PK Sinha gets one year extension as cabinet secretary; why he’s likely to get one more extension?

IN AN one liner order, the government on Monday said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension of cabinet secretary and 1977 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS PK Sinha’s tenure for one year beyond June 12, 2017. That means, Sinha will get a tenure of three years as India’s top bureaucrat. Though cabinet secretary like home and foreign secretaries gets a fixed tenure of two years, the top bureaucrat usually gets extension mainly because PM does not want to take risks in experimenting with a new hand at the level. Two of Sinha’s predecessors —

Dear cabinet secretary Seth, don't be so modest; remove your ex-boss' photos

Cabinet secretary Ajit K Seth with his ex-boss Chandrasekhar (L)

ONE year after Ajit Kumar Seth became India’s cabinet secretary, the top bureaucrat in the country, the photo gallery of the cabinet secretariat gives an impression as if his four batch senior in IAS, KM Chandrasekhar, still occupies the hot seat! Have you checked the15 photos which were uploaded in the official cabinet secretariat website till Sunday night? Here are those.

KM Chandrasekhar is ahead of Paul and Duggal in race for Delhi Lt Governor’s post

Chandrasekhar In A Happy Mood (File Photo) 

CABINET secretary KM Chandrasekhar’s post retirement assignment is almost ready. Chandrasekhar, India’s top bureaucrat and the sole 1970 batch IAS to remain in service will retire on June 14, 2011, but he is likely to become Lieutenant Governor of Delhi soon after. Chandrasekhar has emerged as the front-runner after chief minister Sheila Dikshit has put her foot down saying that he does not want any of her own ex-officer taking up this assignment.

Though former Delhi police commissioner KK Paul and former Union home secretary VK Duggal are strong contenders to succeed Tejender Khanna in Delhi’s Raj Bhawan, Delhi CM has conveyed it to the home minister that she does not want someone to be Lt Governor who had earlier worked under her. Whereas Paul was her police commissioner, Duggal had earlier worked as municipality commissioner in Delhi government. In protocol, Lt Governor is above the chief minister. Paul is the husband of Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s all powerful advisor Omita Paul.

Also, there are speculations about Chandrasekhar taking the position of TKA Nair as the principal adviser to PM if Dr Manmohan Singh decides to send Nair to a Raj Bhawan. Some argue that India’s executive director in the World Bank and 1974 batch UP cadre IAS Pulok Chatterji has a better chance to occupy that important position in South Block. Chatterji had earlier worked closely with former PM Rajiv Gandhi and UPA chairwoman Sonia Gandhi, and is quite close to 10 Janpath.

Action and Appointments

a) The Central government with the concurrence of government of Madhya Pradesh, has  approved the premature repatriation of Ms Kamini Chauhan Ratan, a 1997 batch UP cadre IAS, presently on inter-cadre deputation, from Madhya Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh.

b) Ms Minakshi Ghose, a 1981 batch IA and AS officer has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of disinvestment.

c)Vijay Bhushan Pathak, a 1990 batch Sikkim cadre IAS, has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of atomic energy.

India's top bureaucrats TKA Nair and KM Chandrasekhar asked to depose before PAC

COUNTRY'S top bureaucrats including TKA Nair, principal secretary to Prime Minister and cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar have been asked to appear before the Murli Manohar Joshi-led Public Accounts Committee investigating the 2G spectrum allocation scam. They are likely to depose before the committee on April 15-16. According to reports, the panel has called CBI chief AP Singh for a second deposition, and may seek a deposition from Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, a 1972 batch retired IAS.

Joshi who has turned more aggressive by every day feels that summoning key bureaucrats like Nair and Chandrasekhar would help the panel do a better assessment on whether former telecom minister A Raja allocated UAS licences on 2G spectrum by overruling PMO’s objections.

Joshi’s panel has recently asked various questions to corporate honchos like Ratan Tata and Anil Ambani and controversial corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

Revenue officials to study Central Economic Intelligence Bureau’s role

The government has constituted a four-member committee to review the role, functioning and structure of the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) in the changed economic scenario. The members of the committee include SS Khan, retired Member, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Ms Vijay Lakshmi Sharma, Member, Central Board of Excise and Customs, Dr Kewal Ram, senior economic advisor department. of consumer affairs and Deputy Director General, CEIB as Member Secretary to the committee. 

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)

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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.

