GARC’s Final Countdown

Established to simplify Gujarat’s administrative machinery and make governance less cumbersome, the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC) now appears to be in a period of silence after submitting its reports. The Commission submitted six interim reports to the government over eight months in 2025, but no fresh report has emerged so far in 2026. Under the leadership of Chairman and Chief Minister’s Principal Adviser Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, Chief Secretary M.K. Das and other senior officials, the Commission is steering the administrative reform agenda. Discussions suggest that its focus has shifted towards implementing earlier recommendations and preparing a final consolidated report. With the Commission’s tenure ending in February 2027, attention is now on how quickly departments act on its recommendations and what concrete outcomes the final report delivers. GARC’s challenge is no longer just to submit another report, but to prove that its recommendations for simplifying government are not themselves becoming another layer of bureaucracy.

Vibrant Players of the Vibrant Tour

Amid preparations for Gujarat’s upcoming Vibrant foreign tour, discussions in the Secretariat seem to be revolving more around passports, visas and profile management than development itself! Led by the Deputy Chief Minister and six other ministers, more than 16 senior IAS officers are preparing to travel to 12 countries. For some officers, the doors to an overseas tour have almost opened, while others are busy revisiting the pages of their files, highlighting their past experiences and achievements at previous Vibrant Summits. Apart from officers from the Industries, Mines and Minerals, Energy and Petrochemicals, and Urban Development departments, senior officials from associated boards, corporations and government companies are also showing considerable enthusiasm for the foreign tour. More interesting than who will visit which country is the race to see whose name makes it to the final travel list! Circles in the Secretariat are abuzz with discussions that the tour is not merely about meeting investors and attracting investment to Gujarat. For some, it is an opportunity for international exposure; for others, it is another ‘Vibrant’ chapter to enhance their career profiles! Now, the real question is how much investment Gujarat brings home from abroad—and how many officers return with profiles that are genuinely more vibrant than before!

IAS Shake-Up Before Diwali

The festive spirit in Gujarat’s Secretariat is being matched by the buzz over a possible reshuffle of IAS officers! Discussions are gaining momentum over the possibility of transfers and promotions involving two dozen or more officers before Diwali. Vacancies following the appointment of four IAS officers to the Gujarat Public Service Commission, departments operating under additional charge, and officers awaiting fresh assignments have fuelled speculation across the Secretariat. While some are hoping for a coveted new posting, others are wondering whether they will have to surrender their current chairs! Key positions, including the Director of Information, Managing Director of iNDEXTb, Surat Collector and Vav-Tharad Collector, are among the posts being discussed in connection with the possible reshuffle. Changes at the district collector, District Development Officer and Municipal Commissioner levels are also being speculated upon. For the government, this is more than a routine transfer exercise. It is an opportunity to fill vacancies, reduce dependence on in-charge arrangements and improve administrative efficiency. If completed before the festive season, the reshuffle could give newly appointed officers a clear mandate to take charge and deliver.

The Founder of Forensics Bows Out

The long innings of Padma Shri Dr. J.M. Vyas as the founding Vice-Chancellor of NFSU, who gave Gujarat’s forensic science sector global recognition, came to an end on October 1, 2026. With a career spanning nearly five decades, leadership ranging from the Gujarat FSL to NFSU, and international recognition in the field of forensic science, he has carved out a distinctive place for himself. However, discussions in official circles of the Secretariat suggest that for an institution whose identity has become closely associated with one individual’s vision, carrying the legacy forward without him could prove challenging. An interesting administrative aspect of Dr. Vyas’s career is that even after crossing the age of retirement, his expertise and administrative capabilities led to his being entrusted with responsibilities at the Gujarat FSL. In government machinery, retirement generally marks the end of service, but for certain exceptional professionals, the doors to responsibility remain open even beyond retirement! Such exceptions reflect the recognition of specialised expertise. The real challenge now before NFSU and Gujarat’s forensic science establishment is to carry this legacy forward. It remains to be seen how effectively the new leadership builds on the institutional capabilities, research culture and global recognition established by Dr. Vyas.

