Data shows that until October 2024, of the AIS officers working at Centre as secy, additional secy & joint secy, only 7 were from Maharashtra & 12 from UP—2 of the largest cadres of AIS.
From the officers’ viewpoint, the best part is that the cadre controlling authority is the Ministry of Home Affairs, while in all other cadres, it is the state government.
Sanjeev Khirwar & Rinku Dhugga were transferred to Ladakh and Arunachal in May after a media report said a sports stadium in Delhi was closed early to athletes so couple could walk their dog.
‘Punishment’ postings are not new. If you want to punish an IAS officer through transfer, which has been the practice in several states and now Centre, there is no need to search for ‘hard areas.’
J&K cadre was merged with AGMUT last year. Now, UT of J&K has been allotted 70 IPS posts and Ladakh 10. Fewer positions likely to fall vacant with J&K categorised as ‘hard area’.
Areas under AGMUT cadre are divided into 'Regular' & 'Hard', based on topography & sensitivity. Officers posted there get incentives. Arunachal & Mizoram are other 'Hard Areas'.
The collusion between the new class of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and trade union bosses perpetuates itself partly because of the short-run benefits and partly because they see no way out of the system, wrote author MH Mody in 1980.
IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.
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