DEBATE (1)
There is no retirement age in the US. Why it can’t be in India ?
Raj Kishore
DEBATE (2)
Raise in retirement age will deny jobs to the young generation
L S Pandit
Promotion of 1986 Batch of IAS Officers as Secretaries
It is an important day when many IAS Officers of 1986 Batch and my foundation day friends have been promoted to the post of Secretary or equivalent in different Ministries, or Departments or Organisations. I congratulate all of them and wish them all the best.
A. K. Verma, ISS(Retd.)

DEBATE (1)
Age should be raised but without affecting the job prospects of the new generation.
Dr Bansal
NITI Ayog in Place of Planning Commission- A Major Leap forward to achieve Good Governance
NITI Ayog formation is a major leap forward in bringing about systemic reforms in India to achieve desirable goals of socio-economic development. Planning Commission had become a dumping place for protégés & favorites who conducted meetings without any concrete output. Annual ritualistic meetings with State CMs individually were waste of time & money because thumb rule of 10% hike over preceding year’s fund allocation remained as the basis rather than State’s requirement. On the other hand the structure and objectives of NITI Ayog indicate continuous involvement of State CMs as members of the Central Governing Body as also members of respective Zonal Councils. In this way, not only will diversity & specificity of each State be kept in view but relative conditions of the State in the national context will enable fix priorities in the right order. Provision for involvement of experts from universities/R&D institutions in rotational manner will provide professional strength with less expenditure than what Planning Commission was spending on large permanent fleet of experts. Success of NITI Ayog, however, critically depends upon the effectiveness/commitment/ dedication/flair,knowledge & experience of the CEO+ others in the Secretariat to provide requisite support to Governing Council in driving forward with speed despite imminent bureaucratic resistance like it happened in Disinvestment process. Premature dissenting outcry against this noble idea is either political rhetoric or inability to visualize fruitful outcome in the form of real good governance.
KK Gupta,Retd.IFS(HP:1971)
Formerly Secretary(NCST)Govt of India

DEBATE (1)
If retirement age is raised it will affect the employment prospects of the young generation.
R T Goel
Creating nuisance for the ruling party
The insistence of the opposition on the Prime Minister to personally speak and deny what Trump attributed to him was just to create some nuisance value for the ruling party. Every one knows that Donald Trump is a compulsive liar. So much so that one newspaper in Washington has been keeping record of the lies he has spoken since he became President. The number exceeds 10000 i.e 12 lies a day. Why should we believe him what he said about Prime Minister Modi. Knowing the Prime Minister, no one can accept that he would ask Trump to mediate on Kashmir. Trump's made up story was to please Imran Khan. External Affairs Minister Shri Jaishankar categorically made it clear that no such request was made by the Prime Minister. As far as PM not speaking, it is wise to do so as there is a question of delicate relationship between two countries. To avoid offence to Trump by not exposing his lie is the correct approach. Sometimes silence is the best form of diplomacy.
Aarti Khosla

DEBATE (1)
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The retirement age should be increased to 62 years. The following points support it.
· The life expectancy is increased for men as well as women and will continue to increase. People are fit to work even after 60.
· The fertility rate has been declined. India's population is expected to grow under 0.5 per cent during 2031-41 due to decline in fertility rate as explained in the Economic Survey. In future there may be gap or shortage of staff. To combat the situation, the retirement age cannot be abruptly increased to 70 year. So we have to increase it gradually at least by 2 years right now and review it after 5 year.
· Due to ageing population and increasing pressure on pension funding, it is inevitable to raise the pensionable retirement age.
· At the time of retirements, retirement benefits like Gratuity, PF fund, leave compensation etc. are given to employees. Huge money is given to few people who are retiring. By increasing the age this expenditure can be deferred by the Government. This fund can be utilised in developmental schemes. This will help in cutting Government expenditure.
· More number of years in service means less saving to arrive at the same corpus at the time of retirement. It will imply more expenditure by the employees. It will create more demand of consumable items that will lead to boost manufacturing, services sectors.
· This will affect the job opportunity for younger is a big MYTH only. Because as discussed above it will give boost to services and manufacturing sectors. It will create jobs avenues in these sectors.
Anuradha Sharma

