RAIL RESHUFFLE: AK Mital is new Railway Board chairman; Kumar appointed as Member Staff, Tandon Member Electrical

AK Mital

AK Mital, an officer of 1976 batch of Indian Railways Service of Stores (IRSS), was appointed on Wednesday as new chairman, Railway Board and ex-officio principal secretary to Government of India. Pradeep Kumar now succeeds Mital as Member Staff whereas Navin Tandon has been appointed as Member, Electrical. Know more about Mital, Kumar and Tandon:

Govt kick-starts process of selecting the next CVC; Read DoPT’s explanation of Leader of Opposition

CVC Kumar's term ends on Sep 28

THE government began the process of selecting the next Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) on Monday when DoPT secretary SK Sarkar wrote a formal letter to all Government of India secretaries to nominate suitable candidates  for replacing incumbent Pradeep Kumar, 1972 batch former IAS, whose tenure ends on September 28, 2014. After the Supreme Court’s 2011 judgement that the post of CVC and Vigilance Commissioners would no longer be...

BoI Power List: CVC Pradeep Kumar ranked third most powerful bureaucrat

Pradeep Kumar: Scaling High

IN THIS season of scams and growing anti-corruption movements, it’s not unusual that power centre shifts from the conventional powerful bureaucrats to those who check-mate the high and mighty. Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) Pradeep Kumar is the third most powerful bureaucrat, according to BoI (babusofindia.com) list of 5 Most Powerful Indian Bureaucrats, 2011. This is the third year in a row that BoI is coming out with this power list. Cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth and Principal secretary to PM TKA Nair are ranked fourth and fifth most powerful bureaucrats in 2011 list.

Kumar’s power comes from fact that the CVC just can’t sit idle when there is a nationwide protest against graft. That means more concrete actions against corrupt bureaucrats are on their way, and it’s not unusual to find the government’s anti-corruption watchdog becoming much more vigilant. And that ultimately makes Kumar more powerful that he was as India’s defence secretary. The equation may, however, change when a strong and independently selected Lokpal anchors the show. But that may still take some months, and the actual implementation may take a year.

Kumar, a 1972 batch retired IAS, was unanimously selected as India’s Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), a post that unexpectedly lied vacant after the Supreme Court quashed 1973 batch retired IAS PJ Thomas’ controversial appointment as CVC. Kumar had earlier worked as chairman, National Highways Authority of India, secretary, disinvestment, defence production and then defence.

Among the high profile 1972 batch officers that are still playing key roles in corridors of power include national security adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon, Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai, RBI governor D Subbarao, Planning Commission Member Secretary Sudha Pillai to name a few.
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Pradeep Kumar as CVC: At 62, this Haryana cadre IAS set to be have busier schedule

Kumar with a few mountaineers

FOR quite sometime, 1972 batch officers have turned lucky, but defence secretary Pradeep Kumar is even luckier. He is almost 62 and is retiring as defence secretary next month. But his post-retirement job is ready, as this Haryana cadre IAS officer has been unanimously selected as India’s next Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), a post that unexpectedly lied vacant after the Supreme Court quashed 1973 batch retired IAS PJ Thomas’ controversial appointment as CVC.

Among the high profile 1972 batch officers that are still playing key roles in corridors of power include national security adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon, Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai, RBI governor D Subbarao, Planning Commission Member Secretary Sudha Pillai just to name a few.

Know Your New CVC

Name: Pradeep Kumar,

Cadre: Haryana cadre IAS

Batch: 1972

Educational Qualifications

Masters in Economics

Major Postings

a) Joint Secretary in the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises, New Delhi from September 20, 1997 to September 11, 2002

b) Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhavan, New Delhi

(From April, 10, 2003 to December 19, 2003)

c) Additional secretary, Mines and Minerals, Coal

(From December 19, 2003 to June 23, 2006)

d) Chairman, National Highways Auth of India (NHAI),

(From October 4,2006 to July 30, 2007)

e) Secretary, department of disinvestment, Ministry of Finance

(From July 30, 2007 to August 1, 2008)

f) Secretary, defence production

(From February 2, 2008 to July 2009)

g) Defence secretary

(July 31, 2009 till now)

Foreign degree

MSc in economics and social science, from UK (1986)

Countdown Begins: Who will be India’s next cabinet secretary?

