Alka Sirohi to officiate as UPSC chairman; 10 things to know about this retired IAS

ON SATURDAY, Alka Sirohi, former IAS of 1974 batch and member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was asked to perform duties as Chairman of UPSC, with effect from September 21, and till further orders or until the completion of her term as UPSC Member on January 3, 2017, whichever is earlier. In other words, she will be the temporary head of UPSC after Deepak Gupta had retired. Here BoI presents 10 things about this retired officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, including her education, postings and training in classical Hindustani music:

New training modules for Central secretariat employees soon: DoPT secretary

A NEW training policy that is likely to be unveiled soon for Central secretariat service officials, will keep pace with the requirements of changing demands of governance, said DoPT secretary Alka Sirohi.

Sirohi, a 1974 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS, asked the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) to clear the backlog of training 7000 Central Secretariat employees during a prize distribution function. Sirohi also suggested that distant learning and e-learning courses could be devised for larger coverage and stressed the need to make training modules and courses relevant and topical.

The ISTM, an organization specializing capacity building, consultancy and research support mainly for the Central Secretariat, in 2009-10 conducted 169 courses for UDCs, assistants, section officers and under secretaries and 4252 participants were trained.

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Who is Alka Sirohi?

Antrix gifted gold coins to DoS, Isro babus

Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organization, gifted gold coins measuring 4 grams each to officials of department of space and Indian Space Research Organisation, according to a report by The Times of India, quoting concerns raised by India’s national auditor, CAG. The largesse cost Antrix 7% of its profits. The report also mentioned a CVC order of 2004 which prohibited any public sector undertaking from giving gifts to government officials.

Alka Sirohi, 1974 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS, assumes office as DoPT secretary

NOW, a woman officer, will be at the helm of department of personnel and training (DoPT) under the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions. Alka Sirohi, a 1974 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS has assumed office as secretary, DoPT, replacing her batch-mate Shantanu Consul who is becoming a Member of Shunglu Committee, formed to probe alleged financial irregularities in Delhi’s Commonwealth Games. The DoPT plays a key role in appointments, transfers and framing of rules for IAS among others.

Originally belonging to UP, Sirohi is a post graduate in history and is well versed both in English and French. Beginning her career as an assistant collector of Gwalior way back in 1975, she later became collector in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh. As a deputy secretary in the ministry of defence, she had her first stint in Central deputation between 1983 and 1986, and later became principal advisor in the Planning Commission and secretary in department of food and public distribution under ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution.

In her state cadre, Sirohi held important assignments in the departments of agriculture cooperation, women and child development and health and family welfare. In 1988, she obtained a management degree from UK.

Her husband RS Sirohi, secretary of National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes, is her batch-mate from the same cadre. According to reports, she is a third generation IAS and her younger sister too is an IAS of UP cadre whereas her brother is a railway officer. Sirohi has two sons.

Action and Appointments

SK Puri, a 1975 batch officer of the Central Engineering Service (Roads) Group ‘A’, has taken over as Director General (Road Development) and special secretary on regular basis in the ministry of road transport and highways with effect from November 1, 2010. Puri was additional Director General in the ministry of road transport and highways prior to his appointment as DG (Roads). He also had a vast experience of working in NHAI. Puri also has international experience of working on National Highway Projects in Nepal, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia for almost a decade.

A quick check on who are in-charge of various ministries as many secretaries are holidaying during this Christmas and New Year

MANY top bureaucrats in India heading various ministries and departments have gone on long leave during this festive season of Christmas and New Year forcing the department of personnel and training (DoPT) to announce their replacements for this period. The secretaries who are on leave now include Alka Sirohi, a 1974 batch MP cadre IAS and secretary, department of food and public distribution, AK Upadhyay, a 1975 batch Bihar cadre IAS and secretary in the department of youth affairs, C Balakrishnan, a 1974 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS and secretary, ministry of coal and Dr M Ramachandran, a 1972 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS and secretary of urban development ministry.
Now, secretaries of other ministries are being given additional charge of the ministries and departments where the top bureaucrats are on long leave. Rajiv Aggarwal, a 1975 batch Maharashtra cadre and secretary in the department of consumer affairs, for example, is given additional charge of the post of secretary in the department of food and public distribution during the absence on leave of Ms Sirohi from December, 25, 2009 to January 3, 2010. Ms Sindhushree Khullar, a 1975 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS and secretary in the department of sports will hold additional charge of the post of secretary, department of youth affairs during the absence on leave of Mr Upadhyay from December 23, 2009 to January 3, 2010.
Similarly, R Bandyopadhyay, a 1974 batch West Bengal cadre IAS and secretary, ministry of corporate affairs was given additional charge of the post of secretary, ministry of minority affairs during the absence on leave of Vivek Mehrotra, a 1974 batch Haryana cadre IAS from December 12, 2009 to December 20, 2009. DK Sikri, a 1975 batch Gujarat cadre IAS and secretary in the ministry of women and child development will hold additional charge of the post of secretary in the ministry of coal during the absence on leave of Mr Balakrishnan for a period of three months or until further orders.
Also, Ms Kiran Dhingra, a 1975 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS and secretary in the ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation, is holding additional charge of the post of secretary, ministry of urban development during the absence on leave of Dr Ramachandran from December 21, 2009 to January 8, 2010. Dr Ramachandran is now in US on a personal visit.

Action and Appointments
SC Srivastava, a 1976 batch Central Secretariat Service officer has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of justice till the date of his superannuation on November 30, 2011, from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders.

Mayawati for a police training centre in Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Ms Mayawati has asked the concerned officials to initiate the process for setting up of a police training centre in Lucknow without any delay. The move is to set up the police training centre on 90 acres of land at Mohanlalganj area in the city, a state government government release said. She also directed that the vacant police posts should immediately be filled up to ensure better law and order situation in the state.