Corridors of Surrender, not Power: Those in white ambassadors begin to lose power tag

Flashback 2011. If the nervousness of Indian bureaucrats has anything to go by, India’s corridor of power is virtually turning into corridor of nervousness, and even corridor of surrender. This could ultimately prove to be a temporary phase, but as it stands now, the high and mighty in Raisina Hills are standing in front of the mirrors to figure out whether they are still the most powerful men and women in India.

It’s an unusual year when there is a near-consensus that Comptroller and Auditor General is actually more powerful than principal secretary to Prime Minister. And the men on the street, read Anna followers, are not hesitating to publicly ridicule appointment of the CBI chief, a trend that was earlier unheard of. Even top bureaucrats in Delhi can no longer risk themselves by guaranteeing anyone that “the work will be done”. Also, taking cue from others, even corporate leaders who had earlier refrained from making any public statement against bureaucrats, are talking about policy paralysis and making strong anti-bureaucrat statements. Have the men inside white ambassadors lost the power that they wielded till last year?

The majority of bright young Indians still want to join civil service not because of any fat salary packages but for prestige, social status and opportunity to make a difference to the society. According to an official Civil Services survey undertaken in 2010 with a large sample size of over 4000 serving bureaucrats including IAS, IPS, IRS etc. “visible symbols of power” was an “important” determinant to join bureaucracy, at least for 44 percent respondents. For 18 percent respondents, “visible symbols of power” was the “very important” reason for their joining the services. As high as 56 percent respondents also agreed that they chose to be civil servants because of the “prestige and social status associated with civil service”.

But the events in 2011 have definitely shaken Indian bureaucrats and attacked the very visible symbol of power associated with civil servants.

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Action and Appointments

a) Shankar Agarwal, a 1980 batch UP cadre IAS, has been appointed as additional secretary in the defence ministry.

b) Chirravuri Viswanath, 1981 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS, currently joint secretary in the department of food and public distribution, has been appointed as additional secretary in the information and broadcasting ministry.

c) Suresh Chandra Panda, a 1981 batch Assam cadre IAS, presently development commissioner in SEZ, Noida, has been appointed as additional secretary and financial adviser in home ministry.

d) Deverakonda Diptivilasa, a 1981 batch UP cadre IAS, has been appointed as additional secretary in urban development ministry.

Bong age in Raisina Hill: Bengali Bhadralok Pulok Chatterji’s possible homecoming next year may change power dynamics

CALL it a resurgence of Bengali babus in power dynamics of Raisina Hills. If Pulok Chatterji, 1974 batch IAS officer known for his proximity to 10 Janpath, is back in corridors of power as cabinet secretary next year, it could be the beginning of Bengali Bhadraloks’ super-challenge to the dominance of Malayali officers that has prevailed for the last few years. Mr Chatterji (in picture) who was an influential secretary in PMO during UPA-I, is now India’s executive director in the World Bank. Yes, Kissinger-type master bureaucrat and principal secretary to PM TKA Nair who every Kerala cadre officer looks upto for suggestions, will remain strong next year too, but the sheer rise of Bengali secretaries in key Central government departments may rewrite the script of power equations on community line.

In fact, the coming of the Bong age in Raisina Hills was demonstrated recently in a party organized by Tarun Das, ex-chief mentor of the industry lobby CII and Shekhar Datta, ex-MD of Crompton Greaves at New Delhi’s Jor Bagh area. According to reports, revenue secretary Sunil Mitra of 1975 batch, divestment secretary Sumit Bose of 1976 batch, agriculture secretary Prabeer Kumar Basu of 1976 batch, chemicals secretary Bijoy Chatterjee of 1973 batch and government’s chief statistician Pronab Sen and his elder brother and Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen, hobnobbed with a select few from corporate India. And the menu included chingri malaikari (prawns in coconut gravy) and luchi (puris) in addition to some typical Bengali delicacies brought specially from famous restaurant, ‘Oh Calcutta’.

In fact, the induction of Sunil Mitra and Sumit Bose, both finest Bengali officers, into the finance ministry at the behest of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee in January this year gave an early indication that Bengali officers may now occupy influential positions. (Read: FM gets Bengali officers)

The other influential Bengali secretaries in Delhi include tourism secretary Sujit Banerjee of 1972 batch, cultural secretary Jawahar Sircar of 1975 batch, public enterprises secretary Bhaskar Chatterjee of 1975 batch and Dr Srikumar Banerjee, secretary of department of atomic energy to name a few.

Action and Appointments

a) Goa’s leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar has demanded a senior IPS officer or the CBI should investigate the death of tourism minister Francisco 'Mickky' Pacheco’s close friend Nadia Torrado.

b) Chhattisgarh Congress has slammed the move to reinstate Babulal Agrawal, a 1988 batch Chhattishgarh cadre IAS as probes by Economic Offences Wing and the Income Tax department are continuing.

Read

IAS with 220 bank accounts

Women’s Bill In Raisina Hill: Indian politicians bank on power women of great Indian babudom

IF THE Indian government has its way, the “Monday, the March 8” won’t just be remembered just for routine celebration of international women’s day. In fact, India is on the verge of making history as the ruling party coupled with the main Opposition, the BJP, is determined to enact a new law that will ensure 33% reservation for women Parliamentarians in Lok Sabha.

