Proposal moved for extension of a Union Secretary

New Delhi:Whether the New Delhi establishment would take the proposal of extending the tenure of an incumbent Union Secretary in right earnest or not has become a matter of concern in the close quarters of bureaucracy. Because, reportedly recent controversies related to official surveys are said to have irked the ruling dispensation.

If sources are to be believed proposal of extension of Dr G P Samanta Union Secretary in the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) and Chief Statistician of India (CSI) has been moved to the highest level of the government for consideration.

Dr Samanta will be completing one-year extended tenure on April 15, 2024 when the Model Code of Conduct would be in force restricting the Centre from taking any such decision. In view of 2024 General Elections, the Centre is expediting a long list of Secretary-level reshuffle including a few cases of extensions and re-appointments as well.

Speculations on Dr Samanta’s extension proposal assumes significance in the backdrop of PMO taking stock of the functioning and performance of the ministry and taking key measures to raise both domestic and international confidence in India’s statistical system.