https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersWhen Yog becomes Yoga it gets to be recognized in the country of origin”. I had tweeted this some time ago to highlight the fact that we are so obsessed with western endorsements that we look for such certificate...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersWill it survive? It was unprecedented but it happened. The Prime Minister chose to vent his ire on the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and criticized the premier civil service in no uncertain terms. This was done in the Parliament. Only he can...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/bharat-ratna-moments/June 28, 2022, 4:35 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/bharat_ratna.jpgOthersEnormous opportunities for deriving a sense of satisfaction. https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersI superannuated as a civil servant on 30 June 2018. I had enjoyed every moment of my life as a Civil Servant (I wrote in Not Just a Civil Servant that if I were to be reborn, I would like to be an IAS officer) but what happened thereafter was even...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersTwitter surveys have serious limitations but the results still surprised me. It was a survey by me wherein the following question was asked: According to you, which of the following institutions is carrying out its responsibilities in the best pos...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersIn 1993, I got an assignment where I interacted with industry and industrialists. After the Kalyan Singh Government fell in 1992, consequent to the demolition of Babri Masjid, I was posted as Executive Director, Udyog Bandhu. The job was to promot...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersAs I mention in my book, “Not Just A Civil Servant”, the real coal story wasn’t about the successful coal block auctions. It was about the record increase in coal production. In 2014, there were on an average more than 25 power plants that were de...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersWe were all happy when National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rode to power. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had really messed it. I was personally thrilled when I got to know that Mr Nripendra Mishra would be the Principal Secretary to the Prim...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersIt was 2013. Everything that could go wrong was going wrong for the UPA-II government. There were scams all around. Everyone, including civil servants, was on the run, with enforcement agencies in hot pursuit. Consequently, no one had the time or ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersBefore I joined the Cabinet Secretariat in 2013 as Additional Secretary, I was in awe of it. There were not many occasions that I had visited this part of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. However, whenever I did, it was with much trepidation. However, both...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersDuring both the first and the last meeting with PM Narendra Modi, I had a view that was at variance with his. On both the occasions he heard me out, he concurred with me on each of these occasions. Yes, Modi was prepared to listen, ready to accept...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-narendra-modi-i-knew-part-ii/April 19, 2022, 4:41 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Modi.jpgOthersIt was heartening to see the Prime Minister in full action. During his stint as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had perhaps understood the role that civil servants could play. He was trying to replicate that model in the Centre. One of the many ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-narendra-modi-i-knew/April 12, 2022, 2:29 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Modi.jpgOthersMy first and the last meetings with him.https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/why-the-ias-again/April 5, 2022, 6:50 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IAS-1.jpgOthersIAS officers can afford to be just honest and do nothing beyond just being honest. They can treat honesty as an end in itself. They can distrust everyone else and treat the rest of the world as dishonest. They can consciously choose not to appreci...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersLate Arun Jaitley was at his eloquent best when he said in the Parliament, “The desire of a post-retirement job influences pre-retirement judgements”. This was stated by him in the context of Judicial Officers. However, it is perhaps equally relev...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersTHE 5 C S ‘Why to blame only netas, 5Cs also hinder decision making’: Coal Secretary. This was the headline of a leading daily that generated a tsunami of reactions. Perhaps almost everyone felt it, but no one had the courage to state it. It all b...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersABSENCE OF ETHOS Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very clear in his mind when he announced the setting up of Groups of Secretaries in 2015 to discuss and come up with recommendations on a variety of subjects and issues. As an accomplished leader, ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersThe call was from the Prime Minister’s office and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister (PM) was on the line. I was posted as Secretary, School Education and Literacy and into the last year of my 38 year long career in the civil service, b...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersAfter the infamous incident at Hathras, Uttar Pradesh more than year ago I had tweeted: “Handling situations like the one at Hathras or improving governance doesn’t really require artificial intelligence (AI). It requires attitude and empathy, cri...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersThis was 2019. I had superannuated and settled in NOIDA. The telephone call was at around 6 pm in the afternoon from a young IAS officer who was posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Muzaffarnagar District in Uttar Pradesh. It was his first posti...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersThe order was cryptic but clear. It came from the Minister. This was 2003. I had just taken over as Secretary, Department of Horticulture in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) after having completed my deputation with the Central Government. The Stat...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersThe call was from a fellow retired civil servant. He was upset at the current crop of officers not returning his calls or responding to his messages. I shared with him my personal experience that, unlike many such retired officers, was totally dif...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersIn the article, “Making it Happen: Did Make-in -India Happen?” published last week, I had concluded whether the strategy adopted under “Make in India” worked in the context of the objectives that were outlined under this initiative. The clear answ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersWith a view to attracting international investment, while making his speech during the World Economic Forum recently, PM Modi announced that this was the “best time to invest in India”. In the aforementioned context, I had tweeted: “Best way to at...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthers‘I am, because you are’ refers to UBUNTU, a popular African philosophy which places emphasis on being self through others. This philosophy inspired a group of women entrepreneurs to lay the foundation for ‘Ubuntu Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs’...