THE race for the next cabinet secretary’s post may get intensified in the coming days as there are just three and half months left for a new IAS officer to clinch India’s top bureaucrat’s job. But if incumbent KM Chandrasekhar, a 1970 batch Kerala cadre IAS, gets an extension for six months, as was reported by a national daily on Monday, the present permutations and combinations may go topsy-turvy.

Situation 1: Advantage Ramachandran

First, let’s do a reality check of the Situation 1 in which Mr Chandrasekhar retires as scheduled on June 14, 2010 after serving as the cabinet secretary for long three years. In that case, the senior most bureaucrat of the 1972 batch and current urban development secretary M Ramachandran is a clear winner. He is non-controversial, a strong follower of rule books, hard-working and also a hot favourite of Prime Minister’s principal secretary and one of the most influential officials in the PMO, TKA Nair. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has interacted with him on a few occasions, and is believed to have a good opinion about him. The only other 1972 batch secretary level officer who will remain serving till then is tourism secretary Sujit Banerjee, but he is no way a contender for the post.

What further helps Mr Ramachandran over someone from 1973 or 1974 batch is the fact that both home secretary GK Pillai and defence secretary Pradeep Kumar who are on two-year-long fixed terms, happen to be his batch-mates and are unlikely to be subjected under a junior cabinet secretary.

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Numerological influence of 1972 batch IAS?

Situation 2: First woman cabinet secretary

Sometime back, there were gossips in Raisina Hill that incumbent cabinet secretary Mr Chandrasekhar who is already on an extension now, may be given a post equivalent to a minister of state earlier than scheduled, paving the way for Planning Commission secretary and the topper of the current merit cum seniority list of 1972 batch IAS now, Sudha Pillai to get the coveted post. But that can be possible only if the announcement is made one and half months earlier, as Ms Pillai who is also the wife of home secretary GK Pillai, retires on April 30, 2010. babu blogger made a mistake in an earlier post saying that Ms Pillai would retire on May 31, 2010.

Her strong social sector background may rather count as a positive factor, as the cabinet secretary’s mandate no longer requires prior experiences in home or defence, as the incumbent cabinet secretary himself is a former revenue secretary. Also, NSA Shiv Shankar Menon and home secretary GK Pillai, both happen to be from the same 1972 batch IFS and IAS respectively, are likely to take care of issues related to external and internal security respectively. For Ms Pillai, the biggest strength, however, comes from the fact that Dr Singh’s government may like to make a history by elevating two women officers as foreign secretary and cabinet secretary. For the record, 1973 batch IFS Nirupama Rao is already the top diplomat of the country.

Read

BoI Ranking: India's top 3 most powerful woman bureaucrats

Woman on Top: Nirupama Rao is now foreign secretary

Situation 3: Chawla Vs Chaterje

This is a newly developed situation of present cabinet secretary getting an extension for another six months in addition to his one-year extended term. Though the national daily which flashed this speculative story on Monday did not assign any major reason for his possible extension, many of his ongoing initiatives including assessment of ministries in a structured manner could be one of the reasons for the PM to vouch for continuity.

But a six months extension for Mr Chandrasekhar means current finance secretary Ashok Chawla, a 1973 batch Gujarat cadre IAS retiring only on January 31, 2011, emerging as the top contender for the coveted post. He is known to be well-connected in power circle and has served under two Congress heavyweights – finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and home minister P Chidambaram. Though a person close to the development says that his closeness to Pranab Mukherjee may rather be counter-productive, but few people know that he has some 10 Janpath connections too!