DEBATE (1)
Retirement age should be raised. It is needed because of longevity in life.
R K Dube
“Trump ki Dadagiri”
Could Trump, the most powerful man on earth, speak a lie ? Can Trump Indulge in double-talks ? Sample some questions.
Was there no prior briefing by his officials before meeting with Imran Khan ? Trump did not even spare UK's ambassador to the US, seeking his repatriation. He is unpredictable, impulsive and diplomatically naïve.
May be, Trump is upset with India for imposing heavy import duties on American products. India was marginalised during Afghanistan talks while China, Pakistan, Russia and the US were associated. All this left Trump totally confused. At least, so it seems.
Could PM Modi suppress the truth ? Is his silence diplomatic ? Parliament mei hangama hota rahega ? But, India must hit back and keep its self-esteem intact.
Modi's " Mei chup rahoonga ", doctrine will not work. He must speak up and set the entire controversy at rest. Sending a strong signal to the US is more important than taking things lying down. Hopefully, he does so, sooner than later.
All things considered, Pakistan may not get a single penny as aid from the US. He will return empty-handed.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

DEBATE (1) Retirement age
Raising the retirement age is not only a good idea but is infact required, considering the fact that due to the developmental trajectory followed by India requires the plans churned out so far are put into practice. The merit of the sustainable ideas is not slave to the computer age and digitalisation, they are infact timeless. Since they have ripened now and therefore can be implemented in full force by those very people who formulated them. The level of development and knowledge that one requires to assimilate has also increased and so the carreers take off much later than they used to in earlier times. Further the life expenctancy has also increased. This requires more money to be saved and retiring the government servants at 60 would be unfair to them on this count too.
Balraj Joshi
Ravi is not the lone IPS cadre governor
Telangana state present governor ESL Narsimhan (1968 batch) is also an IPS officer. Hence RN Ravi (IPS) is not the lone IPS cadre governor.
Vishwanath

DEBATE (1)
If retirement age is raised it’s good because of longewity factor.But at the same time employment would be zero during the next two years.
G S Mathur
Compared To Other Countries?
Deriving comfort by comparing tax rates with other countries is like comparing grapes with berries. In matters of honouring contracts India stands at 185th position as compared to other countries. Can the country achieve the status of an economic superpower with such a record of contracts? Contracts form the backbone of business. They comprise the base of all business/industry. They mean transparent governance, clean administration, fast delivery of judicial remedies. Here everyone is cheating everyone else. The phrase skill development gives birth to thousands of institutions/training centres etc. imparting skill development as if it is a smartphone like gadget to fulfill all the needs of the aspirant. Conning is the more profitable business in India, unlike other countries, than honouring contracts. Nations can become economic superpowers if they acknowledge the value of wealth and wealth creators. We swing between two extremes: wealth is Maya and so be abhorred & Dhanam Moolam Idah Jagat. The Maya doctrine has ruined Indian economy by delivering anti-rich budgets since 1950. For a 5 T economy, the precept given by the Indian political-economist Chanakya is to be the guide. Chanakya was no Nobel Laureate, but is relevant to India. Other countries have industrialised and can pursue policies taxing the super-rich but are the super-rich of India comparable with them? We consider 500 crore as super-rich category, which is less than the price of one Rafale fighter jet whose sound is so loud that it makes young Indians in politics uncomfortable. Similarly, 5 lakhs is supposed to be a great concession whereas dog pedigrees in India fetch a higher price than 5 lakhs and an affordable house is a guarantee for poverty for the next 3 generations. We have to invest in research and development at a higher rate than national highways/port etc. Neglect of the high employment potential soft power and culture is not correct. Antrix may generate good commerce, but the country also needs skilled mass scale employment opportunities. We can’t afford to procrastinate anymore.
M L Gupta

