Whispers Forum

If retirement age is increased to 62, it will only affect the efficiency of working in the Government. Better give chance for persons who have graduated. Their willingness and sincererity is worth watching when they work and their knowledge and getting quickly used to the work is much more than he persons who are already working. So, therefore increasing from 60 years to 62 years is something stupid. Even now, in some offices, you can find atleast considerable employees simply mark their attendance and do personal work during time outside office. Atleast the present generation youngsters will not do that. Not only they will remain in office, if required they will also stay late for completing the work. They will work and will not supervise as tge SR.PPS and PPS are doing
Rahul
All round fitness must for IAS
If IAS has to be continued it cannot have middle aged probationers who cannot walk 5 km. They should have better discipline and mental and physical fitness than any other service including the armed forces. I flew the mirage 2000 fighter when I was 51 years, meeting all physical standards required and did all combat manouvres including a 8.5 g force combat turn which the wing commander put me through .
Shiv Raman IAS (RETD)
Keeping MLAs in 5 star hotels
Whenever defection is suspected political parties take their MsL A to 5starHotels and spend lavishly on them . From where do they get funds. Does any Govt agency audit or look into it. Do the parties submit accounts for such expenditure .
S C Agrawal

There is an urgent need to consider favourably the extension of Retirement Age from 60 yrs to 62 yrs for Central Government as well as State Government Officials. It is imperative to consider the extension due to longevity and better health facilities and also to reduce the Government's burden for payment of Pensionary Benefits such as Gratuity / GPF / Encashment of Earned and Medical Leave /Pension etc on superannuation . In most of the countries viz USA / Canada / Europe etc people are working beyond 60 yrs due to better health facilities/longevity .The aggregate longevity in most of the people now is 80 yrs . If considered favourably it will reduce the payment of Pensionary Benefits for two yrs . This has aso been recommended by the Economic Survey released / presented in the Budget Session of Parliament recently . Strongly recommend the extension of Retirement Age from 60 yrs to 62 yrs .
Ms Surat Mishra
How political standards in our country have fallen !
The mass exodus from one party to another in power denotes how political standards in our country have fallen These party hoppers seem to be totally unscruplous and immoral persons. They get elected on the ticket of one party and then jump over to the party they fought against during elections as they see green pastures on that side. In Telengana 12 of the Congress MLAs switched over and merged with TRS to avoid being disqualified under anti-defection law. What is happening in Karnatka is disgusting. These 16 legislators want to resign from Legislative assembly. The reason is obvious. They would be gaining a lot by doing so than sticking around as MLAs for the balance period of the life of the assembly. In Goa how these 10 Congress-wallahs suddenly became BJP-wallahas. Is it democracy to use money power to make members of the opposition parties to switch over to the ruling party and to oust Governments ruled by other parties and put your own party in power. The game is going on from municipalities to legislative assemblies. Today it is Karnatka and Goa. Tomorrow it will be Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The intention appears to be opposition-mukt India or one party one Nation. That is not Democracy but autocracy and this sends trouble signals for the future of this country.
Aarti Khosla
Subsidiary Director never appointed as Chairman CIL
Never in the history of CIL a Subsidiary Director appointed as Chairman CIL without being the Subsidiary CMD or being the Director CIL.
Rishi

DEBATE (1)
This system is totally personality based .It will be vote for Modi which is agreeable.
Girja
DEBATE (20)
If US pattern is implemented then there will be no democracy in India.
M Maheshwari
“Bahi Khataa General Budget 2019- 20"
Budget documents wrapped in a red cloth ( An affront to saffron ?) with national emblem, did not inspire any one. Thumping desks by ruling party with a “ thumping majority” in Lok sabha polls , shlokaas, urdu shayris quoted in FM’s maiden budget speech typifies Congress perversity. No break from the past tradition. The ruling dispensation continues to follow the beaten path. Politicians have similar genetic code. Political ideologies are irrelevant.
Confidence is bad; over-confidence is self deception. Excessive reliance on assumptions to sustain 8% GDP growth with 4% inflation to raise a 5 Trillion dollar economy by 2025, has left most Indians confounded. At least, so it seems.
Why did the budget rely on revised estimates when the figures of actuals were available ? Economic Survey wants retirement age to be raised to 75. Not a word about wasteful expenditure on political hypocrisy, austerity measures etc. What about the growing economic disparity between the filthy rich and the down-trodden?
Pardon my ignorance of basic Economics. I leave budgetary micro details and their far-reaching implications for discussions by the specialists.
All things considered ,one has to admit that on the analogy of the practice in the past, this is an over-confident budget, high on rhetorical promises with no immediate reliefs for the downtrodden and senior citizens. No major structural reforms announced. Massive discrepancy in GDP figures indicated in the Economic survey and the Budget documents.
Outcomes in the form of concrete results are in the womb of the future. Time will prove their worth or otherwise. Time is a great leveller.
Use of complicated economic jargon in the budget speech, as always, has been baffling the common man year-after-year. Apparently, the budget is meant primarily for academic discussions among financial analysts.
All beyond the masochistic common man’s comprehension ,who is always available to be fooled by the sadistic governments.
Lastly, invocation of Lord Basaveshwara’s teachings in FM's budget speech, was something pleasant. I never knew, such a Lord existed.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