“Medalists” In Corridors Of Power: Bureaucrats who worked hard to make Commonwealth Games a success

AS THE Commonwealth Games in Delhi came to an end on Thursday with a truly exceptional closing ceremony, BoI (babusofindia.com) presents some of the unsung heroes of Indian bureaucracy who deserve the same applause as our sportspersons do. Whether it’s home secretary GK Pillai or cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, or even DD director general and 1982 batch IAS Aruna Sharma, some Indian bureaucrats have worked hard on and off-the-field to make this mega sporting event a success story. Here are the medalists from Great Indian bureaucracy!

Team Pillai

Home secretary GK Pillai, a 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS, deserves more applause than anyone else. Even the establishment and people at large had apprehensions that there could be some kind of terror incidents before or during the Games. But thanks to professionalism brought in by home minister P Chidambaram and his deputy, home secretary GK Pillai into Indian security scenario, such apprehensions were put to rest. For spin doctors in North Block, the attempt was not just to create a security apparatus for the Games per se, but to strengthen policing in the entire country. And the strategy worked well. Those who know Pillai closely would call him a “no nonsense officer” who would not compromise on any issue that might create lapses in security matters. The Blackberry episode is a classic example.

Also, Delhi police commissioner YS Dadwal, a 1974 batch IPS and Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ajay Chadha, a 1977 batch IPS deserve special mention. Mr Chadha who was a young officer posted in Arunchal Pradesh during 1982 Asian Games, has made the traffic arrangement so smooth before the Commonwealth Games that Delhiites themselves were pleasantly surprised.
Also Read

GK Pillai's straight talk

Why Nirupama Rao defends Pillai?

Pillai is the third most powerful bureaucrat

Chandrasekhar and his B-Team

When Dr Manmohan Singh took out his trump card – an army of 10 IAS officers under cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar to manage the biggest sporting extravaganza in the final lap of the run-up to the controversy-ridden Commonwealth Games, BoI (babusofindia.com) hailed it the biggest victory of Indian bureaucracy. Except a few hiccups, B (bureaucrats)-team of the cabinet secretary performed upto the mark and took many an on-spot decision thanks to the PM’s decision to make the bureaucrats’ committee an “empowered” one. The B-team included additional secretary of the department of telecom (DoT) Subodh Kumar, 1978 batch Gujarat cadre IAS SR Rao, additional secretary in urban development ministry RC Misra and 1982 batch UP cadre IAS JS Deepak to name a few. (Read: Who are these bureaucrats on Commonwealth duties?) The last but not the least is the role played by principal secretary to PM, TKA Nair, a retired bureaucrat of 1963 batch.

Also Read

Why KM Chandrasekhar is India's most powerful bureaucrat? 

BoI list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats

Unsung Heroes

Though some bureaucrats have hogged the limelight thanks to their designated roles in the run-up to the Games, there are many who worked behind-the-scene to make the Games a success. From day one, there were many regulatory bottlenecks and those could be removed only by bureaucrats of various departments. There are serving and retired bureaucrats (Jarnail Singh, a 1974 batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre, for example, was the CEO of the Organizing Committee) who are very much a part of Kalmadi’s team. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) was Vijay Kumar Gautam, a 1987 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer who was an observer in the Melbourne’06 and Beijing’08 Games. Suresh Kalmadi in his speech during the closing ceremony of the Games did mention about DG of Doordarshan, Aruna Sharma, a 1982 batch IAS, who was instrumental in brining the DD platform into a high definition (HD) one.

Welcome to these “gold medalists” from corridors of power…

SX4 Enters Power Corridors: An ordinary bureaucrat can now race with cabinet secretary

IF YOU are a government employee, either serving or retired, you have a chance to give a tough competition to none other than India’s top bureaucrat, cabinet secretary, quite literally. Maruti Suzuki in its latest advertisement for its sedan, SX4, has announced giving special offers for government employees including those who have retired, if they want to buy an SX4. The price tag of an SX4 is Rs 6.92 lakh and above, but thanks to the discounts in this festival season, a retired or serving bureaucrat can own it up at a much lesser price.

Incidentally, the official car of cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar and that of some Members in Planning Commission including Arun Maira, happen to be white SX4 sedans. But unlike those you would like to buy, those VIP SX4 are fitted with red lights on the top.