But even a fewer people have anticipated so far that 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. After all, he had served as district magistrate of Rae Bareli in early 1980s, a director in the PMO during Rajiv Gandhi’s time, a secretary (joint secretary equivalent) in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in early 1990s, and then a private secretary to Sonia Gandhi when she was the leader of the Opposition. A quite a strong CV indeed to clinch India’s top bureaucrat’s job!

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PMO continues to retain key officers

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

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

In fact, 1972 batch civil service topper and former finance secretary Dr D Subbarao of Andhra Pradesh cadre was already appointed as the 22nd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and two of his batch-mates, GK Pillai of Kerala cadre and Pradeep Kumar of Haryana cadre are India’s home and defence secretaries respectively for a period of two years.

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

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

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

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

Action and Appointments

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

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

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

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

Prez Patil says she is proud of more women joining Indian Police Service

PRESIDENT of India Pratibha Patil wants IPS officers to take a few steps ahead of law breakers and says she is proud to see a large number of women joing Indian Police Service. She was talking to a group of probationers of the 61st batch of the IPS who called on her at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The group of 91 officers, in which 22 are lady officers, bring with them the experience from varied backgrounds, with some of them being qualified doctors, engineers and information tech-nologists.
The women officers of this IPS batch described their aspirations to the President, saying that they would strive to sensitize the police on important social issues, help the poor and be leaders, by having a vision.

Defence secretary on China visit from January 6
Defence secretary Pradeep Kumar, a 1972 batch from Haryana cadre, is expected to visit China from January 6 to hold dialogue with the Chinese military leadership, media reports said. It will be the first ever official visit by an Indian defence secretary to Beijing.

Action and Appointments
a) R Gopalan, a 1976 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, presently special secretary, department of commerce, has been appointed as secretary, department of financial services, ministry of finance by upgrading the post of additional secretary held by G C Chaturvedi, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS to its original level of secretary. In turn, GC Chaturevedi, will remain as additional secretary in the department of financial services until further orders.
b) Rajinder Pal Singh, a 1976 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS, presently on compulosry wait in the department of financial services, ministry of finance, has been appointed as secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), ministry of commerce and industry in place of Ajay Shanker, a 1973 batch UP cadre IAS who retired on December 31, 2009.
c) Anwar Ehsan Ahmad, a 1976 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS, presently special secretary, ministry of home affairs, has been appointed as secretary, department of border management in the MHA.

Babus In Demand: A high profile post on offer for WTO, Geneva

THE government has been looking for locating the right candidate to fill up a high profile post to be based out of Geneva in Switzerland. In fact, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) has issued letters to all state chief secretaries and secretaries of Central government ministries and departments to get an officer at the rank of deputy secretary or director to be posted as Counsellor (Services) in the Permanent Mission of India (PMI), World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva. The vacancy will arise on arise on November 21, 2009. Officers applying for this post should have the following qualifications and experience: 1) Officers having 2 years cumulative work experience in Commerce, trade and industry. 2) Should be familiar with the functioning of the WTO and have knowledge of the legal agreements. 3) Must have worked for at least 2 years at the Centre under the Central Staffing Scheme. 4) Should not be over 54 years of age. 5) Should be at least 3 batches below the next batch to be considered for empanelment as joint secretary. Last Date of application: August 30, 2009

Action & Appointments a) V Sridhar, IRS (Customs & Central Excise) of 1973 batch has been appointed as chairman, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in the department of revenue, ministry of finance. Mr Sridhar who is presently Member, CBEC succeeds P C Jha, IRS (C&CE) who superannuated as Chairman, CBEC on Thursday. b) Pradeep Kumar, a 1972 batch Haryana cadre IAS today took over as the defence secretary on Thursday. Read “Know Your Babu: New defence secretary Pradeep Kumar” posted on July 15, 2009.

