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Thursday, January 29, 2026
TopicJoint Secretary

Topic: Joint Secretary

Facing a shortage, Modi govt tweaks empanelment criteria to attract more IAS officers to Centre

As of 2023, only 442 IAS officers were working with Centre against required strength of 1,469. The latest policy applies to IAS officers from batches 2010 and after.

After an all-time low representation, 60% of new joint secretaries are from IAS

With 25 of 41 new joint secretaries from the IAS, officials say the move suggests a recalibration of approach to central postings.

Only 33% joint secretaries belong to IAS. How the service’s dominance has eroded under Modi govt

RTI response reveals that only 80 of 236 joint secretaries at Centre are from IAS. Officers attribute trend to deliberate attempt under Modi govt to cut the service down to size.

Why an Uttarakhand HC order may put Centre in a spot over contentious 360-degree appraisal process

HC directed Centre to provide all records on empanelment of IFS Sanjeev Chaturvedi, who claimed that despite having requisite qualifications, he was denied promotion to joint secy post.

I was an IAS officer for 36 yrs, not a dull moment. Sanjeev Sanyal got civil services wrong

I will challenge anyone and everyone who claims that the civil services don’t offer avenues for growth and innovation.

‘Outsider tag, hostile IAS lobby’ to blame? Modi govt sees 2nd lateral hire exit since 2020

Of 12 domain experts hired for the civil services as lateral entrants in 2019 & 2021, 9 are in service. There's also been a dip in applications for lateral entry posts.

Under Modi govt, IAS appointments to joint & additional secy posts have shrunk by over 50%

Civil servants say this fall is part of a growing trend that reflects the government's attempt to break 'babu dominance' and address the crunch of IAS officers available for deputation.

Loopholes have failed the new 360° assessment to empanel IAS officers. It needs reforms

The govt needs to encourage officers with experience to bring their perspective to the table. So far, only 'non-preferred cadres' have been chosen.

Arun Goel, lateral entrant joint secretary in commerce ministry, resigns after a year

Arun Goel, former vice-president of ShopClues, had joined the govt last year, but DoPT officials say he left due to ‘bureaucratic tangles’.

More reform for IAS officers as Modi govt adds new criteria to pick joint secretaries

Starting with the 2007 batch, IAS officers can’t join the central govt as joint secretaries straight from their state cadres, a DoPT office memorandum said.

On Camera

How Djokovic & his luck outplayed opponents in major tournaments—walkovers to retirements

By the 2024 US Open, ESPN noted that Djokovic had advanced via opponent retirements or walkovers 16 times at Majors, the most of any male player in the Open Era.

India’s $360 billion stock rout raises stakes for Modi govt’s Union Budget 2026

Will the govt increase defense spending & speed up share sales in state-run companies to bolster revenues after last year's income tax cuts, reductions in consumption levies?

Indian Army ties up with US drone company that made its name in the Ukraine conflict

Shield AI will provide V-BAT vertical takeoff & landing drones along with licences for software, which will be integrated into aircraft and made available to select Indian partners.

Non-alignment is coming back in a new avatar: Trump-peedit alliance

No nation other than China can negotiate one-on-one with Trump on an equal footing. That’s why the middle powers who so far formed the core of multilateral bodies now feel orphaned.