As many as 158 new Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers were appointed as Assistant Secretaries on Thursday in Union Ministries in Delhi as part of a new initiative by the Centre to groom bureaucrats at the national level before they are sent to their respective State cadres.
A senior official of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said these officers of the 2013 batch will serve three months in Delhi beginning August 21 on Central deputation instead of taking up assignments in their respective cadres.
In its order on Thursday the DoPT said the probationers will “report to their respective State cadres” after completion of their three-month tenure at the Centre.
So far, according to the information available, eight probationers have been posted in the Finance Ministry, seven in the Home Ministry, six each in Ministries of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Communication and Information Technology, Agriculture, and four in Personnel Ministry, but none in the PMO.
“This decision will give an opportunity to these IAS officers to be groomed at the Centre before they are shifted to State cadres. This will not only help in enriching their perspective, but would also acquaint them with the functioning of the Union Government and enable them to get themselves introduced to various functionaries and officials in the Central Government hierarchy.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh last week said that the decision will make it easier for probationer IAS officers to discharge their responsibilities effectively when they take up bureaucratic, administrative or field assignments in the State. As per existing rules, IAS officers were eligible to come on Central deputation only after completing nine years in service at their respective cadre.