Senior diplomat Robert Shetkintong (IFS:2001), currently serving as the Ambassador of India to Ethiopia, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Mozambique, as per an official statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday. Mr. Shetkintong is anticipated to assume his new role shortly.
Saurabh Kumar appointed as next Ambassador of India to Belgium
Senior diplomat Saurabh Kumar (IFS:1989) has been designated as India’s Ambassador to Belgium, with additional accreditation as Ambassador of India to the European Union. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement on Friday confirming this appointment. Currently serving as the Secretary in the MEA, Saurabh Kumar is anticipated to assume his new responsibilities in the near future.
Ankita Chakravarty appointed as Deputy Secretary, MHA
Ankita Chakravarty (IAS:2013:AGMUT), recommended for central deputation by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in MHA, Delhi, for a tenure of four years. As per the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (24.11.2023), the central government has given its approval for Ms. Chakravarty’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. Her term will span four years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever takes place earlier.
Mayank Mishra appointed as Director, MHA
Mayank Mishra (IRS-IT: 2009), recommended for central deputation by the Department of Revenue, has been chosen to serve as Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Delhi, for a duration of five years. As per the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (24.11.2023), the central government has granted its approval for Mr. Mishra’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. His term will encompass five years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever takes place earlier.
Pradeep Kumar Pal appointed as Director, UPSC
Pradeep Kumar Pal (IRSSE:2009), proposed for central deputation by the Ministry of Railways, has been appointed as Director in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Delhi, for a five-year term. As outlined in an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (24.11.2023), the central government has given its approval for Mr. Pal’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. His tenure will span five years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier.
Monica Thind appointed as Director, M/o Statistics & Programme Implementation
Monica Thind (IES:2008), recommended for central deputation by the Department of Economic Affairs, has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Delhi, for a tenure of five years. As per the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (24.11.2023), the central government has granted approval for Ms. Thind’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. Her term will extend for five years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever transpires earlier.
Ankit Dugar appointed as Director, MoRTH
Ankit Dugar (IRSSE:2009), recommended for central deputation by the Ministry of Railways, has been chosen to serve as Director in the Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways (MoRTH) for a five-year term. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an order on Friday (24.11.2023), confirming the central government’s approval for Mr. Dugar’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. His tenure will extend for five years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier.
Bhawna Gulati appointed as Chief Accounts Officer, DDA
Bhawna Gulati (IRS-IT:2011) has been appointed as the Chief Accounts Officer at the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), a Non-CSS post, for a duration of four years. As outlined in an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (23.11.2023), the competent authority has endorsed Ms. Gulati’s appointment for a four-year term from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever transpires earlier.
Govt appoints Central Prabhari Officers for 7 aspirational districts
The central government on Thursday (23.11.2023) announced the appointment of Central Prabhari Officers (CPOs) for 7 districts under the Aspirational District Programme.
Newly appointed CPOs for 7 districts are as follows:
- Himani Pande (IAS:1998:JH), Joint Secretary, DPIIT, has been appointed CPO of Ranchi in Jharkhand.
- Palka Sahni (IAS:2004:BH), Joint Secretary, D/o Food & Public Distribution, has been appointed CPO of Jamui in Bihar.
- Shashank Misra (IAS:2007:MP), Joint Secretary, M/o Power, has been appointed as CPO of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.
- Varsha Joshi (IAS:1995:AGMUT), Additional Secretary, D/o Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has been appointed as CPO of Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Amit Kumar Ghosh (IAS:1994:UP), Additional Secretary, D/o Social Justice & Empowerment, has been appointed as CPO of Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.
- Indra Mallo (IAS:1999:MH), Joint Secretary, M/o Women & Child Development, has been appointed as CPO of Washim in Maharashtra.
- Satya Prakash Vashishth (IFoS:1994:AM), Executive Director, D/o Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, has been appointed as CPO of Dhubri in Assam.
Critical Shortage: 178 DIG and SP positions unfilled among 215 vacancies in CAPF, CBI, and IB
Amidst a significant shortage of officers, central police organizations and central forces grapple with a total of 215 vacancies across various ranks, including Director General (DG), Additional Director General (ADG), Inspector General (IG), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and Superintendent of Police (SP). The most critical deficit is observed specifically at the DIG and SP levels, where a staggering 178 positions remain unoccupied.
As per the latest vacancy status report from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), of the total vacancies, 178 are concentrated at the level of DIG and SP ranks within central police agencies and organizations. Presently, only three officers of the ranks of DIG and SP are available for central deputation, leaving a substantial gap in critical leadership roles.
The “offer list,” updated as of November 21, reveals that 11 senior IPS officers have been cleared for central deputation by their respective state cadres and governments. Among them, one is a DIG-ranked officer, and two hold the SP rank. However, these numbers fall significantly short of addressing the prevailing shortage.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are particularly hard-hit by this scarcity, bearing the brunt of the maximum vacancies at the DIG and SP levels. Currently, the CBI has 44 vacant positions at this level, while the IB faces an even higher number, with 73 such positions remaining unfilled. Both organizations play pivotal roles in the country’s law enforcement and security.
The scarcity of police officers within central government organizations is not a recent issue, prompting the government to explore various solutions. Initiatives include the induction of officers from central police forces like the Border Security Force (BSF) into the CBI through a ‘lateral shift’ approach. Additionally, the government has revised IPS tenure rules, amending the policy to make officers with a minimum of five years’ service eligible for induction into organizations like R&AW, IB, NIA, and CBI. This strategic shift aims to address the persistent challenge of officer shortages and enhance the operational efficiency of these crucial agencies.
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