, Executive Director, Railway Board, New Delhi, Chief Operations Manager, Konkan Railway Corporation Limited. He also has extensive experience in suburban train operations in Mumbai where he had worked as Divisional Railway Manager in Mumbai Division of Central Railway. During his stint as additional General Manager in Western Railway, he also handled the aftermath of serial bomb blasts.
A post graduate degree in physics from Allahabad University, Mr Sahai was trained in US Rail Roads and SNCF (French Railways) under UNDP Project in 1989. He was also part of an Indian delegation which was sent to study the privatization of British Railways in 1996. He also participated in advanced leadership programme held at Stern Business School, New York, USA in 2007.
Earlier Story
Sudesh Kumar, Member (Electrical) in Railway Board (October 11, 2009)

Action and Appointments
B B Nanawati, a 1981 batch IRS(I-T) officer has been appointed as Deputy Director General in the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under the Planning Commission for a period of three years or until further orders.
Earlier Story
Govt sends reminder on recruitment of UIDAI assistant DGs (December 8, 2009)

Who is Maharashtra's new chief secretary?

J P Dange, a 1973 batch IAS has recently been appointed as chief secretary of Maharashtra. Swadheen Kshatriya took over as the new municipal commissioner and Ajit Kumar Jain as the principal secretary to the chief minister. Here is the bio-data of Mr Dange. Bio-data Name: J P Dange Batch: 1973 IAS Cadre: Maharashtra Date of Birth: June 1, 1951 Place of Domicile: Maharashtra Mother Tongue: Marathi Educational Qualifications a) PG in Business Administration b) Graduation in Law Major Postings a) SDO (July 1, 1975 to July 1, 1977) b) Collector, Osmanabad district, (April 1, 1980 to August 1, 1982) c) Collector, Bhandara, (May 1, 1983 to September 1, 1985) d) Managing Director, (Dy Secy Level) Agriculture & Cooperation Seeds From July 1, 1986 to June 1, 1988) e) Director, Ministry of Water Resources, New Delhi (From Septmber 1, 1989 to May 1, 1990) f) Secretary, (JS Level/Level - I, Cadre, Finance) Institutional Finance (From December 1, 1991 to January 1, 1994) g) Commissioner, Thane Municipality, (In Cadre), Urban Development (April 1, 1996 to July 1, 1997) h) Secretary, Commerce in Cadre, Foreign Trade (From October 20, 1998 to April 1, 2002) i) CEO, (JS Level/Level - I) Maharashtra Maritime Board (From April 1, 2002 to March 1, 2003) j) Principal Secretary, (Additional Secretary level) In cadre, Agriculture & Cooperation Cooperatives From August 31, 2006 to June 1, 2007) k) Principal Secretary, (Additional Secretary Level), In Cadre, (From June 1, 2007 to November 16, 2007) l) Additional chief secretary (Secretary Level), Revenue From November 16, 2007 till recently) Foreign Training A 36-week-long course in University of Bath, United Kingdom (1985) Awards/publications details Nil

Netagiri vs Babudom: MPs to question on bureaucrats' asset disclosure, retirement age & CVC cases in winter session of Parliament

THE world of babudom will come under more scrutiny during the ongoing winter session of Parliament which began on Thursday. Members of Parliament (MPs) are going to ask a number of questions regarding acknowledgement of MPs' letters, prosecution of civil servants, retirement scheme of government employees etc., according to a provisional list of unstarred questions to be admitted in Lok Sabha dated November 25, 2009. The provisional list of questions admitted for that date includes questions related to quota for IAS and IPS, cases referred to Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), modernisation CBI and medium of UPSC examinations etc. It remains to be seen what the government answers on contentious questions like declaring of bureaucrats' assets under the Right to Information( RTI) Act, which is also listed as an unstarred question. The provisional questions also include how to make RTI more effective and legislation for whistle blowers. Read: Netagiri & Babudom: A new set of instructions issued to help officers communicate with MPs (August 7, 2009) Former defence secretary Vijay Singh sworn-in as member UPSC Vijay Singh, former defence secretary of government of India took the oath of office and secrecy as Member, Union Service Public Commission on Thursday. The oath was administered by UPSC chairman Prof D P Agrawal. Mr Singh, a 1970 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS, held several important assignments both in the state of Madhya Pradesh and at the Centre during his 37 year career, a government release said. His assignments at the Centre included director in the department of cultural affairs, joint secretary in the ministry of health & family welfare, additional secretary in the ministry of commerce, ministry of information & broadcasting and in ministry of finance. He became chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh in October, 2004 and served there till January, 2006. Then, he served as secretary to government of India in the department of AYUSH and later in the department of road transport & highways before becoming the country's defence secretary in August, 2007.