Though SX4 is not a very fuel-efficient car, it gives a mileage of 15.5 km per litre of petrol, it has a CNG version too. But with automatic climate control and integrated stereo, the SX4 is a luxury from the Maruti stable. As its advertisement says, it is “Power, Glory and …SX4”. After all, it’s Maruti’s attempt to enter India’s corridors of power!

NAME GAMES: The story behind cabinet secretary’s letter on Gandhis and Nehrus

CABINET secretary KM Chandrasekhar’s confidential letter dated October 6, 2010, directing ministries to selectively use the names of Gandhis and Nehrus for government programmes and schemes, is understood to be a well-calibrated move with the direction from none other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
In the letter, excerpts of which got published in some newspapers on Sunday, cabinet secretary said that the practice of using the names of leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi has become “indiscriminate” and it reduces the value of identifying programmes with national figures, particularly as implementation and impact of many of these programmes is not always as ought to be. “As such, many of them do not merit such association,” he wrote in the letter.

It’s believed that Prime Minister must have consulted with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the matter before directing the cabinet secretary to shoot off a formal letter. According to reports, 450 government programmes, schemes and institutions in India were named after the Nehru-Gandhi family, out of which 200 were named after Rajiv Gandhi.

Recently, Sonia Gandhi was upset with surface transport minister Kamal Nath for using her pictures on signboards along national highways. The cabinet secretary’s formal letter is believed to be for reining in Congress ministers who at times go overboard to woo the Gandhi family. 

Power Corridors witness a week of two strong Chandrasekhars – KM and Rentala

IT WAS KM Chandrasekhar because he was undoubtedly the man of the moment in the last-minute fight to virtually save the Commonwealth Games. As a few participating nations strongly objected to the hygiene condition of the Games Village and termed the living condition as “filthy”, PM banked not on any minister, but on his B-team (Bureaucrats’ team) headed by cabinet secretary and 1970 batch Kerala cadre IAS, KM Chandrasekhar. No wonder, PM cut short his cabinet colleague and sports minister MS Gill when the latter wanted to give a presentation about the progress of the work.

Cabinet secretary specially directed his officers to hold briefing for heads of foreign missions and Press Information Bureau for foreign and Indian media about issues related to hygiene, delays and other glitches associated with the Games. The clean-up work in the Games village was done in a war-footing and everyone including those foreign missions which severely criticized the preparation only a few days ago, came out in public to say “Woh”!

That KM Chandrasekhar was the “real boss” was also indicated when Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell was asked to meet him. Fennell who was reportedly denied an appointment with the Prime Minister had a one-and-half hour long meeting with the cabinet secretary on Friday. At the direction of the cabinet secretary, all heads of missions and chiefs of bureaus of newspapers are likely to be taken to various venues on Saturday to counter the negative publicity.

The other Chandrasekhar that turned a newsmaker this week was Rentala Chandrashekhar, a 1975 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS, who formally assumed charge as the secretary in the Department of Telecommunications, a post which was held by him in addition to his substantive charge of secretary, department of information technology. A post graduate in chemistry and computer technology, R Chandrasekhar had earlier served as joint secretary in the ministries like commerce and defence.
Also Read
KM Chandrasekhar as India's Most Powerful Bureaucrat
BoI list of India's 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats

Stray dogs inside “filthy” Games Village apartments raise doubts whether PM’s B-team under KM Chandrasekhar is in-charge or not

ABOUT a month ago, BoI (babusofindia.com) hailed Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s decision to take out his trump card – an army of 10 IAS officers under cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar – to manage the Commonwealth Games, and termed the move as the “biggest ever victory of Indian bureaucracy during the last one decade”. But Tuesday’s incident of participating countries like Canada and New Zealand objecting to “filthy” and “unhygienic” atmosphere of the Games Village, has raised doubts about effectiveness of PM’s B-team (Bureaucrats’ team), or at least whether they are in full control of the situation despite making them “empowered” by the last month’s PMO order. The question here is whether it’s just Suresh Kalmadi and Co which should be held accountable for the national shame of the Games Village being not cleaned till hours before athletes arrive in Delhi? Shouldn’t the high-profile bureaucrats who are in-charge of the Games village be also blamed when stray dogs are reportedly spotted on the beds of those swanky apartments meant for the use of international players? 

After various countries raised alarm over the “filthy” atmosphere, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Michael Fennell still chose to dash off a letter to the Union cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar asking for immediate action, indicating the fact that cabinet secretary is still in-charge of the event’s last minute preparedness.