DEBATE (1)
Presidential form of Government will be virtual dictatorship.
R Kackar
DEBATE (2)
In a democratic country like India, people do not like dictatorship.
R K Dar
New Employment should be increased
As on date Govt. of India is employing retired Judges, IAS, IFS, IPS, IRS etc. as Chairmen, Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioner, Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner, Chairmen NCLT, NCALT, Human Rights Commission, Consumer Courts, Arbitration Courts etc.
Why not GOI and State Govts. should employ on the above posts from the working Judges and Officers so that new appointments are made and thus more employment avenue is created.
I am reading the news items that Hon'ble CJ of The Supreme Court writing to the Govt. and Prime Minister to increase the age of the High Courts and Supreme Court judges but why not the new appointments which may bring more talented people in the Judiciary. And, Accordingly, the same for bureaucracy, more selection of better talent persons.
The Govt. of India and the Hon'ble Prime Minister should think twice to increase the age and should stop forthwith appointing retired Judges and Bureaucrats in the Govt. departments or on posts as stated above.
Further, long summer and winter vacations be curtailed as there are other so many holidays (including Saturday and Sundays) which gives them ample time to relax. Office timings be increased to 10 hours a day as Saturdays and Sundays are being utilized by all of them to enjoy.
Hope Govt. of India and The Hon'ble Prime Minister will look into this and take some constructive action for Rising India. India is still a progressive country and not fully developed to take care of the huge population of 130 Crores. Thanks
Ram Kumar Garg
DPSU's need to be reorganised
The DPSU's in the Ministry of Defence need to be reorganised and put under a separate Minister ( independant charge) reporting to PM. This portfolio is crucial to the well being of the National Security Imperatives of India. Make in India ( Defence ) needs a hands on approach now under a Minister to meet the Strategic needs of the Navy IAF & Army. A minister with a military background and member of the ruling party , BJP, is required. This should be implemented forthwith considering the two adversaries facing us daily on our borders and maritime Sea Lines of Control.
Devindra Sethi
New BHEL’ CMD
Era of hope commences.

DEBATE (1)
Much has been said about switch over from present to Presidential form of government, many have spoken for and against it. To me it seems it may be any form of government in India, there would be no constructive improvement in the lot of poo, jawans, farmers and under privileged, because no political party has any vision document for India as a whole. Most of the political goons have self interest above national interest, looting the exchequer is their real motto. Poor voters are inaccessible to the elected representatives. Till money power plays a vital role in politics, no form of Government is worth it. India is in the hands of God which runs this poor nation called largest democracy on papers.
Harish Kumar
No need for so many Regulators/Tribunals
Yes there is no need for so many Regulators/Tribunals which only provide jobs to retired bureaucrats/judges. Government should recruit more staff particularly at junior/middle level so that decision taking becomes easy for Senior officers.Hold all of them for delays and impose heavy monetary fines on them for delay/deliberate wrong decision. This will reduce the need for tribunals etc.
S Gopal

DEBATE (1)
When US can have strong President why India should lag behind.System will be good for the country.
A G Qureshi
DEBATE (2)
Presidential form of Government will be like autocracy in democratic country like India.
B C Maheshwari
No officer from three Railway services empanelled for AS
While five officers each from IFOS and from IAAS, three officers from IRS and two officers from IPOS were empanelled as Additional Secretary vide order dated March 2019, not a single officer from the three Railway services was empaneled for AS. Any reason for the same ?
vox populi
Salute to the PM and HM
Salute to the PM and HM, who gave the legitimate right to the thousands of CAPFs officer's by granting OGAS and NFFU. Justice can be delayed but not denied.
Mahesh Nath
Does it not call for stronger action ?
The OM which you have mentioned in the case is more than 12 years old. However, it is still not implemented and most CPIOs are not even aware of the existence of the OM. Further, the government seems to be distantly interested in implementing the OM while the CIC ends the order with an "advice".
Samarth
Dr. Purshotam will prove his mettle
Heartiest Congratulation to Dr. Purshotam on his joining as P S to Minister for Human Resources. He will prove himself a dynamic and as an intelligent Officer in his field. I personally knew his capability and ability as a bold Officer.
Arya B R