Know Your Babu: New defence secretary Pradeep Kumar

THE wait is finally over. Pradeep Kumar, a 1972 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre and presently secretary, department of defence production under the ministry of defence will be India’s next defence secretary. He would take over from Vijay Singh, a 1970 batch MP cadre IAS who is due to superannuate on July 31, 2009. Mr Kumar will have a tenure of two years from the date of taking over the charge of the post. babu blogger in a post dated June 20, 2009, said that Mr Kumar is “believed to be the front-runner for the post thanks to his experiences in defence department for sometime now.”

Know Your Babu Name : Pradeep Kumar, Cadre: Haryana cadre IAS Batch: 1972 Educational Qualifications Masters in Economics Major Postings a) Joint Secretary in the ministry of heavy industries & public enterprises, New Delhi from September 20, 1997 to September 11, 2002 b) Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhavan, New Delhi (From April, 10, 2003 to December 19, 2003) c) Additional secretary, Mines & Minerals, Coal (From December 19, 2003 to June 23, 2006) d) Chairman, National Highways Auth of India (NHAI), (From October 4,2006 to July 30, 2007) e) Secretary, department of disinvestment, Ministry of Finance (From July 30, 2007 to August 1, 2008) f) Secretary, defence production (From February 2, 2008 till now) Foreign degree MSc in economics and social science, from UK (1986)

Urban development secretary M Ramachandran could be the dark horse for clinching defence secretary’s post

URBAN development secretary M Ramachandran, a 1972 batch IAS, may emerge as a surprise candidate for the post of defence secretary after current incumbent Vijay Singh retires in the end of July. Though current secretary of the department of defence production Pradeep Kumar, also a 1972 batch IAS from Haryana cadre, is believed to be the front-runner for the post thanks to his experiences in defence department for sometime now, the government may place Mr Ramachandran for the post as a run-up to his candidature for India’s next cabinet secretary. In fact, Mr Ramachandran, who has played a key role in implementing the government’s flagship urban programme JNNURM, is a key contender for the post of cabinet secretary when K M Chandrasekhar’s one-year extension term comes to an end in June next year. It’s believed that Mr Ramachandran’s experiences in defence would make him even a better candidate for cabinet secretary’s post. Extension & Appointment of Officers Central deputation tenure of M Deena Dayalan, IA&AS (1978), joint secretary & financial advisor, in the department of expenditure has been extended beyond July 11, 2009 till his date of superannuation on February 28, 2010. IPS Posting: The proposal of the ministry of home affairs for the induction of the following IPS officers into the ‘hard-core’ of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been approved. The officers are: (i) S K Sinha, IPS (Bihar, 1983) (ii) Ms Kala Ramachandran, IPS (Haryana, 1994) (iii) A K Shukla, IPS (MT, 1986) (iv) M Madana Mohan, IPS (MT, 1987) (v) Rithwik Rudra, IPS (Himachal Pradesh, 1993) Dr Zaidi’s Additional Charge: The government has approved the assignment of additional charge of the functions of Representative of India (ROI) on the Council of International Civil Aviation Organization, (ICAO) to Dr Nasim Zaidi, IAS (UP, 1976), Director General of Civil Aviation under the ministry of civil aviation, for a period of three months beyond April 22, 2009 or till new incumbent on the post of ROI, ICAO is appointed. Babus In Demand The government wants application for filling up the post of Financial Advisor (Joint Secretary level) in Khadi & Village Industries Commission at Mumbai, under the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises in the pay band of Rs 37400-67000 (PB-4) and grade pay of Rs 10,000 on deputation basis. IAS officer in MP suspended on sodomy charges An IAS officer in Madhya Pradesh was suspended on charges of committing sodomy on a Panchayat secretary in Bhopal on Friday. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan himself announced the suspension of Bhopal district Janpad Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gyaneshwar Patil, who was allegedly caught by a group of mediapersons when he was with a panchayat employee in the office washroom.