Meanwhile, a team of bureaucrats under Lt Governor of Delhi reviewed the Games Village on Tuesday and recommended a few measures including enhancing the manpower and resources for cleaning and maintenance of apartments, and deputing one dedicated officer each from the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Civil Service for each of the 34 towers of the Games Village. Those bureaucrats who were part of the review included principal secretary to Prime Minister TKA Nair, cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, chief secretary of Delhi Rakesh Mehra and vice-chairman of DDA Ashok Kumar among others.

Also Read

Who are those 10 chosen bureaucrats?

Action and Appointments

a) Usha Mathur, a 1974 batch IRAS has been appointed as secretary, ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in the vacancy of Anil Kumar, a 1973 batch UP cadre IAS. Prior to this appointment, she was additional Member, Finance in the Railway Board. During her long career, she has handled many finance and general management posts in the Indian Railways. She has also had a stint in the ministry of finance as joint secretary.

b) Nilanjan Sanyal, a 1979 batch Orissa cadre IAS has been appointed as additional secretary in the department of food and public distribution under the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, on in-situ elevation basis, with effect from July 28, 2010.

61,000 port workers and officers to get productivity linked rewards

CALL it party time for about 61,000 port workers and officers. The Central government has approved the payment of Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) at the rate of 17.34 percent of the annual salary to the port workers or officers for the year 2009-10.
Salary of each worker for this purpose will consist of Basic Pay, DA and incentive payments subject to a maximum of Rs 3500 per month. In respect of workers or officers, whose wage or salary exceed Rs 3500 per month, the calculation of payment will be made as if their salary/wage were only Rs.3500 per month.

The move will not have any impact on government exchequer as all expenditure on account of this payment will be borne by the major port trusts from their own resources without any budgetary support from the Government of India.

Cabinet secretary to take stock of Games preparation on Friday

Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar on Friday will take stock of the progress made in all the works related to the October 3 to 14 Commonwealth Games. All senior IAS of the bureaucrats’ panel will participate in the deliberation to be held in New Delhi. In fact, Prime Minister recently gave his nod in forming a 10-member bureaucrats’ panel headed by KM Chandrasekhar to fix the problems related to the Games. The panel was designated as “empowered” which can overrule the decisions taken by Kalmadi –headed Organization Committee. (Read: Who are the officers in the bureaucrats’ panel). 

BoI list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2010, is out; 3 IAS, 1 IRS and 1 IFS figure

THE final BoI (babusofindia.com) list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats in India, 2010, is out. Based on feedback from over 50 bureaucrats and politicians in corridors of power in Delhi, BoI Team has prepared the list which has three IAS, one IRS and one IFS officer. These bureaucrats, who wield tremendous power and have capacity to influence key government decisions, have derived their power not because of the posts they hold, but thanks to their proactive and at times controversial way of pushing matters ahead. In corridors of power, you can criticize each one of them for some decision or the other, but you can’t simply ignore any one of them. Welcome to the world of power babus.

No 1: KM Chandrasekhar

The Prime Minister’s recent decision to bestow overriding power to cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar-headed committee to monitor Commonwealth Games is just one of many instances of how “soft spoken”, “non-interfering” and “mild” Cab Sec has asserted himself during the last one year as the most powerful bureaucrat in India. His serial extension as India’s top bureaucrat even at the cost of making new rules and causing heartburns to his juniors, has vindicated his clout in the government and demonstrated PM’s growing confidence on him. (Read: Why is Chandrasekhar powerful?)

No 2: TKA Nair

A 1963 batch retired IAS, working as principal secretary to PM since May 2004, TKA Nair, is ranked No 2 in the BoI’s (babusofindia.com) list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats second time in a row. From managing crisis for the Prime Minister, meeting ministers on behalf of the PM to taking the viewpoints of top corporate honchos on all policy matters, Nair is still the man of the moment in PMO. (Read: Nair as Henry Kissinger style bureaucrat)

No 3: GK Pillai

Union home secretary GK Pillai is quite assertive, vocal and even non-diplomatic at times when questions of internal security become a priority. Pillai, a 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS, is ranked 3rd in BoI’s list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2010. Pillai and his boss P Chidambaram are now gearing up for a fool-proof security arrangement for the biggest sporting extravaganza in India, the Commonwealth Games. For Pillai, Games provide an opportunity to make him a true game-changer. (Read: Is Pillai a game-changer?)

