Inside The Secretariat: Long-Term Planning, Course Corrections, And Administrative Churn

Government Weighs Promotion Calendar

The state government appears to have become serious about its workforce. After preparing a 10-year recruitment calendar, it is now considering the creation of a 10-year promotion calendar as well. Along with this, the government has also restructured cadres across departments—a move undertaken for the first time. A senior official from the General Administration Department said that after cadre restructuring in consultation with the Finance Department, 55 cadres have been merged into 23, and 173 cadre posts have been upgraded. At the same time, to improve efficiency and eliminate duplication, 2,570 old posts have been abolished and 4,582 new posts have been created as part of the modernisation exercise. The government has also planned to fill 2,06,396 vacancies across all 599 cadres over the next ten years. Of these, more than 97,000 posts will be filled in the education sector, and over 43,000 vacancies in the Home Department.

Policy To Stop Migration Of Industries

The state government has hinted at a possible policy change to stop the migration of industries from Gujarat to other states. Despite signing MoUs with thousands of companies every two years at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, the government has been taken aback by the fact that many companies, after committing investments in Gujarat, eventually shift operations to other states. In this scenario, changes in electricity tariffs, land availability, skill development, subsidies, and incentives are increasingly being discussed. According to official data from the central government, around 846 industries have moved out of Gujarat in recent years, with most relocating to Maharashtra, which follows an industry-friendly policy. These industries have migrated to as many as ten other states, raising expectations of major reforms in the upcoming industrial policy.

Officials Put On Notice

The state government is functioning under considerable pressure, a clear indication of which is the demand for detailed accounts of both ongoing and completed development works from departmental officials. Recently, the Chief Minister directed departments to submit reports on works approved over the past year as well as those currently under implementation. Details of incomplete works sanctioned in the current year’s budget have also been sought, with instructions to ensure their completion by the end of March. Issues such as land revenue bottlenecks, industrial expansion, rising traffic congestion, renovation of roads and bridges, and air and water pollution have been reviewed. Officials have also been instructed to ensure close coordination with ministers and to maintain quality standards in execution. With the 2026–27 state budget scheduled for February, departments have been asked to prepare action plans to expedite and complete all pending work. 

'Until Another Order'

When the phrase “until another order” is added to the posting order of a retired officer appointed to a government position, it generally indicates the state government’s intention to continue that officer for an extended period. While this practice is common in government departments, it is now also being seen in constitutional institutions. Certain words in government resolutions often carry hidden meanings that are not easily understood by the common citizen. A similar situation is unfolding in the case of Sangeeta Singh, Chairperson of the Gujarat Vigilance Commission and a retired IAS officer of the 1986 batch. Although the tenure of a commission appointee ends upon attaining the age of 65, her term concluded in October, yet she continues in office. An examination revealed that the words “until another order” were included in her appointment order. This allows the government to continue its services until a new order is issued and a successor is appointed.

Crucial Appointments Awaited

New appointments are expected simultaneously for the vacant posts of Director General of Police (DGP) and Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Home Department. The extension period of the current Police Chief, Vikas Sahay, ends in December, while the Chief Secretary currently holds additional charge of the Home Department. Following the cabinet reshuffle, the state government is keen to place capable officers in both positions. Secretariat sources indicate that Dr Jayanti Ravi, presently Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department, is the frontrunner for the ACS Home post, while Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Gyanendrasinh Malik is the leading contender for the post of State Police Chief. If no last-minute changes occur, the appointment of both is considered almost certain.

Gujaratis In UPSC 

As enthusiasm for cracking the UPSC examination grows among Gujarat’s youth, the number of successful candidates is also rising. Aspirants have come to realise that sustained hard work yields results. The performance record of the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA), which provides UPSC training to promising candidates, has shown significant improvement. Over the past three years, 160 SPIPA trainees have cleared the Personality Test. This year alone, 76 candidates have cleared it, with the number likely to increase further as candidates who qualified for the Mains examination in the previous year also appear for interviews. Under the SPIPA scheme, candidates receive a monthly assistance of ₹2,000 for the first seven months of training. Those who clear the Prelims and Mains are also provided incentive assistance of ₹25,000 and ₹30,000, respectively, paid twice.

Rooftop Delivers, Smart Meters

The rooftop solar scheme under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana is progressing successfully in Gujarat, but the central government’s smart meter initiative has fallen short of its targets. As per the plan, rooftop solar systems were to be installed in 10 lakh homes by 2027. By the end of 2025, installations have been completed in five lakh homes, benefiting consumers with subsidies amounting to ₹3,778 crore. However, the smart meter scheme has lagged behind. According to the latest data from the National Smart Grid Mission, out of 1.65 crore approved smart meters in Gujarat, only 32.93 lakh have been installed so far. Gujarat’s ranking among states remains low. While rooftop consumers receive subsidies of up to ₹78,000, resistance from electricity users has emerged as a major hurdle for smart meters, primarily due to higher electricity bills being generated under the new system.

EV Ambitions

As the enthusiasm for purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) in Gujarat has declined, the state government is once again considering a subsidy scheme to boost EV sales, as it has failed to achieve the targets set under its policy. There is a possibility that the scheme may be announced in the general budget session next year. The government had earlier announced a five per cent tax exemption to promote green mobility and encourage the purchase of electric vehicles. However, after the subsidy was withdrawn, there was no significant improvement in sales. Previously, the government had provided subsidies of ₹20,000 for two-wheelers, ₹50,000 for three-wheelers and ₹1.50 lakh for four-wheelers. Over the past year, Uttar Pradesh has topped the list in EV sales, while Gujarat stands at the 10th position. The policy had also mandated the purchase of EVs for government offices, but apart from public transport, there has been little progress. At present, only GMDC officials are seen using electric vehicles.