Whose Retirement ?
There is different retirement age for different categories: some secretaries retire after 62. Similarly, many scientific officers go beyond 60 years. Judges retirement is no secret. There are the “bada log” who don’t retire till they retire from this world. They get 5 years’ tenure before they even vacate the official residence. They continue as they are superbly skillful, though many are continued for valid reasons too (like the Hon’ble External Affairs Minister etc.). But there are many smart guys who seek voluntary retirement. Then there are those at the bottom of the pyramid, who also have a longer tenure than 60 years. In these circumstances, who is left out? Moral of the story: if 60 was not enough, 62 will not be! Santoshi sada sukhi.
M L Gupta
Is Pakistan’s global discomfiture any cause for celebration by India ?
ICJ’s ruling on Kulbhushan Jadhav in our favour, is no doubt, a defining moment. A victory for international human rights. Kudos to Harish Salve for his historic presentation in the court, a lawyers’ delight.
But, for India, it may be too premature to celebrate the verdict. It is going to be a long drawn-out process for India, lasting several years.
While putting Jadhav’s death penalty on hold, the ICJ has directed Pakistan to allow consular access to him. He can move a plea for review of military Kangaroo court’s verdict on his execution.
The matter is not as simple as it is made out by Indian media especially TV channels. Pakistan is celebrating the verdict as the accused is still under their custody. No wonder, the frustrated Pakistan will make all out efforts to delay the process of implementing court’s verdict on flimsy grounds.
The ICJ is silent about transferring the case from Pak’s Kangaroo court (which had awarded death penalty to Jadhav) to a civilian court. Pakistan is a military state and not a democracy.
Its military can go to any extreme in obfuscating the legal issues before its captive military court. It will continue to treat Jadhav as a spy.
We cannot expect a fair trial from Pak’s military courts.
Will international pressure alone work on a rogue state like Pakistan? Jadhav case may linger on in Pakistani courts for years. Never expect Pakistan to return Jadhav to India on a platter.
Worse, the wounded Pakistan is bound to escalate with vengeance its terror activities in India This calls for a disproportionately heavy (not matching) military response from India.
The bottom line is: India cannot get Jadhav released by Pakistan through legal and diplomatic efforts alone. Building international opinions in our favour, is important in world politics. But, will power of public opinions influence Pakistan’s decision ?
What will happen if the Pakistani military court decides after review to convert Jadhav’s death sentence into life sentence for 14 years?
Let us take lessons from history. International military sanctions may not help. India, ultimately, will have to respond to Pakistan’s Armed Forces in their own lingo, if experiences in the past is any guide.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Salutations for issuing the instructions for prior appointments by Journalists to visit Senior Officers of Finance Ministry.
2. Devising the rules/strategies to see that the old arrears of direct/indirect taxes are settled which is a big den of corruption.
It is indeed a very axiomatic and decision with alacrity to impose the condition before the Journalists who hitherto used to take it for granted and had worn veil of omni presence to visit any officer of the Ministry at any point of time.
It is not putting a gag for the movement of the Journalists but it will control their avoidable visits, exploiting the system by becoming a mighty tool to coerse the officers for spoiling their image in the press and to run a parallel power point.
There has been exponential technological advancements and for any interview/view point on a subject, there are many alternatives available like through email, whatapp and other tools whereby the interface of the Journalists with the officers could be avoided and the system may be made as laissez-faire. This intervention will also take away the avoidable curtsies offering tea etc. and indulgence in gossips could be nailed to a great extent.
There is one more submission to the Finance Minister to draw out a suitable mechanism whereby the old arrears of direct and indirect taxes which as per whispers is around Rs. 3 lakh crore should be resolved may be by one time settlement or any other tool so that this arrears is minimized as this will put the human capital of the Taxation Department to be more oriented towards new recoveries and implementation of new schemes in a better way. With this gargantuan arrears, the officers are badly busy and this is breading into a big den of corruption.
Mahendra Kumar Goel