DEBATE (1)
Yes. this system should be implemented in India and Narendra Modi should be the President for country’s prosperity.
A Singh
“Controlling ministry for defence PSUs may change”
The selective decision to transfer Nine PSUs from Defence ministry to M/Heavy Industries & PE, seems bizarre. Why single out MOD, especially when status of about 250 other central utilities remain unchanged. Is there any trust deficit with Raksha Mantri ? Is new RM, like his illustrious predecessors, not competent enough to manage PSUs under his charge? Was there prior consultation with him , one wonders?
There is surely something more to it than meets the eye.
Recall the “ alleged leakage “ of MOD’s file notings related to Rafael deal. PM must surely be upset with it .Was any internal or external inquiry carried out? If,so,with what results? How did the leaked information reach the Congress President to embarrass the ruling government ? ? Was there any Corporate rivalry? Whatever may be the reasons, a repeat of leakage has to be prevented as it has a bearing on the national security?
No doubt, it is PM's prerogative to change orders on Allocation/Transaction of Business rules ,re-structuring of ministries etc or even fix the inter se seniority among ministers. But, arguments should be buttressed by logic .
Justification given by the “ think-tank committee” for recommending transfer of nine defence PSUs from MOD ( Nodal ministry) to M/Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises, does not stand to reason.
The Department of Heavy Industry seeks to achieve its vision by providing necessary support to the Auto, Heavy Engineering, Heavy Electricals and Capital Goods Sectors. Every ministry is responsible for bolstering profit making Public Sector Enterprises as well as restructure and revive sick and loss making Public Sector Enterprises under its administrative control .
M/Heavy industry has about 25 PSUs under its controle.A majority of these are loss-making. Against this background, what is the logic behind transferring additional Nine defence PSUs which are engaged in manufacturing sensitive defence-related equipment. All profit making.
There has to be some connect between the functions of a nodal ministry and the core competence of PSUs under its charge.
Going by government logic, why not shift the administrative control of all Oil and Power utilities from the Petroleum and Power ministries respectively to Heavy Industries ?
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
CAPF officers get ‘Organised Group 'A' Service’
It’s a fair decision. But officers should give up other perks and privileges like two orderlies, two drivers etc who are many times sent informally to officers home town to do menial work. It’s reliably learnt that many retired IPS officers retain drivers/orderlies of CAPS which they got when in service.
Keshav

DEBATE (1)
There is stagnation. One should get a change in the form of Presidential system of Government.
Sudha Singh
Ministries can easily handle matters
I do not recall TT Krishnamachari but distinctly remember that Morarji Desai always used to carry just a file to cart his budget documents- no dispatch box!! And I would stand corrected but Sachindra Chaudhari just had a file in his solitary budget presentation. And I do remember clearly Jaswant Singh also just carried a file! I would stay corrected but the first Finance Minister to carry his budget speech in a dispatch box was Yeshwantrao Chavan! I do not understand what the fuss is all about !! Hope Govt abolishes all Regulators and Tribunals. They are only costing money without tangible results. Ministries can easily handle matters.
Kamlesh Dixit

PM Modi's histrionic ability has a multiplier effect on his oratorical skill. This triggered Modi Tsunami during election time.
Now, consider the obverse. BJP is a party of morons, doormats chatukaars. Devoid of self-respecting individuals. A majority of newly inducted central ministers are specimens of Himalayan idiocy. Their selections are based on political weightage given to factors like communities, castes, sub-castes, regional representations etc. Merit is irrelevant.“ Yes Prime minister” types get encouraged. Ex-bureaucrats-turned-ministers are not popularly elected. Sab Bhagwaan bharosey chal raha hai, Aagey bhi chalega.
People have started believing that a quiet transformation is taking place from Parliamentary to Presidential form of government. One hopes, the Public does not get swayed by another promise of rising expectations. If, BJP feels secure under new dispensation, So be it.
I do not subscribe to every domestic initiative of PM Modi. He is being Ill-advised by his kitchen cabinet and bunch of ambitious bureaucrats. Growing arrogance of power, is worrisome and a matter of deep concern. Modi’s penchant for flamboyant attire irritates. Conferences reduced to fashion shows. No respect for simplicity and austerity.
As a well-wisher, I wish him all well. But, I do trust, he makes amends. Let him also guard against his detractors within the party.
Conducting foreign affairs has been PM’s favourite. He has surely carved out a niche for himself in world politics. The frequency of foreign visits remain recklessly excessive. As a control freak, he does not seem to trust his ministers. No delegation of powers.
All things considered , with war clouds hovering over India, Modi could hopefully prove to be an effective war-time PM for thwarting foreign attacks and for playing peace-keeping role in international politics. Foreign intelligence agencies are active.
Tough times ahead. Wait and watch.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

