“Anonymity is one of the greatest strengths of civil services”; 10 things PM said on Civil Services Day

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday cautioned civil servants that the use of social media should not lead to a decline anonymity which has been one of the greatest strengths of civil services, even as social media and mobile governance are being leveraged to connect people to government schemes. While presenting the PM’s awards on the occasion of the eleventh Civil Services Day, PM further urged senior officers to ensure that their experiences should not become a burden that stifles innovation of younger officers. Here are 10 things PM Modi said on the occasion:

Nominations invited for PM’s awards for Excellence in Public Administration; NGOs can also nominate outstanding officers

THE Central government has invited the nominations of outstanding officers for “Prime Minister’s Awards for excellence in Public Administration”. The award is meant for recognizing the extraordinary and innovative work done by officers of the Central and state governments.

All officers of Central and state governments individually or as a group or as organizations are eligible for consideration. Nominations are now being invited for the year 2010-11 under the scheme. The last date for receipt of nominations is July 15, 2011 in the department of administrative reforms and public grievances under the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions.

The Central government departments, ministries, state governments, NGOs and other stakeholders can be nominating authorities.

The main features of the scheme as well as operational guidelines are as under:

a) Self nominations are not accepted.

b) In respect of nominations from states, the state governments will constitute state level committees to shortlist their nominations and verify the facts before forwarding the nominations to the Central government.

c) Nominations should generally be encouraged. However, nominating authorities and state-level committees are requested to forward or short-list nominations only if the initiatives of the concerned officers are truly innovative, outstanding or exceptional in nature.

d) Nominating authorities should ensure that no vigilance case or enquiry is pending against the nominated officer.

e) Central government departments, ministries, state governments, NGOs and other stakeholders can be nominating authorities.

g) Where the nomination is in respect of a group of individuals, it should be ensured that names of all the nominees concerned are explicitly stated.

h) Nomination should be submitted in the Form prescribed.

For detailed guidelines, log onto the department’s website: www.darpg.nic.in.

Now, proximity to Narendra Modi costs an IAS’ job!

DK Rao, a 1980-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer, has claimed that he was forced to retire from service because of his proximity to chief minister Narendra Modi. After a couple of instances of IAS and IPS officers becoming a victim because of anti-Modi stance, here is a case where the IAS says he is a victim of political and bureaucratic rivalry because of his closeness to Modi. According to media reports, Rao lost his job after Central Vigilance Commission and the DOPT implicated him in a 16-year-old corruption case. The Indian Express quoted Rao as saying that some Congress leaders targeted him.

Back to North Block: GK Pillai to take over as new home secretary

INDIA'S two most important bureaucrats, cabinet secretary and home secretary, may now be able to discuss security related matters in Malayalam. There is no prize for guessing who is India’s next home secretary! Present commerce secretary G K Pillai, a 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS, will move to North Block as an OSD (Home) now, and will finally take over as home secretary on June 30, 2009 when current incumbent Madhukar Gupta, a 1970 batch IAS, retires. Mr Pillai, who was also a contender for the post of cabinet secretary along with his wife labour secretary Sudha Pillai, will have a now have a two-year-term in North Block. The government had earlier given one year extension to K M Chandrasekhar, Mr Pillai’s senior from Kerala cadre. Mr Pillai is quite familiar with the home ministry where he was the joint secretary in charge of North East from 1996-2001 before becoming the principal secretary to Kerala CM A K Antony, now defence minister in Manmohan Singh’s cabinet. This has led people in power corridors speculate that Mr Pillai could be selected for defence secretary after the incumbent Vijay Singh retires next month. Now, there have already been speculations over who would become the next defence secretary. Keep reading Babu Blogger’s posts. Delhiite Khullar appointed as commerce secretary THE government has also appointed disinvestment secretary Rahul Khullar of 1975 batch as the next commerce secretary. The man who is one of the few senior officers belonging to the capital city of Delhi, had earlier worked in commerce ministry in various capacities including as joint secretary, additional secretary and special secretary. A doctorate in economics, Mr Khullar also completed a course in economics from Boston University, US. Babus In Demand THE government has asked for nominations for newly instituted “Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration” to acknowledge, recognize and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by officers of Central and state governments. All officers of Central and state governments individually or as group or as organizations are eligible for consideration. The last date of receipt of nominations is August 17, 2009. For details, log onto http://darpg.nic.in/ or http://www.asci.org.in/ You can also pick up the phone to contact director (administrative reforms) in the department of administrative reforms and public grievances at 011-23362369