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Monday, April 20, 2026
TopicBureaucrats

Topic: bureaucrats

UPSC Civil Services Exam has been reduced to a memory test. That’s not how you select officers

India’s civil services were once called the ‘steel frame’. But steel is forged in fire, not moulded in a coaching class. While dilution has made the exam easier, it has also made it harder to find the game-changers we need.

For Modi govt’s ill-thought-out policies, civil servants haven’t been blamed enough

Modi’s ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ slogan was meant to reduce bureaucratic discretion. Unfortunately, the reality has been the opposite.

With lucrative sinecures for ex-IAS, IRS & others, RERAs serve as ‘rehab centres’ for retd civil servants

Of 32 states & UTs with Real Estate Regulatory Authorities, at least 25 are headed by retd civil servants. SC remarked last month that RERAs are 'rehabilitation centre' for ex-officers.

Chandrababu’s chosen babus: Meet 3 IAS officers set to play key role in Andhra Pradesh CM’s office

Last week, 1997 batch IAS officer Peeyush Kumar, with stint in Delhi, was appointed principal secretary in CMO. Officers who served ex-CM Jagan were removed within 3 days of election results.

Yogi govt expands gag order for officials & employees to include social media, digital news portals

However, order says no nod is needed for literary, cultural, scientific write-ups or broadcast. It doesn't distinguish between pvt & public WhatsApp chats, which has caused concern.

How ‘house for Mr Das’ led to arrest of ex-TN special DGP amid running feud with estranged IAS wife

Tambaram police Friday arrested Rajesh Das, ex-special DGP, on charges of trespass, assault & intimidation based on complaint by his estranged wife, energy secretary Beela Venkatesan. 

It’s now clear. Modi wants a committed governmental, judicial machinery serving BJP vision

Indian politicians expect civil servants to suck up to them. Ireland envoy Akhilesh Mishra's hit-job on Congress and his admiration of PM Modi will undoubtedly be noted by his political masters.

Rajasthan CM on transfer spree — several officers moved within 2-3 months, 1 within just 10 days

BJP calls transfers ‘routine process’ but some feel CM is 'under pressure' to perform, build his team. CMO has asked for list of all transfers in past 3 months to apprise PMO, it is learnt.

Clipping wings? Bihar ministers’ private secretaries told to focus only on ‘non-govt functions’

Bihar chief secretary said in letter to dept heads that private secretaries not picked from administrative services will now only oversee minister's tours & outdoor political events.

From officers to stars — how IAS instagrammers are turning into social media ‘celebrities’

Civil servants are usually behind-the-scenes operators, but a new crop of IAS officers is playing to the gallery on Instagram. Some seniors warn ‘fame-seeking’ is a bad idea.

On Camera

India’s close encounters with Pakistan on Siachen

Pakistan's SSG team was not adequately provisioned for the inclement weather. If it managed to consolidate its position, the story of Siachen would have been different. 

Recovery of energy flows will be ‘gradual rather than immediate’ as Hormuz re-opens post ceasefire

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz eases supply fears, but controlled shipping, slow output recovery, and high costs may delay oil flow normalisation for months.

Why Siliguri Corridor is strategically important for India & how it is being secured | Cut The Clutter

This special edition of Cut The Clutter, straight from the Siliguri corridor, details the strategic importance of the narrow strip of land in West Bengal, and how it’s a vital link connecting the Northeast to the rest of India.

Trump, Netanyahu’s Iran gamble: The regime change rebound

American objectives are unmet. They neither have muscle nor motivation to resume the war. As for Iran, the regime didn’t just survive, it’s now led by more radical individuals.