June 8th 2024.
In a surprising turn of events, right in the middle of a hectic election season, the Central government made some major changes by announcing key appointments at the joint secretary level. These appointments are seen as a strategic move to shift the leadership in certain departments. The bureaucratic shake-up involved the empanelment of 26 IAS officers from the 1995 to 1999 batches as additional secretaries.
Some notable names among the new appointments include Ajay Bhadoo, who is currently serving at the Election Commission of India, V. Seshadri, formerly with the Prime Minister's Office, and Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi, who is now heading Telangana's Energy Department. These sudden changes have sparked speculation about the future and stability of the current New Delhi establishment. However, this could just be the beginning as sources have revealed that there may be more appointments in the coming days. Despite the busy election period, the Modi government is determined to ensure that key aspects of administration are not overlooked.
As the election draws closer, several IAS and IPS officers have come under scrutiny from the Enforcement Directorate and other investigative agencies in various corruption-related cases. These allegations range from corruption to money laundering, and some of the raids have been criticized as politically motivated. For instance, a 2002-batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer and a 2003-batch Chhattisgarh cadre IAS officer have both been summoned by the ED for questioning and arrested, respectively, in connection with money laundering cases. In another instance, five IPS officers in Chhattisgarh are being investigated for their involvement in the Mahadev betting app case. These actions during an election year raise questions about the timing and potential implications for governance. It is worth noting that many of the officers targeted are from states controlled by the Opposition. This begs the question of whether these actions are purely for the sake of justice or if there is a political vendetta at play. The answer remains uncertain, adding another layer of intrigue to the already complex world of Indian politics.
In a different development, senior IAS officer Saurabh Garg, who currently serves as Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. What makes this appointment even more noteworthy is that Garg will continue to serve in this position for one year beyond his retirement date of July 31. He will also take on the role of Secretary to the National Statistical Commission. This decision has raised some eyebrows, especially since it follows a similar appointment of P.K. Tripathi as the Secretary to the Lokpal of India until his retirement, and then for two years on a contract. Could this be a new trend?
Garg, an accomplished economist, has a stellar academic background, having studied at Johns Hopkins University, IIM-Ahmedabad, and IIT-Delhi. He is known for his contributions to policy and program implementation, particularly his role in conceptualizing the Kalia scheme in Odisha. This initiative provides essential support to small farmers and sharecroppers and has even served as a model for the national PM Kisan scheme. Garg's most notable accomplishment, however, was his involvement in the direct transfer scheme during his tenure as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India. While his appointment has caused some speculation in the bureaucratic circles of Delhi, it is clear that his valuable experience and desire for continuity in leadership have been recognized. Only time will tell how this transition will unfold.
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