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/making-it-happen/January 12, 2022, 8:20 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6597dd41_7379_P_6_mr-1.jpgOthersAntyodaya Saral: How Haryana has transformed service delivery. https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersEthics is defined as a set of “moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity”. Ethics or ethical behaviour pertains to certain socially acceptable conduct that may not have been codified formally into a law or ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersDuring current times, it takes a lot of courage to speak one’s mind. The polity is divided as never before. It is also very difficult to convince those around you that one can like and appreciate some, and dislike and criticize other actions/polic...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/can-it-be-managed/December 21, 2021, 2:02 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/617cbde8_6865_P_1_mr-1.jpgOthersThe farm legislations have been withdrawn after a stand-off between the Government and the farmers for more than a year. https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthers“Yes Minister” was a big hit in England and when it was first shown in India in its original version and subsequently in its “desi” adaptation, it was received very well by the audiences in India as well. Both the original and the “desi” versions ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersThe news about a couple of lady journalists being detained is nothing new. It keeps happening every other day. Much worse has been in store for such journalists who attempt to be true to their profession. There is absolutely no doubt that there ar...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthers“Anil, it is not good news. You have malignancy”. This was my doctor-friend, Ambrish Mithal on phone. He was the one who had persuaded me to get the necessary tests done after some painless growth was detected in my groin and armpits. I had half e...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersCivil servants, pejoratively referred to as “Babus” have been at the receiving end for pretty long. Not very ago I conducted a survey on Twitter. The question asked was, “According to you, which of the following institutions is carrying out its re...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthers“A wrong image was inadvertently included in the cover page of the advertorial on Uttar Pradesh produced by a marketing department of the newspaper. The error is deeply regretted” This was an apology issued by the concerned newspaper for an advert...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersA civil servant is expected to slog it out invisibly; to do his job irrespectively. He will be challenged to rise up to the occasion, time and again. He will be expected to perform commendably even the severest of tasks. For example, he might have...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersIn 2010, they set up the After School Life Skills, Career Connect and Teacher Development Program in Bangalore and have trained around more than 10,000 educators impacting over 200,000 children. The After School Life Skills Program is leaving no s...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersTechnology can transform governance and make life easy for the common man. The question is not about the availability of technology, it is about attitude of those that have to first appreciate its relevance and then to have the “courage” to use it...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersWith the sole motto of ‘Desire for excellence in School Education’, the concept of transformation of high schools into Centre of Excellence (CoE) is based on the vision of Chief Minister of Odisha. The school transformation initiative aims to revo...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersAttainment of foundational literacy and numeracy is the ability of a Std 3 child to read and comprehend basic text and to carry out some basic arithmetic operation with Indian numerals. A number of evaluation reports have revealed that among Std 3...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/making-it-happen-the-trifed-turnaroud/October 5, 2021, 6:09 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/9549e7e7_5236_P_5_mr-1.jpgOthersTribal handicrafts are loved by many. There is often this talk about sustaining and promoting this dying genre. However, there is hardly any discussion around why it is dying, and where lies the remedy. Pravir Krishna and his committed team chose ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersI had superannuated as Secretary, School Education and Literacy, Government of India in 2018 but it was difficult to get “disconnected” with this sector. And, when the invite came from Indus Action for the launch of a study they had conducted rega...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersIt was March 17th 2018. In my capacity as Secretary, School Education, Government of India I visited Agra to launch Innovative Pathshaala- a series of booklets for the teachers comprising experiential and activity-based lesson plans mapped with th...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersI was on an official visit to Pune as Secretary, School Education, Government of India during 2017. Raj Gilda, co-founder of Lend A Hand India had been after me for a while to visit one of the schools run by the organization to impart vocational e...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersIt was 2017. I had taken over as Secretary, School Education, Government of India a few months ago. I was on a visit to a Government primary school in Haryana. The sight was an incredible one. This was not a typical set of children in a school. Th...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersTaladanda Main Canal is one of the oldest canals constructed during the British era off-taking from River Mahanadi at Jobra and running upto Paradeep in Odisha. It passes through the millennium city of Cuttack. Over the years the canal and its sur...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersI had a dream that remained unfulfilled during my career as a civil servant. This dream was based on my experience as head of the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) set up in 2013. Consequent to alleged scams, decision making in the government had com...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/making-things-happen-transformation-of-dhanora/August 17, 2021, 2:44 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/fc196276_4120_P_1_mr-1-1.jpgOthersOne of the first tasks towards the transformation of Dhanora was holding a meeting involving all the stakeholders, namely the villagers that included women and the youth as well as the representatives of the Gram Panchayat.https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/making-it-happen-convergence-transforms-melghat/August 10, 2021, 7:50 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Satpura-hills-1.jpgOthersEvery year, many people migrate out from Melghat for livelihood. The migration begins post-Diwali in October. People start returning in March for their favourite Holi festival, sometimes going back for two months only to return in June to sow thei...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersThe recent wave of Covid-19 pandemic spread like a ‘tsunami’ in India. The second wave was worse than the first one. There could be several factors responsible for the huge spike in number of cases and its severity in the second wave as compared t...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/the-evolution-of-democracy-and-society/July 13, 2022, 2:42 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/c10ea84c_4837_P_4_mr-1.jpgOthersThis was 2017. As Secretary, School Education, Government of India, I was sitting on the last bench of a class-room, along with students of class 5, in a school in Mumbai. I was extremely impressed and least embarrassed at what was being taught pr...