P G Shah
System will be good for the country
Presidential form of Government will be good for the country. Present system has failed to deliver.
Prof D P Singh
Improve Efficiency & Productivity The next 59 months are valuable for real economic growth, increased GDP and real incomes just by improved efficiency and productivity. Technology has to be harnessed to improve functioning of public services. While the country becomes “digital India”, its working can’t remain chained to the previous century. Similarly, attitudes of the public servants as also the citizens need to assimilate the change that must become the “usual” in a few months’ time as is the current practice, the last remnant of the twentieth century. Take the services provided by the CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) to the serving and retired public servants in India, Members of Parliament sitting/pensioners, selected journalists and other prominent figures. The patient is required to first go to the dispensary, stand in a queue to get a token, proceed to see the allotted doctor, queue up again for his turn to consult the doctor. The process takes hours, patients keep standing in open at the window to collect the prescribed medicines, come again for indented medicines when notified (which are purchased from the local vendors). If not notified the patients have no remedy at their disposal. They get the medicine if their turn matures before the closing of the dispensing window. These are patients, not healthy people. Pensioners are all above age 60 years or more. This is the time when the health starts failing. Making a trip to the dispensary more than once may not be convenient nor it is productive. If the doctor refers the patient, he goes to the government hospital like RML or Safdarjung hospital for consulting the specialist doctor. He is prescribed tests and medicines. These medicines are to be collected from the dispensary. The patient waits in the queue to get a token to see the doctor who authorizes the dispensing of the medicines by making entry in the computer. Medicines required to be purchased are indented and the patient comes back after a few days to collect them. Now the question is: is it all necessary, productive or efficient way of working? The patient running high fever has also to wait for days to get his medicines! Is there scope for improvement in working to provide better services at no extra cost which can even lead to a lot of savings of public money and precious doctor/patient time? Why should the current drill be continued in digital India? Why should it not be changed to a more efficient and productive working? The time of the doctors wasted can be saved. Digital tools can handle prescription writing, the specialist doctor’s prescription gets recorded in the dispensary computer as the beneficiaries are allotted permanent Token Numbers and medicines can be delivered by a network of chemists at the patient’s doorsteps direct rather than travelling from the chemist to the dispensary to the patient. The objective of the CGHS is to provide timely and satisfactory health service promptly, improved working will yield saving of precious doctor time, dispensary pharmacist’s time, paper work and commuting. Above all, it will provide treatment at the time when it is needed most and not after several days. It might sound fanciful but is doable. Once it comes into operation, the resultant efficiency and productivity alone will mean double the number of doctors, who will devote their time to examining the patient and treating them. If we trust the government, the government too must trust the public servants. We are basically an honest people. Let us agree to respect our mutual honesty. Which is a better option: increasing number of doctors or improving efficiency and productivity? Now let us take the case of the judiciary, which holds the shortage of judges as the prime reason for ever pending cases. That is really untrue. The justice delivery system in India suffers from the Raj Era leisurely court procedures. Judges think a litigant has the whole life to pursue a court case. Lawyers think, being Learned they and the judges, need to continue the hair-splitting exercise ad nauseam. They load the cost on to the litigant as if winning a court case is akin to winning a lottery. Small cases take decades because affidavit is not in the right format or the lawyer of one of the parties is not available or witnesses have not been examined. AI & ML (Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning) tools can reduce the whole exercise to just one day. But that would mean disruption of the business of hundreds of law firms doing brisk business at the cost of the citizens, making lawful as also unlawful gains, engaging in legal profession and politics simultaneously. Only the citizens stand to benefit. But they can benefit only if the present acknowledges the need to change and adapt it. The number of judges not only doubles instantly but quadruples merely by improving the productivity and efficiency of the judges and infrastructure. That is the benefit of application of technology to improve overall working of the public institutions, efficiency of the individuals and institutions and their productivity. The savings in costs will be enormous and so will be the improvement, leading to greater satisfaction.
M L Gupta