No 4: Sudhir Chandra

When 400 taxmen carried out a massive search operation across properties of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda last year to trace his Rs 2000 cr allegedly unaccounted assets, a tax hound sitting at his North Block office was instructing everybody how to be extremely polite in handling the operation, but at the same time be as courageous as “Rani of Jhansi”. Sudhir Chandra, Member, Investigation of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is the 4th Most Powerful Bureaucrat in the list, and undoubtedly the most surprising candidate. But he is the driving force for making IRS no-lesser mortal in front of IAS. (Read: What makes Sudhir Chandra a powerful bureaucrat?)

No 5: Nirupama Rao

Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, the second woman IFS officer to clinch that coveted post, is suave, polite and as the profession demands “highly diplomatic”. 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! 

Chandrasekhar and his 10 bureaucrat commanders to take rein from Kalmadi and Co

THIS is the biggest ever victory of Indian bureaucracy at least during the last one decade if not more. During the final lap of the run-up to the controversy-ridden Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has taken out his trump card – an army of 10 IAS officers under cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar to manage the biggest sporting extravaganza, making the all-powerful Organizing Committee under Suresh Kalmadi virtually a subordinate body.

For the hand-picked bureaucrats, it’s quite a challenge as Prime Minister chose to trust bureaucracy rather than handing over the work to a group of ministers. Though there would be a group of ministers under urban development minister S Jaipal Reddy, the actual command will be in the hands of Chandrasekhar and his 10 commanders.

Here are the 10 bureaucrats, four additional secretaries and six joint secretaries, chosen by KM Chandrasekhar for the job.

1. Subodh Kumar: A post  graduate in physics with special 14 weeks-long training at UK in 2001, Subodh Kumar is a 1977 batch Maharastra cadre IAS, currently working as additional secretary in department of telecom (DoT).

2. SR Rao: A double MA in social work and rural development (UK), SR Rao is a 1978 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, currently working as additional secretary in IT department. Rao is still known for his stint as Municipal Commissioner to a traumatized, plague-hit Surat city. He is credited with cleaning up the city and placing it back into normalcy.

3. RC Misra: Additional secretary in urban development ministry

4. Amarjeet Singh: Executive Director, Health Ministry

5. JS Deepak: A masters in business administration, JS Deepak is a 1982 batch UP cadre IAS, now serving as joint secretary in the ministry of commerce. He was in the ministry of telecom till recently where he had handled among others the famous 3G auction. He refused to toe the line of telecom minister A Raja for which he was transferred out of the telecom.

6. Rohit Nandan: An MA in history with an MBA from University of Hull, UK, Rohit Nandan is a 1982 batch UP cadre IAS now working as a joint secretary in civil aviation.

7. Shashi Shekar: A 1981 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, Shashi Sekhar is now OSD-Power Trading Corporation.

8. Tara Dutt: Joint secretary at Cabinet Secretariat.

9. Gopal Krishna: A masters in physics and MBA, Gopal Krishna is a1983 batch West Bengal cadre IAS now working as secretary in Sports Authority of India. He had earlier served as joint secretary in the ministry of commerce.

10. Rajeev Kapur: A 1983 batch UP cadre IAS, Rajeev Kapur is now a joint secretary personnel and training.

BoI list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats

Watch out this space to spot who are India’s 4^th and 5^th most powerful bureaucrats

Principal secretary to PM, TKA Nair ranks No 2 in BoI's list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2010

HE IS seven batch senior to the senior-most IAS in India --- cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar. He holds the rank of a minister of state and wields immense power in South Block housing the PMO. Yes, you have guessed it right by now. He is TKA Nair, a 1963 batch retired IAS, working as principal secretary to PM since May 2004. Henry Kissinger style bureaucrat, TKA Nair, is ranked No 2 in the BoI’s (babusofindia.com) list of Most Powerful Bureaucrat second time in a row. From managing crisis for the Prime Minister, meeting ministers on behalf of the PM to taking the viewpoints of top corporate honchos on all policy matters, Nair is still the man of the moment in PMO. When ADAG chairman Anil Ambani lost the historic gas dispute case in Supreme Court a few months ago, he knew who to meet in power corridors. Ambani junior met Nair in South Block before narrating his viewpoints to PM.

