Officer wanted as Consul (Education) in Embassy of India in Washington DC; More on eligibility

IF YOU are a deputy secretary or director-ranked officer at the Centre willing to work in Indian embassy in Washington DC, this information is for you. The government has been looking for a suitable candidate for the post of Consul (Education) in Embassy of India, Washington DC under the department of higher education, ministry of human resource development for a period of three years. Interestingly, the experience in educational administration is a must and desirable qualifications include…exposure to multilateral and international organizations. And the mandatory qualifications are:

US to use “behavioral science” methods to improve govt schemes; will New Delhi borrow the concept?

India's PM Narendra Modi with Obama in New Delhi (File photo)

US President Barack Obama’s executive order last week to make use of “behavioral science” methods to improve effectiveness of government programmes, may find takers among nations, as many a government around the world including that in India often scouts for innovative solutions to design better government policies. Obama’s September 15 directive, as released by the White House, said…

Foreign Companies, Desi Agents and Government Officials: Modus operandi of bribing bureaucrats to procure contracts

BRIBING of Indian government officials by foreign companies has come to the fore once again after the US Justice Department said last week that New Jersey-based construction management company Louis Berger International Inc (LBI) bribed officials in India and a few other countries to secure government contracts that included water projects in Goa and Guwahati. The total bribe paid in August 2010 for securing the Goa project alone amounted to USD 9,76,630 (Rs 6.2 crore according to current exchange rate). But what was the modus operandi deployed in bribing officials? According to the ruling of the United States district court of New Jersey, (USA Vs Louis Berger International Inc Criminal Complaint Mag. No. 15-3624, MF), the company concerned "did create...

Job for JS level officer in Washington; applicant-officers asked to write 250 words on their suitability

Indian Embassy, Washington

IN WHAT could be termed as unusual in government's appointment process, the Centre has asked candidates to write 250 words indicating the candidate’s suitability while applying for the post of Minister (Economic) in the economic wing of Embassy of India in Washington. The post is at the level of...

What triggers American media praising Internal Revenue Service

THE American media has begun to shower praise on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) saying it was highly successful in transforming its bureaucracy. One of the major features highlighted is the implementation of an Internet service that answers the question “Where’s my refund?” that has had over one billion hits, according to a report “Innovating Around a Bureaucracy” published in…

Consul's post in New York: “HRD ministry’s advisory cadre is eligible”

FOR deputy secretary or director level officers from IAS or Central Services, here is an opportunity to work in the city of New York for three years. The government has been looking for a suitable officer for the post of Consul (education) in the Consulate General of India in New York, for which it has relaxed norms to say that…

Who are “hundreds of Indian government officials” who took bribe from Diageo?

US market regulator Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently slapped penalties of over USD 16 million on the world’s largest drinks company Diageo Plc for bribing officials in India, Thailand and South Korea to increase sales of its brands like Johnnie Walker. It said the company made illicit payments to “hundreds of Indian government officials”.

“In India, from 2003 through mid-2009 Diageo made over USD 1.7 million in illicit payments to hundreds of Indian government officials responsible for purchasing or authorising the sale of its beverages,” the US regulator said. The graft amount is about Rs 7.5 crore in rupee terms.

In an earlier occasion, an US department fined one of its companies for bribing Indian Railway officers. In February 14, 2008, US Department of Justice said how New York Stock Exchange-listed Wabtec acknowledged responsibility for the actions of its Kolkata-based subsidiary Pioneer Friction Limited (Pioneer) and its employees and agents “who made various payments to officials of the Indian Railway Board (IRB), a government agency which is part of India’s Ministry of Railroads”. Indian ambassador to US Meera Shankar later wrote an official letter to principal secretary to PM TKA Nair flagging this issue, and Indian government’s inaction over the matter.

Global Window

In China, a rail accident means punishment for officers. In yet another instance, China has recently sacked three senior railway officials after two high-speed trains collided killing 35 people which raised many questions on safety of the country’s rail network. This is China’s worst rail disaster in the last three years.

But the authorities moved very quickly by sacking the head of the Shanghai railway bureau, his deputy and the bureau's Communist Party chief, even as the public anger intensified. And that’s not the end of the story. All these three officers will “be subject to investigation,” a statement said.

But the officials in China have claimed that its high-speed rail technology is up to date and up to standard. After the incident, there were fears in Indian Rail Bhawan too as it has been toying with the idea of introducing bullet trains in India too.

US could have saved billions by streamlining its bloated bureaucracy, says report

WHY do you always blame Indian bureaucracy as wasteful and inefficient? A recent report from America’s Government Accountability Office has said that the US government could have saved billions of dollars annually by streamlining its bloated federal bureaucracy.

The 345-page long report has listed 34 areas where programs have overlapping objectives or provide similar services apart from outlining 47 other areas where the government could take steps to improve the efficiency of federal programs and agencies.

The report, however, did not hand out an estimated figure unlike in case of India’s CAG in 2G scam, but it did say that the savings and revenues could result in tens of billions of dollars in annual savings provided right actions were taken.

Republican Senator Tom Coburn who requested the report, estimates that the duplicative programs cost the government at least $100 billion annually.

The time has come for the Indian government to do a scientific assessment of loss of resources thanks to the overlapping of work by various departments.

