Dilip Cherian | Saurabh Garg to lead statistics ministry beyond retirement

Saurabh Garg, senior IAS officer and secretary of the department of social justice and empowerment, has been appointed as secretary of the ministry of statistics and programme implementation. Notably, Mr Garg will continue to serve in this capacity for one year beyond his retirement on July 31. He will also take on the role of secretary to the National Statistical Commission.

Interestingly, observers have pointed out that Mr Garg’s new appointment follows on the heels of the similar appointment of P.K. Tripathi as the secretary to the Lokpal of India till superannuation and thereafter on a two-year contract. Is this a new trend?

An accomplished economist, Mr Garg’s academic credentials are impressive, having studied economics at Johns Hopkins University, besides IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Delhi. The Odisha cadre officer is known for his contributions to policy and programme implementation, particularly his role in conceptualising the Kalia scheme in Odisha. This initiative provides crucial support to small farmers and sharecroppers and has, notably, served as a model for the national PM Kisan scheme. Most conspicuously, Mr Garg was a major force behind the direct transfer scheme during his tenure as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

The move has caused some murmurs in Delhi’s babu corridors, and while the immediate motive is unclear, time will eventually reveal how the transition unfolds. But one thing is clear: Mr Garg’s continued service after retirement suggests a recognition of his valuable experience and a desire for continuity in leadership.

Key babu reshuffle with an eye on the future

In a major shake-up, right in the middle of a busy, busy election, the Central government announced key appointments at the joint secretary level, signalling a strategic shift in leadership. This bureaucratic overhaul included the empanelment of 26 IAS officers from the 1995 to 1999 batches as additional secretaries.

Among the notable appointments, Ajay Bhadoo is currently serving at the Election Commission of India (EC), V. Seshadri, formerly with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), is leading the Telangana chief minister’s office (CMO) and Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi is heading Telangana’s energy department.

This sudden wave of appointments has sparked speculation about the continuity and stability of the current New Delhi establishment. But this may be just a hint of more sweeping changes to come in the days ahead. Sources have informed DKB that the government may soon release another list of appointments, even as speculation is rife that some key figures in the Modi Sarkar may continue in their posts. While by the time you read this, the new government will be announced, these actions reveal the confidence that the Modi sarkar has in returning to power. So, despite the busy election period, it has ensured that some key aspects of administration are not overlooked.

The curious case of election-year raids

In the run-up to the general elections, a dozen IAS and IPS officers have found themselves under the scrutiny of the mighty Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other investigative agencies in various corruption-related cases. Allegations range from corruption to money laundering, and some raids have been criticised as politically motivated.

Recently, a 2002-batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer was summoned by the ED for questioning in a money laundering case. Similarly, a 2003-batch IAS Chhattisgarh cadre IAS officer was arrested by the ED, with investigations revealing his pivotal role in orchestrating a liquor syndicate’s activities in the state.

In another instance, at least five IPS officers in Chhattisgarh are under the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s scanner for their alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app case. In another high-profile case, the ED raided the premises of a former Union secretary DPIIT, following a CBI case that led to a money-laundering investigation.

These raids and arrests during an election year raise questions about the motivations behind the timing and broader implications for governance. It’s not lost on anyone that some of these officers are in Opposition-ruled states. Are these actions then purely in the interest of justice, or is there an element of political vendetta? The answer might remain elusive, and it only adds another layer of intrigue to the already complex world of Indian politics.