It is a parking lot for retired IAS officers (Secretaries) who are the same persons to increase court cases against govt by passing arbitrary orders against the employees, on the basis of noting given by section officer, without applying their own mind. How can a person (Secretary) take advantage of his own wrong doings/crime (by passing arbitrary orders against employees). If a Secretary's order has been overturned by Supreme Court, then such a person should be debarred from being appointed in any Tribunal after his retirement.
Bharat

I would like to know on WHAT basis their performance is being reviewed?? Is it on the basis of complaint received or their performance on the basis of ACR. Having worked in government ,I know that no reporting officer would ever give a bad or adverse remarks as they have to substantiate it with evidence. So to avoid this every one gives GOOD rating !!! Similarly in most corruption complaints, there is lack of documentary evidence to substantiate it.
S Gopal
Date with RTI
If the government issues an OM, who is responsible for implementing it ? If it is not implemented, who is required to punish for not implementing it ? The OM must be implemented or it would create an impression that the government is not serious about implementing it. Let there be actual enforcement of the words of the OM and not mere lip service. RTI Act is already being put on the back bench by those in power and it is time that the issues of not implementation be brought before the public. The people and the officials must realise that RTI act is a weapon for their own benefit.
Sulekha Soni

I think the Indian exporters were too lethargic to notice the opportunities knocking at their doors. You have to admit that Bangladesh and Vietnam were smart and made good use of the lull in the negotiations between China and the US. I am sure these two countries may even get repeat orders from their US exporters as long as they are satisfied with the the quality of their products. I have nothing more to add than what I have published. I will only blame the Indian exporters and the various export promotion houses. It is a wake up call for the Indian exporters. Hope the Ministry of Commerce does some damage control instead of shifting the blame to trivial issues.
Sitharam Gurumurthi
INDIANSING INDIA BUREAUCRACY/CIVIL SERVICES
Civil Services Examinations are in existence of British period in the 18th Century onward and Lord Cornwallis is called the Father of Indian Civil Service (ICS). Between 1848-1947 i.e. the division of India, the ICS Officers ruled more than 300 million people of the country having 250 districts at that point of time. At the time of partition, the ICS were divided between India and Pakistan as per the choice of the officers.
Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to join the Indian Civil Service (ICS) who retired in 1894 and took the examination in London. From 1922 the examinations started to be held in Delhi. Now there are 2000 examination centers in 60 cities with thousands of coaching centers flourishing in the country.
The average age for appearing in the exam during British period time was intentionally kept as low as 22 years keeping in view of fact the persons of Indian Origin may nor find age eligibility because of late academic graduation. The post of district magistrate also called the District Collector was created in 1772 under Warren Hastings, the Governor of Bengal, the idea was to remove Indians from revenue administrations and make the British the soul controller of resources.
The ostentations attached to the post of District Collectorate still amuse the aspirants though the posting for such coveted job is not more than 4-5 years. This bureaucracy which is truly the weaving of national tapestry now was developed as devilish, diabolical, the wanton desire, the servility to absolutely unchanged desire to implement slavery into the loath some bestiality of passion to rule the country i.e. India was/is the mindset of British people.
The subjects listed in the civil services examination are of colonial period and the syllabus of the various subjects were mostly suitable to the British regime to make in depth study and research to deal with ongoing encounter with the various sections of the human race at different geographical zones.
Let us take the example of the anthropology it deals with the race, racism and morphological changes and possible mutations with variations and it was kept intentionally by Britishers, as to how could that study be used, while encountering hundreds of races and aborigines of lands of different areas conquered by the whites as they were on winning spree under the very apt philosophy of divide and rule and the want wits of the various areas fell prey to their rhetoric’s.
Similarly, the subject psychology, the syllabus consists of many outdated theories and does not find the place for Patanjali, Yoga, Neuro Science etc., which are the true contributor in running the country in contemporary manner.
In political theory and Indian Politics, all western theories are placed which do not contribute in running of the system in our country. All the syllabus of UPSC is inclined towards western ideas and left wing theories with the propounders who do not want forward growth of our country and its subjects.