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Apex Court to pronounce verdict on Thomas’ appointment

The Supreme Court on Thursday will pronounce its verdict on appointment of PJ Thomas, a 1973 batch retired IAS, as the head of the country’s anti-corruption watchdog Central Vigilance Commission. The apex court will pronounce its verdict on a petition by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) Thomas’ appointment.

Maha transfers of IAS

In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the Maharashtra government transferred 17 IAS officers on Tuesday. The officers included seven officers at the secretary level and above. The officers include Anna Dani, Ashwani Kumar, S K Goel, Vikas Deshmukh, Sanjay Chahande and CN Dalvi etc.

No of US bureaucrats earning over $1.5 lakh annually continues to grow under Obama regime, Republicans may stall pay hike

US MIGHT have faced the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of 1930s, but the number of highly paid bureaucrats has continued to soar in America, giving the Republicans new ammunition to take on the Democratic regime led by Barack Obama. The number of bureaucrats earning $150,000 (about Rs 70 lakh) or more a year has soared 10 times during the past five years and doubled since President Obama took office, a USA TODAY report said. In India, the senior most bureaucrat cabinet secretary receives an annual salary of Rs 10.8 lakh.

The debate over the rise of high-paid bureaucrats in US may challenge Obama’s plan to give a 1.4% across-the-board pay raise to 2.1 million federal workers. In fact, federal employees’ average compensation has grown to more than double what private sector workers earn, the USA TODAY analysis said.

Action and Appointments

a) Bhushan Chander Gupta, a 1975 batch Punjab cadre IAS, presently in the cadre, has been appointed as secretary, department of food and public distribution, ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution in the vacancy of Ms Alka Sirohi, a 1974 batch MP cadre IAS.

b) Rajbir Singh Rana, a 1983 batch IDAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries in place of Arvind Kaushal, a 1979 batch IDAS.

c) Niraj Kumar Gayagi, a 1997 batch IDAS, who was recommended for Central deputation by the ministry of defence, has been selected for appointment as deputy secretary in the department of science and technology for a period of four years from the date of taking over charge.

Pillai’s US Comments: But bureaucrats call him ‘No non-sense officer”

AFTER a couple of months’ interval, here is yet another controversial straight talk from India’s home secretary and 1972 batch IAS, GK Pillai, forcing US establishment to react to his statements on India’s disappointment with US over non-sharing of information on Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Coleman Headley, the main accursed of Mumbai terror attack two years ago.
Pillai’s straight talk and tough actions have earned him many an enemy both in political and business circle, but he is becoming an icon among bright young bureaucrats who would like to move up the ladder and make a difference to Indian babudom. Pillai’s earlier comments on Pakistan intelligence ISI’s role in Mumbai attack had virtually collapsed India-Pakistan talks at the level of external affairs ministers, but he earned accolade from a section of politicians and bureaucrats because he was armed with enough evidences and what he said was perceived to be accurate. In August, he openly gave instances how forest officials had developed close networks with Naxal, a statement which created tensions among Indian Forest Service officials.

But Pillai, who as commerce secretary pushed Special Economic Zones and became darling of India Inc., has lost popularity among corporate India thanks to his tough positioning against Blackberry-maker RIM and a few other tech companies. Yet, BoI team which met a number of IAS, IFS, IPS and IRS officers from cabinet secretariat, external affairs ministry, finance ministry etc. over the last one month has got one response. The bureaucrats irrespective of their services and cadres, have termed GK Pillai “a no non-sense officer”.

Regarding his latest salvo, the timing itself is controversial as US president Barack Obama is set to visit India in a week’s time. Pillai said India was disappointed because specific information after 26/11 would have helped Indian agencies apprehend Headley in India itself. Pillai’s comments forced US ambassador to India, Timothy J Roemer, say that US provided regular and consistent information to India both before and after the Mumbai attack.

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Action and Appointments

a) SK Roongta, former chairman, SAIL, has been appointed as non-official part-time director on the Board of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) for a period of three years.

b) The Central Vigilance Commission advised imposition of major penalty against 86 officers including 27 from ministry of railways, 13 from Canara Bank, 11 from department of telecommunications, 8 from Central Board of Excise and Customs, 6 from State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, 4 from Delhi Development Authority and 3 from Employees Provident Fund Organization.

c) Lt Gen S Ravi Shankar, commissioned into Corps of Engineers (Madras Sappers) in 1972, has taken over as the Director General of Border Roads. A recipient of Vishisht Seva Medal, the General Officer is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadakvasla, Pune, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, College of Military Engg, Pune, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Army War College, Mhow.

Missing Indian government officer is believed to be in USA; Govt places advertisement to trace the North Block man

THE Indian government has finally resorted to placing an advertisement in national newspapers to locate A K Lal, a research officer in the department of economic affairs (DEA) under the ministry of finance who has been missing for about 10 years now. After being charge-sheeted on May 8, 2009, a letter was sent to two addresses, one at D-44, Chander Nagar, Ghaziabad, and another in the USA asking him to report to Room No 58, department of economic affairs in New Delhi’s North Block within 10 days of the issue of the press note. It’s now believed that the missing officer, who has been absenting himself unauthorized from August 30, 1995, is somewhere in the USA as his charge-sheet sent to his Ghaziabad address was received undelivered with the remark from the postal department that “there is no house numbered as D-44 Chander Nagar. Now, an inquiry officer and a presenting officer have been appointed to conduct an enquiry about the missing finance ministry official.