Even on delayed work related to Commonwealth Games, Nair made a number of surprised visits to the venues last year and held stock-taking meetings to monitor the progress reports.
Nair, who was secretary to former prime minister IK Gujral and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had also served in Planning Commission. No one questions him about his efficiency and administrative skills though some officers complain in private that Nair likes them less than those belonging to Kerala!
Watch out this space to spot who are 3rd, 4th and 5th Most Powerful Bureaucrats in India, and what make them special in corridors of power.


Action and Appointments

a) The ACC has approved the repatriation of Dilsher Singh, a 1977 batch Punjab cadre IAS and Adviser, Planning Commission to his cadre.

b) BP Sharma, a 1981 batch Bihar cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of minority affairs.

c) The ACC has approved the assignment of additional charge of commissioner of security, civil aviation in the bureau of civil aviation security (BCAS), to Rohit Nandan, a 1982 batch UP cadre IAS, currently serving as joint secretary in the ministry of civil aviation for a period of two months.

Cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar tops list of India’s 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2010

THE Prime Minister’s recent decision to bestow overriding power to cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar-headed committee to monitor Commonwealth Games is just one of many instances of how “soft spoken”, “non-interfering” and “mild” Cab Sec has asserted himself during the last one year as the most powerful bureaucrat in India. His serial extension as India’s top bureaucrat even at the cost of making new rules and causing heartburns for his juniors, has vindicated his clout in the government and PM’s growing confidence on him.

babusofindia.com based on feedback of politicians and bureaucrats in corridors of power in Delhi, has now ranked KM Chandrasekhar, a 1970 batch Kerala cadre IAS, as No 1 Most Powerful Bureaucrat in India for 2010. (Read: Chandrasekhar at No 3 in 2009). A former ambassador and permanent representative of India in World Trade Organization (WTO) and revenue secretary in the ministry of finance, Mr Chandrasekhar has now piped TKA Nair, principal secretary to PM, to emerge as the most powerful bureaucrat of the country, according to ranking by babusofindia.com for 2010.

Yes, Chandrasekhar may not indulge in summoning anyone to exert his influence and get his work done, but he has emerged as a game-changer for government after he had introduced a series of ground rules for making administration work better. And that precisely has made him the darling of the Prime Minister who wants bureaucrats to bring in efficiency for the delivery mechanism. Chandrasekhar, who cracked the whip to get a 100-day work plan prepared even before UPA II regime took over in May, 2009, is also credited with institutionalizing target-based performance management mechanism for government departments by supporting Dr Prajapati Trivedi’s formulae. (Read: Meet this non-IAS)

The cabinet secretariat is now virtually ranking the performance of various ministries, and in an indirect way assessing the performance of UPA ministers. Now, Chandrasekhar and his team of officials will virtually take charge of the Commonwealth Games from Kalmadi and company! And that makes him the clear topper in the list of India’s 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2010 of babusofindia.com? Watch out this space to spot who have clinched the next four ranks.

Cabinet secretary-headed bureaucrats’ panel given sweeping power to oversee Commonwealth Games

IN AN unprecedented move, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to give overriding power to a committee of secretaries headed by cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar which will have jurisdiction over matters relating to the Organising Committee of the upcoming Commonwealth Games. In other words, Chandrasekhar's team will have power to question Kalmadi and Co in the run-up to the Games which has mired by controversies and allegations of corruption. 

The cabinet secretary was also directed to liaise closely with the Group of Ministers headed by urban development secretary Jaipal Reddy to ensure effective coordination among all the concerned authorities. “The committee of secretaries headed by the cabinet secretary will continue to review implementation and it will have the status of an Empowered Committee. It will have jurisdiction over matters relating to the Organising Committee and a secretary level officer of the Cabinet Secretariat will liaise with the Organising Committee on a daily basis,” a PMO release said.

The senior management committee of the Organising Committee would meet daily and be chaired by the CEO, himself a former IAS Jarnail Singh, in the absence of the chairman or vice-chairman, Organising Committee. Additional senior and experienced officers from the Government of India would be deputed as required, the PMO release said.

(In Picture: Cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar with home secretary GKPillai)

Now, cabinet secretary’s tenure could be upto 4 years; govt clarifies on July 22 cabinet nod

WITH media reports doing the rounds about the government fixing the cabinet secretary’s tenure for four years, the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions has issued a clarification denying such reports, but mentioned in details what transpired in the cabinet approval on July 22. According to the clarification, the government of the day would decide how long a cabinet secretary would stay beyond his fixed term, but his tenure can’t exceed four years. Many a senior IAS officer had a heartburn when KM Chandrasekhar, a 1970 batch Kerala cadre IAS, got yet another extension in June this year, as several of his juniors won't now be able to clinch the top bureaucrat's job.