Whereas more women politicians are likely to enter corridors of power in coming days, let’s do a reality check of the most powerful women bureaucrats in India and why they are so important in Raisina Hills.

In fact, the BoI (babusofindia) ranking of the country’s three most powerful women has remained unchanged during the last five months. Even now, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, a 1973 batch IFS, India’s ambassador to US Meera Shankar, also a 1973 batch IFS and 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS and Planning Commission secretary Sudha Pillai have remained the three most powerful women bureaucrats in the country.

(Click here to read: India’s 3 most powerful women bureaucrats)

But they are not alone. One out of four secretary level officers (at the Centre) happens to be a woman --- a marginally improved statistics than 13.7% serving IAS in the country being women officers.

Some of the power-women in New Delhi include expenditure secretary Sushama Nath, a 1974 batch MP cadre IAS, school education secretary Anshu Vaish, a 1975 batch MP cadre IAS, mining secretary Santha Sheela Nair, 1973 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, health secretary Kanuru Sujatha Rao, 1974 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS, higher education secretary Vibha Puri, 1976 batch Uttarakhand cadre, secretary in department of AYUSH S Jalaja, 1974 batch Bihar cadre IAS, land resources secretary Rita Sinha, a1973 batch UP cadre IAS, drinking water secretary Rajwant Sandhu, a 1975 batch HP cadre IAS, food secretary Alka Sirohi, a 1974 batch MP cadre IAS, textile secretary Rita Menon, a 1975 batch UP cadre IAS, sports secretary Sindhushree Khullar, 1975 batch UT cadre IAS, urban poverty alleviation secretary Kiran Dhingra, also a 1975 batch UT cadre IAS etc.

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Nirupama Rao's prescription for Indian diplomats

Sudha Pillai still a contender for cabinet secretary

Questions in Lok Sabha on changes in UPSC’s recruitment process

WATCH out for the official answer of some of the important questions that you have been guessing for far. The government will give a formal reply to a question admitted in Lok Sabha on possible changes in the recruitment process of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Though the changes in the methods of recruitment through UPSC have been indicated in various forums, it has not been made clear so far.

The list of unstarred questions that are being admitted in Lok Sabha for March 10, 2010, also includes amendment of RTI Act, CBI raid in government offices, reservation for Muslims, travel concessions for pensioners, OBC in Central government services, bureaucrats in vigilance cases, induction of state civil services to IAS, vacant posts in CBI, reservation to ex-servicemen etc. For the same day, there is a starred question on single recruitment examination too.

List of Lok Sabha questions for March 10, 2010

Welcome to New Delhi’s gardens of power this Valentine Day!

WOULD like relax at the nearest point of power corridors of Raisina Hill? Yes, you can come and visit the Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan including the Musical Garden, Spiritual Garden, Herbal Garden and Biodiversity Park, which are being opened for viewing by the general public from February 13 to March 11. The gardens will be open to the general public on all days from 10 am to 5 pm, except on Mondays.

For those not so familiar with the site, the garden is situated near all important government landmarks including Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), ministries of defence, home, finance, personnel and external affairs.

This year the special attraction will be the Cactus corner and a Bonsai segment. A Rashtrapati Bhavan release said, Bonsai lovers would be able to enjoy a collection of such plants, which are on special display. The gardens are also known for annual flowers such as enlivening roses, lilies, tulips, double pansy flowers and eye-catching velvet green lawns intercepted with lotus shaped fountains and blue base water canals.

The Mughal Gardens, contiguous to the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan cover an area of 15 acres. They were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens who was inspired by the beautiful gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the garden around the Taj Mahal and Persian and Indian miniature paintings. The central lawn is the venue of numerous receptions and “At Homes” hosted by the President of India.

(In Picture: President Ms Pratibha Devisingh Patil with the flower Tulips at Mughal Garden of Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on February 12, 2010)

Action and Appointments

a) The Punjab government on Friday transferred 11 IAS officers, 11 IPS and two Punjab civil services officers in the state. Suresh Kumar, IAS, has been posted as principal secretary, technical education and industrial training and is given additional charge of the chairman of Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, IAS, has been appointed as principal secretary of school education.

b) Chhattisgarh government today transferred eight IPS officers and a state police officer. IG Anand Tiwari who was with Police headquarters would now be IG (training). The other officers who were transferred include RK Vij, Rajesh Mishra, RC Patel, SK Jha and Anand Chabra among others.

babu blogger in Europe for 5 days; blogging to continue uninterrupted

My Take: AS I am about to take a flight first to go to Amsterdam, and finally to Stockholm, here is a promise to my esteemed readers. I won’t disappoint you in the next five days when I will be in Europe as you would continue to receive interesting posts on India’s civil servants. I may however take some liberty to write a few generic topics which many bureaucrats have asked me to write during the last eight weeks of my writing on Indian babus. Yes, I won’t follow white ambassadors of Raisina Hills next five days, but friends of babu blogger would continue to send me enough feeds in this tech-smart world to sustain my endeavour from Europe. Enjoy reading news, insights, analysis and future trends of Indian bureaucrats on your favourite blog, babusofindia.com