NEW DELHI: Around 60% of IAS officers empanelled as secretaries and equivalent on Tuesday will have at least five years‘ tenure, reflecting govt’s focus on providing long tenure to high-ranking officials.
While defence and home secretaries get two years fixed tenures, others often complained of decision making and policy implementation getting affected. As a result, the Modi administration has been posting officials in key ministries for four-five years.
A close look at the latest empanelled officers from 1993 batch as secretaries and equivalent show that 12 out of 20 officers will have more than five years tenure. Even five out of 20 IAS officers from 1992 batch who were empanelled as secretaries or equivalent last June will have five more years in service.
Sources said a major bureaucratic reshuffle at top level is likely in June-July after the new govt assumes office and many of the recently empanelled officers will be posted.
TOI talked to some of the former secretaries about the new trend. They said earlier three-year tenure as secretaries was considered fair enough. “Now as officers are becoming secretaries with five-six years still left in service, they can be posted in particular departments for four-five years. That brings stability and they have enough time to deliver provided they have the motivation and are allowed to work,” said an ex-secretary in the Centre.
A former Gujarat cadre IAS said PM Modi in his earlier role as chief minister ensured officers got longer tenure to deliver in the state.
Officials also said that the trend of IAS officers becoming secretaries early has happened as the time taken for them to become joint secretaries has reduced. Earlier one could be empanelled as joint secretary after 20 years service, but now it has come down to 17-18 years.