Action & Appointments a) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Sudhakar Rao, a 1973 batch Karnataka cadre IAS (Retd) as Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PSEB) for a tenure of three years or until the age of 65 years or until fruther orders. b) Rajiv Mehrishi, a 1978 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS, presently in the cadre, has been appointed as additional secretary in department of agricultural research and education under the ministry of agriculture in the vacancy of A K Upadhyay, a 1975 batch Bihar cadre IAS. c) Alok Kumar, a 1984 batch Assam cadre IAS, has been appointed as joint secretary in the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT). Result for CDS Exam( I )-2009 announced The UPSC has announced the results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I)-2009 held by the Services Selection Board of the ministry of defence for admission to the 128th Course of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala and Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course or 187th F(P) Course. Results are available at UPSC website --- www.upsc.gov.in

Sudhir Chandra: Know the super taxman in North Block anchoring Madhu Koda episode

HIS room in North Block is one of the busiest places these days thanks to the Income Tax department's massive searches all over the country to trace over Rs 2000 cr allegedly unaccounted assets of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda. Amid constant buzzing of at least one of his three mobile phones, he gives instructions to his visitors, all I-T officials who don't need to ask his permission before stepping into his room located in the same floor of India's all powerful finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. After all, he never allows his peons to switch on the red light outside his door even when he conducts very significant and sensitive meetings. And he gets upset only when a junior official takes his permission before entering his room! That's Sudhir Chandra, Member, Investigation of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and a 1973 batch Indian Revenue Service official. Mr Chandra, who micro-managed the entire show witnessing over 400 taxmen taking part in the Koda operation, is a confirmed believer of divine strength. He has kept the photographs of his religious guru all around the wall of his official room, possibly to draw strength against any political interventions while handling such sensitive I-T search cases. He has asked his officials to be extremely polite in handling the operations, but at the same time wanted them to be as courageous as "Rani of Jhansi". But what this tax hound does when he ends his busy day in North Block? He goes back his own little world and starts playing Lara’s Theme to Strangers in the Night... in his piano. Yes, he had public performances of playing piano during his time of probation 36 years ago. (Picture: 1973 batch IRS officers during training at NADT)

HC issues contempt notice to UP principal secretariat Allahabad High Court on Saturday issued contempt notice to the UP's Principal Secretary of Public Works Department (PWD) and asked him to appear in person on November 23, 2009. The order was passed by Justice D P Singh on a contempt petition regarding discrimination against PWD stenographers.

I-T officials instructed to address ex-Jharkhand CM as "Koda Sir"

INCOME tax officials dealing with former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda regarding a case of an alleged involvement in illegal transactions worth over Rs 2,000 crore, are given special instruction by the North Block to be extremely polite and clam while conducting searches and asking questions to the politician. Also, tax officials have been asked to address Mr Koda, now an independent MP from Jharkhand, as "Koda sir" all the time. In fact, it's mandatory for bureaucrats to call political leaders as "sir" though it's not practised all the time. (Picture: Koda with model and actress Koena Mitra who was Jharkhand's brand ambassador) In fact, over 400 I-T officials were deployed in the biggest ever search operation in a politician's premises, and it was done at the stewardship of Sudhir Chandra, Member (Investigation) of the Central Board of Direct Taxes. Despite handling sensitive issues in CBDT, Mr Chandra always keeps the green light outside his cabin on, and hardly refuses anyone from meeting him.

Read: North Block’s top taxman keeps his door-light on a green mode (July 23, 2009). Also, I-T officials around the country are now being encouraged to be brave, and discharge duties fearlessly and without any political pressure. On October 9, the ED first lodged a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Mr Koda and three former ministers Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bandhu Tirkey and his associates Sinha and Chaudhary. Action & Appointments a) B S Parsheera, a 1974 batch AP cadre IAS, presently specical secretary in the ministry of environment and forests, as secretary, department of official language in the ministry of home affairs in place of Pradeep Kumar, a 1973 batch UP cadre IAS on his retirement on 31st October, 2009. b) Ms Anshu Vaish a 1975 batch MP cadre IAS, presently secretary in the department of school education and literacy in the ministry of human resource development will hold additional charge of the post of secretary, department of higher education in the ministry of human resource development for a period of three months with effect from 1st November 2009 or untill further orders. BoI extraa...What's in a confidential circular? Link of a confidential DoPT circular placed in the official website