DEBATE (1)
Contemplating switch over from Parliamentary to Presidential form of government ,seven decades after independence could be part of the wishlist of the present ruling dispensation. But, it is the favourite time-pass for the aimless and unproductive bureaucrats in the corridors of power.
No wonder that even former Prime minister Ms Indira Gandhi had secretly toyed with the idea of exercising all executive powers as President of India. All after getting brute majority in Parliament. After tasting power ( 15 years as CM Gujarat plus 5 years as country’s PM) PM Modi is also attracted to the pampering makeover as the combined Head of Government and the State like the US President .
Who does not want Authority without Accountability ?
But, the ground reality is in a state of flux. No permanence should be attached to the phenomenon of brute majority. The electorate is impatient. It wants rapid results of its expectations than are possible from the new policies of Modi sarkar 2.0 in ‘ Naya Bharat’.
Failing this, the unpredictable electorate can always switch to a different party at the next general election in 2024. Worse, there is a great danger of Political gridlock whenever the Presidential head and the legislative majority are from different parties.
Indian citizens are very sharp and intelligent. Never underestimate them.
They are becoming increasingly aware of the growing tendency in PM Modi towards authoritarianism. All decisions on governance appear to be Modi-centric. Bureaucrats see him as a “ Control freak ”,who loves centralisation of powers in the PMO but hates decentralisation and delegations of authority. Hates Accountability, too .
Decisions like lateral entry into bureaucracy, appointments of retired civil servants etc are merely symptoms, manifestations ,omens of a deeper malaise.
Politicians think they know everything; but, actually they know nothing.
BJP may have a comfortable position in the Rajya Sabha in due course besides brute majority in Lok Sabha.
But, re-writing or amending the Constitution of India will not be so easy that can be done with eyes shut.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
DEBATE (2)
Presidential system is not feasible. It requires major constitutional amendment which is not possible in India.
A K Joshi
MEA could sponsor seminars
As the issue is one of the long pending demands of the NRI fraternity it is suggested that MEA could sponsor seminars at select locations : New Delhi, Amritsar, Ahmadabad, Mumbai Bangalore and either Cochin or Thiruvananthapuram to collect all the views which could form the basis for taking a policy decision which may have far reaching consequences.
Sitharam Gurumurthi

DEBATE (1)
India requires Presidential form of Government, Unofficially, this system persists in India.
G S Mathur
DEBATE (2)
Presidential system of Government is any day better. People will elect the President directly not the MPs or MLAs.
Amit Pande
JAN DHAN YOGANA – NAMO (PMJDY)
One of the strongest reasons for regaining power of NAMO was successful Implementation of JAN DHAN YOGANA which not only proved the transparency of government but its successful implementation all over the country made a full proof system for availing government grants time to time. This Yogna made a direct interaction between NAMO & a beneficiary.
VIVEK DHAWAN
“ Conduct Rules for Civil Servants; No Code for Politicos”
When politicos publicly condemn Gandhi ji, no action is taken against them. Why ? For instance, a female politician from Hindu Maha Sabha, UP ,was found pointing a pistol at Gandhi ji's photograph and garlanding Godse, why no action was taken against her ? No FIR was filed. The accused is having a free run.
There are scores of such loose cannons in the country. No party supremo has guts to slam them.
Now, consider a different scenario.
Nidhi Choudhari, a civil servant (IAS- 2012,MH) was singled out by decision makers, show-caused by invoking provisions of AIS Conduct Rules. She was promptly transferred from BMC to Maharashtra Sectt even before decision makers could apply their minds on her reply. Correspondence is in public domain.
Regrettably, the context in which, the apparently "sarcastic jibe at Godse fans " was conveniently overlooked by the Maharashtra state government to avert a political crisis allegedly at the behest of Sharad Pawar,the leader of holier-than-thou Opposition?
The moot point is : Why are citizens of India governed by different sets of rules.
Is this so because there is no Code to govern the irresponsible and unethical conduct of politicians and their lap dogs?
I appreciate the predicament of serving civil servants for keeping their lips sealed. All bound by Conduct Rules.
But, why are they so frightened of the political class?
Why can't they speak up, advise their political masters independently without fear and be counted ?
Let them not dare make scapegoat of bureaucrats to please politicians and defuse political crisis. Implications on bureaucrats' morale will be disastrous
PM Modi as head of DOP&T is urged to take the call and give due protection to bureaucracy against Opposition's onslaughts
" Nizaam-e-maikada aaj bigda hua hai dost,
Jaam unhe hee milta hai, jinhe peenay ka salika nahi...!!!
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)