“It is hereby clarified that the Cabinet in its meeting on 22nd July, 2010 approved the amendment to Fundamental Rule (FR) 56(d) to the effect that the Central Government may, if considered necessary in public interest so to do, give extension in service to a Cabinet Secretary in the Central Government for such period or periods as it may deem proper subject to the condition that his total term as such Cabinet Secretary does not exceed four years,” the statement said.

Action and Appointments

a) The ACC has not approved the proposal of the ministry of home affairs for inter-cadre transfer of Deepam Seth, a 1995 batch UP cadre IPS from Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand.

b) Rakesh Sehgal, a 1986 batch IDAS has been appointed as regional deputy director general (joint secretary level) in the UIDAI.

c) Chaitanya Prasad, a 1990 batch Bihar cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP).

d) Brij Mohan Singh Rathore, a 1982 batch MP cadre IFS has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of environment and forests.

e) SKG Rahate, a 1990 batch Jharkhand cadre IAS(JH-90) who is presently working as director, department of agriculture and cooperation has been appointed as joint secretary in that department.

f) The ACC has approved the cancellation of appointment of Anindo Majumadar, a 1985 batch AGMU cadre IAS as joint secretary in the department of agriculture and cooperation and put him on compulsory wait.

g) The ACC has approved the proposal of the MHA to appoint Dr GSG Ayyangar, a 1987 batch MT cadre IAS, as joint secretary (operations) in the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID). It is, in fact, a newly created post.

h) The ACC has approved the extension of inter cadre deputation of GC Hosur, a 1996 batch HP cadre IFS from Himachal Pradesh to Karnataka for a period of two years beyond the admissible period of five years.

Important Link

Training calendar for IAS for 2010-11

New civil services accountability bill may prescribe demotion as punishment

IS the proposed civil services performance and accountability bill meant for punishing those civil servants who are found to be wrongdoers? According to a report by Times of India quoting cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, the piece of legislation is mainly to make the civil services more accountable. The report, however, has not mentioned what are the incentives for those civil servants who are performers. (Also Read: Making the secretaries lakhpatis)

The department of personnel and training (DoPT)-piloted bill will codify existing rules and provide for clearer and more uniform penalties for misconduct, the report added. The bill will, in fact, give statutory form to service rules and provide for penal clauses to punish wrongdoers. The draft of the bill lists out stoppage of increments among others as punishments for charges like insubordination, lack of devotion to duty or failure to maintain integrity. Also, major penalties include demotion and dismissal from service, the report further said.

PMspeak

“Dr Faisal has made the entire state proud by standing first in the civil services examination. He received all his education in institutions of Jammu and Kashmir. His success is a proof that the educational institutions in the state are no less than other educational institutions of our country.” Dr Manmohan Singh speaking in Srinagar on Monday.

The man behind Rashmi’s success in civil services

The story of Rashmi Siddharth Zagade, a housewife from Pune, who secured the 169th rank in this year’s civil services examination, is quite romantic and inspiring. The secret of her success was none other her husband Siddharth Zagade who incidentally is a school drop out. According to media reports, he dreamed to become an IAS, but had to discontinue his studies after the death of his father. Now, he says he has realized the dream through his wife. Is there a man behind every successful woman?

3 reasons that scripted serial extension for KM Chandrasekhar as cabinet secretary

THE serial extension of India’s top bureaucrat KM Chandrasekhar for one more year as cabinet secretary could surprise some analysts in Delhi’s babudom, but the 1970 batch Kerala cadre IAS played his card so well during the last one and half years in particular that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh preferred to give him a four-year term though cabinet secretary’s post like those of home and defence secretaries have a two-year fixed term.

But the big question is what prompted the PM to give Mr Chandrasekhar yet another extension till June 13, 2011 ignoring the younger aspirants like urban development secretary M Ramachandran of 1972 batch and finance secretary Ashok Chawla of 1973 batch. Babus of India (BoI) which speculated such a scenario three months ago, lists here three key reasons that probably helped Mr Chandrasekhar remaining PM’s favourite for the top bureaucrat’s post.

