Whispers Forum

As on date, all posts of Deputy Director General in DGCA are vacant despite eligible officers of Director level are waiting for DPC for the past two -three years. No one knows the reason. Situation has worsened from mid 2025 when out of four Joint DG level officers two will retire in Jul 2025 & April 2026 left with only two Joint DG level against eight vacancies. This will lead to serious leadership vacuum problems in DGCA .This will result in paralysis to ambitious vision of Modiji (UDAAN) and RCAS -Regional connectivity.
Vinay Gupta

The umbilical cord between the political class and bureaucracy was never cut. This led to bonding between them. Both are complementary and supplementary to each other. The situation is bad across the country. The bureaucracy in the States, from the top, down to Patwari, is particularly obnoxious due to total absence of accountability and transparency. It is spineless or with backbone, meticulously broken. Both classes enjoy a symbiotic relationship, mutually admiring and dependent. The politicized bureaucracy is readily available to be misused and abused. It indulges in all sorts of shenanigans to please their political masters and for getting plum postings and accelerated promotions. Post retirement bonanza.- They are rewarded with powerful assignments- from governorship, ambassadorships, MPs, advisors to consultants. No wonder, they earn the sobriquet of "Field Marshals", who continue to serve even after retirement. Sycophancy is the key to success. Not all bureaucrats are bad. The honourable exceptions are respected after retirement for their honesty, integrity and non-pliability, while in service.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

With due respect to VG, I beg to differ. Kashmir terrorism has many complex aspects and requires to be tackled economically. Even Israel could not decimate Hamas after a long war and reducing the territory to entire ruins. Let there be internal skirmishes in Pakistan which will smother terrorists' life line and support infrastructure.
Rajesh Gohel
Good initiative
Varanasi’s Anganwadis get a new life under IAS Himanshu Nagpal’s visionary mission 'parivartan'. Good initiative! Keep it up! The other /district/states can adopt similar strategies to improve anganwadis.
S Gopal

Looks like Pakistan Army Chief is preparing to surrender along with lakhs of army men once again if the war heats up, as internal rebellion is growing due to non-payment of salaries to the jawans and cut in their ration. Pakistan can’t contain internal strife due to the collapse of the economy. India will punish them undoubtedly but Munir has enacted the tragic drama in Pahalgam only to ensure he is in a safe place to hide as a POW. India must take land from Pakistan to keep the Pakistani prisoners of war this time. Munir has already dispatched his family to the UK by a private plane.
M L Gupta

Photocopies of documents issued to any department, including file notings, employee signatures and related information was sought by the appellant. In compliance of CIC’s order dated 16.02.2024 in the case no. CIC/DOEAF/A/2023/622452, an opportunity for inspection of records was granted to the Appellant, but he chose not avail the opportunity. The PIO informed that the appellant was an employee working as Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) in India Govt. Mint, Mumbai. His case of dismissal is currently pending with this Department and he files RTI applications with this Department to know about the progress of his case. The CIC directed to grant another opportunity of inspection of the relevant records to the Appellant with respect to his queries stated in the RTI Application, on a mutually decided date and time.
Comments
If an appellant has not availed the opportunity of inspection of records, there appears little to be gained by offering another opportunity to inspect the documents. The issue whether the PIO is justified in claiming that information is not available has escaped the scrutiny of the CIC.
Citation: Shri Satish Ashok Sherkhane v. Department of Economic Affairs, CIC/DOEAF/A/2025/604540; Date of Decision : 04.03.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

It is easier said than done about military response to Pahalgam incident because of heavy economic cost. Local support cannot be ruled out as also sympathetic political parties also internal Gaddars and security failure also needs to be tackled. It is easy to start war but it is Indian public ready to sacrifice their comforts, which is inevitable consequence. It is better to declare economic war and boycott Kashmir tourism till local population hand over terrorists and they fight the terrorists head on.
Rajesh Gohel

I hope this message finds you well. I humbly request you to please convey this message to Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. I am Dirgha Gupta, a professional working in the AI and emerging technologies space. I have developed a Smart Tree Surveillance System — a strategic concept with the potential to reduce infiltration and surprise terror attacks by up to 70% in sensitive border regions. Sir, I have written to several key bodies including DRDO and PMO, but I do not know when or if I will receive a response. This idea is urgent and critical for national security, and I seek an opportunity to present it under NDA for detailed review. With Rajnath Ji’s support, I am confident this concept can become a significant step toward strengthening our defense and saving innocent lives.
Dirgha Gupta

Pahalgam saw the targeted killing of segregated Hindu tourists by “The Resistance Front”, a proxy of the ISI-supported LeT. They were hand-picked for killing on the basis of their religion. Worst since Pulwama attack.
Both President Trump and President Putin have condemned the dastardly terror attack. Timing shows it was well-planned to synchronise with US Vice-President's private visit to India.
The J&K police and the local intelligence unit clearly failed to provide the security cover to domestic tourists in the face of increasing security threat perception. The UT administration of J&K would have much to explain.
What could be Pakistan’s motive to launch the terror attack. Logically, to halt the development process in J&K which is not taking place in POK.
For obvious reasons, the local population of J&K will suffer heavy losses in their business if the tourist inflow is adversely impacted. Normalcy in the union territory is paramount for running business.
Enough is enough. Surgical strike is no option. All things considered, India must retaliate with a solid military response, full and final and take back POK with Gilgit-Baltistan. It is now or never. The centre would, no doubt, take all precautionary measures to ensure that similar attacks are not repeated in J&K and elsewhere in the country.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The Government of India has not taken the allegation of Pakistan seriously about the handiwork of Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) with the support of Indian Government in the killing of eight Pakistani in Iran recently. The Government of India should keep it mind that Pakistan is accusing India of supporting BLA. The terrorist attack at the prime tourist location of Pahalgam in south Kashmir appears to be a reaction to the killing of Pakistani nationals in Iran. Pakistan is expected to intensify more attacks to destabilize the valley and the Government should take some serious measures to avoid terrorism.
Sunil Kumar

Pakistan Army Chief’s address to its expatriates invoking two-nation doctrine, was simply Hindu-phobic. He should have stayed away from religiosity-based politics. Strangely, Pakistani PM was conspicuous by his presence in the audience. It was unusual for an army General to give sermons to Pak’s Prime minister and others at a public forum. He should have been well- advised to share Pakistan’s core issues of economic downturn for inviting financial contributions from its diaspora. The captive audience looked bored, disgusted and the PM embarrassed. In these circumstances, it is not difficult to understand, who is running the government in Pakistan.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)