Gujarat’s Bureaucratic Gear Shift

The Gujarat government has revised its official vehicle purchase policy, making an officer’s responsibilities and field requirements as important as rank and designation in determining vehicle eligibility. While the 2023 policy primarily followed a position-based framework, the 2026 amendments introduce Category-F for field inspection and enforcement and Category-F1 for officers performing off-road duties. This opens up options such as SUVs for field inspections and 4WD or pickup vehicles for officers working in remote and difficult terrain. A notable feature of the revised policy is the inclusion of electric vehicles such as the Mahindra XUV400 and Tata Nexon EV in Category-F. Meanwhile, 4WD and pickup vehicles have been included for off-road assignments. The provisions could benefit officers from departments such as Forests, Mines and Minerals, Revenue, Roads and Buildings, and Water Resources. From promoting green governance through EVs to providing rugged vehicles for challenging terrain, the policy seeks to balance official protocol with practical field requirements.

Governance Takes a Garba Break

After spending their days immersed in files, meetings, reviews and administrative pressures, Gujarat’s IAS and IPS officers are showing a different side of themselves during Navratri. Away from the seriousness of the Secretariat and the stern image of the police force, officers are seen dancing to garba beats alongside their wives. The garba festival organised by the Gujarat IAS Officers’ Wives Welfare Association, led by president C.V. Som and Chandrani Som, witnessed the presence of senior secretaries, Director General of Police G.S. Malik and Head of the Forest Force Dr. Jaipal Singh, adding to the occasion’s significance. Meanwhile, police officers also joined the Navratri celebrations organised at the IPS Mess in Ahmedabad. Officers who maintain the rhythm of law and order and administrative discipline during the day were seen matching steps to the rhythm of garba in the evening. These celebrations highlight a social dimension of bureaucracy that often remains overshadowed by government files and official meetings. The associations of IAS and IPS officers are not limited to social gatherings alone. Such cultural activities also create opportunities for interaction, stronger connections and camaraderie among officers and their families.

Government Hesitates, Industries Wait

With Ahmedabad in the spotlight amid preparations for global sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, discussions have once again intensified over relocating industrial units caught amid expanding urbanisation, pollution, traffic congestion and residential neighbourhoods. Industrial estates were once located on the outskirts of the city, but urban expansion has now brought the city right to their doorstep. The government’s challenge is not merely to relocate GIDCs, but also to assess the cost, time and readiness of industries to shift an industrial ecosystem built over decades. This is why the emphasis remains on conducting a detailed study before taking a final decision. Around 5,000 industrial units face the potential challenge of relocation. Attention in the Secretariat is now focused on the completion of the study and the government’s eventual decision. Reducing the burden of pollution and traffic on the city is essential, but care must also be taken to ensure that relocation does not impose a fresh financial burden on industries. Insisting on shifting existing units before the necessary infrastructure is ready at the new GIDCs could create serious difficulties for businesses. The government’s real test lies not in announcing the relocation of GIDCs, but in taking industries into confidence and making the transition practical and viable.

Inherited Lease, ₹10K Penalty

Gujarat’s Industries and Mines Department has amended the Gujarat Minor Mineral Concession Rules. Under the revised provisions, the legal heirs of a deceased mineral concession holder, preferred bidder or holder of a lease grant order can seek the transfer of the lease or related rights. Inheriting a mining lease is no longer just a matter of succession; it also comes with strict timelines and documentary responsibilities. Under the new rules, legal heirs must notify the government and submit the required documents within 180 days of the holder’s death. Without sufficient justification for the delay, a penalty of ₹10,000 may be imposed for every 180 days of delay. Timely notification allows the competent granting authority to take a decision. If no notification is received within two years, the matter will be referred to the state government, whose decision will be final. Continued non-compliance may also lead to the termination of the lease or grant, subject to a reasonable opportunity for the legal heir to be heard. The real test for the Industries and Mines Department and the district administration will be to ensure that implementation goes beyond the notification itself. Legal heirs must meet the deadlines, but the administration must also process applications without undue delay. After all, accountability must work both ways—heirs cannot afford to miss deadlines, and the system cannot afford to keep applications waiting.