1) KM Chandrasekhar’s biggest advantage to remain on top is his simple way of doing things ensuring that his continuation as cabinet secretary does not really upset power equations India’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Cabinet secretary’s position is important, but Mr Chandrasekhar has not made any attempt to diminish clouts that principal secretary to PM TKA Nair enjoys. After all, when corporate honchos like Mukesh Ambani visit power corridors, they don’t seek appointments with Mr Chandrasekhar but invariably meet TKA Nair.

2) Secondly, Prime Minister was impressed with Mr Chandrasekhar when the latter asked all secretaries to prepare a 100-day target plan of various ministries even before the election results were out in May last year. In June, 2009, PM rewarded the proactive Chandrasekhar with one-year extension dashing the hope of Sudha Pillai, 1972 batch IAS, to move to the top position. In fact, Mr Chandrasekhar brought in a World Bank old-hand Dr Prajapati Trivedi to begin a major exercise to map bureaucrats’ performance in every ministry --- a step PM has reportedly liked the most about Mr Chandrasekhar.

3) Finally, Mr Chandrasekhar who works closely with the PM has an advantage compared to other cabinet secretary contenders who get a chance to meet the PM once in blue moon. Even Dr Singh did not want to take risk in choosing a new person for the job and instead extended the tenure of his trusted man. Also, if the spurt of extensions in PMO during the last one year is any indication, Dr Singh definitely prefers to bank on his trusted war-horses than experimenting with a new recruit.

Also Read

PM continues to retain key officers

Three scenarios of the next cabinet secretary

Action and Appointments

Ms Rita Sharma, a 1974 batch UP cadre retired IAS has been appointed as secretary, National Advisory Council, in the rank and pay of secretary to the Government of India, on contract basis, until further orders. Ms Sharma, former secretary of drinking water in rural development ministry, would now be a key player in UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi-led NAC’s social sector initiative. 

Commonwealth Games could be an excuse for govt to give yet another extension to cabinet secretary Chandrasekhar

 THE government may find the Commonwealth Games preparation an excuse to give yet another extension to incumbent cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, a 1970 batch Kerala cadre IAS and former revenue secretary in Government of India. Mr Chandrasekhar, who got an extension of one year in June 2009 only to dash hopes of then labour secretary and now Member Secretary in Planning Commission Sudha Pillai becoming the cabinet secretary, may now play a spoilsport to the bids of urban development secretary M Ramachandran of 1972 batch and finance secretary Ashok Chawla of 1973 batch becoming the country’s top bureaucrat. Mr Ramachandran is retiring next month and Mr Chawla will retire in January 2011.

According to highly placed sources, the need for a continued co-ordination with various ministries in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games could be assigned as a reason for the unusual second extension for the incumbent cabinet secretary.

What this extension may also mean is a possible homecoming for Pulok Chaterji, a 1974 batch UP cadre IAS, who had earlier served as a secretary in PMO dealing with all important issues including transfers and appointments.

Significantly, babusofindia.com (BoI) speculated such a situation in a post dated way back to March 2, 2010. It wrote, “…if Mr Chandrasekhar is given another extension, it could also pave the way for Pulok Chaterji, a 1974 batch UP cadre IAS and close confidante of UPA chairwoman Sonia Gandhi, to supersede a few officers to grab the top bureaucrat’s job. A secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) during UPA’s first innings, Mr Chaterji is now in Washington DC serving as the executive director of the World Bank…”

(In Picture: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh congratulating Dr Shah Faisal, the Civil Services topper for 2010 from Jammu and Kashmir, in New Delhi on May 26, 2010.)

Action and Appointments

a) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Ms Nita Kapoor, a 1973 batch IDAS as secretary (defence finance) in place of Ms Indu Liberhan, a 1972 batch IDAS who is retiring on May 31, 2010.

b) The ACC has also approved the appointment of Manbir Singh, a 1976 batch IFS as secretary, at the headquarters of the ministry of external affairs (MEA) in place of Ms Parbati Sen Vyas, a 1975 batch IFS who is retiring on July 31, 2010.

c) Niten Chandra, a 1990 batch Orissa cadre IAS, presently working as director in the department of rural development has been appointed as joint secretary in that department.

BoI Extraa

Like to send your children for a theatre workshop to be held from June 15, 2010 to June 30, 2010, in New Delhi to be organised by Central Civil Services Cultural and Sports Board. Just follow THIS LINK