Furthermore, the bureaucrats in British period, not mostly, but all were given silent mandate for not mixing with Indian population so that sentimental attachment may not play any role and independence may be preponed. The Britishers went away but the secret code of the ethics of bureaucrats still pervade in the minds of these mandarins without merit, causing a heavy loss on account of alienations with the society as a consequence of which they never understand the first hand problem. (may kindly not be generalized or accusation but food for thought)
Over the years, immunity has spread in every section of employees. (As per fourth report of second Administrate reforms committees it has been noted). This has created a climate of excessive security without fear of penalty for incompetence or wrongdoings. In practice discipline of bureaucrats is even more lax. The Ministry of Personnel is apparently slow in investigating and prosecuting members of IAS and IPS and any other service who have been charged with crime.
This has become a story of Indian Bureaucracy:- responsibility without accountability inevitably, the consequence has been that the responsibility has come to be treated in cavalier fashion. No one should be surprised (as per newspapers report that India has come to be treated as having the worst bureaucracy in Asia and) that the best and brightest of India’s youth avoid Government services. The supposed iron cage is eaten through with rust. India is still suffering from civil services though designed like Iron frames (though rusting rapidly) and monarchial political parties adequately, has resulted in the growing decline of citizen’s trust in them. Perversity is parading as Morality.
Suggestions that may transform this antediluvian practices and become one amongst designed for common citizen of the country.
1) The syllabus, so far defined by the UPSC is Orivilian in nature and should be replaced by the theories and the thoughts pertaining to our country with small reference to cotemporary international study so that the selected lot of IAS may understand the area which is to be served by them in true sense.
2) The subjects should be so chosen that the comprehensive knowledge and holistic acumen is obtained by every selected candidate about the country and the section of society they are posted in.
3) The syllabus should be changed every two years with the latest happenings in the nation and the world, are incorporated so that solutions to tackle the same is designed in the mind of the new entrants in bureaucracy. This will obliterate the common cramming of the subjects in repeated attempts by the students who fail in the given chance.
4) The eligibility age should be increased from minimum 22 years to 30 years with the retirement age extended up to 65 years and every aspirant should have worked for 5 years in private segment so as to perceive the tough life and the flavor of siting on other side of table and the tribulations the private sector undergoes through the Government set up. It will shed the vanity from the mind of the aspirant that he attains if he becomes Collectorate at the age of 27 without the rigmarole of true public life and sensation of the society in true sense. This way, the selected lot will have the true connect of the society which they are generally insensitive to and will innovate better for the growth of society.
The next step towards correcting this is to increase manifolds, the public interface with this bureaucratic mandarins so that they are exposed to the truthfulness of the issues and corrective measures can be taken in a better way. Secondary, the present disciplinary process, to ensure that the bureaucrats under investigation, are neither promoted not given any job.
The bureaucrats do (before joining the services) work very hard to come out with flying colours and really wish to contribute a lot but the fear of launch of any enquiry, dissuades them to render in the desired manner. They should, at all levels, be in the office or in public life, make public appearances and interface which can pre-empt a lot of corruption practices because now the lower base of staff is pretty sure that the higher boss is never going to inspect and the world belongs to them.
There should be proper learning that the officers cannot take decision with proclivity and holistically if they are confined to their cushy office and the culture of green sheets prevail with the witness of wisdom of Assistant Grade as they are the one who draft the reply firstly for any issue with others to either toe in line or make small correction. We need to create an inclusive and just society. All the best to Government functioning.
Mahendra Kumar Goel
Retirement age to be raised to 62 ?
It appears to be tight rope, especially when so much unemployment is prevailing in the country. Instead, Govt should try to fill in vacancies by recruitment drives, which will achieve both issues of unemployment and also vacancies. Currently, most vacancies are managed by contractual appointments which are not the solution. A person is employed for one year on contract can not deliver to the nation with loyalty. Instead of increasing the retirement age for all i.e. performer and non-performers must choose performers based on their past record and re-employ them without referring to their mighty connections.
Vishnu Agrawal