Inside The Secretariat: Nari Shakti, RTI Portal, & El Niño

‘Nari Shakti’ Rises in Gujarat Bureaucracy

A unique situation has emerged in Gujarat’s bureaucracy, with five women IAS officers simultaneously moving to the forefront of the seniority ladder, raising the possibility that any one of them could eventually occupy the state’s top administrative post. Although two 1990-batch male officers—C.V. Som and Arun Kumar M. Solanki—are senior to them, their chances of elevation are considered slim as both are due to retire in early 2027. As a result, attention is focused on two 1991-batch women officers, Dr. Jayanti Ravi and Dr. Anju Sharma. Discussions have already begun over who will succeed incumbent Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, who is scheduled to retire in December 2026. Among the other contenders is 1995-batch officer Vatsala Vasudeva, though she has considerable time left in service, with retirement due only in July 2030. In addition, two other senior women officers—D. Thara of the 1995 batch and Mona Khandhar of the 1996 batch—are currently serving on deputation in New Delhi.

DGP Warns Against Crime Rate Obsession

IPS officers in Gujarat have been urged not to focus on projecting a lower crime rate, but instead to deal with the ground reality. Newly appointed Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Singh Malik recently held a virtual meeting with Range IGs, Police Commissioners, and district police chiefs, during which he raised the sensitive issue of policing practices. A perception has emerged within the state police department that instead of registering offences, police are accepting applications from complainants and keeping cases pending in the name of compromise, as fewer registered offences help keep the crime rate lower. However, the DGP has advised officers to discontinue this practice and instructed them to ensure that complainants receive satisfactory redressal. He also stressed the need to improve the quality of investigations. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Gujarat's crime rate stands at 227.7, which is lower than the national average crime rate of 252.3.

Mining Expert Now Steers State Tax

2003-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer Roopwant Singh has been serving as Managing Director of Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) since April 2023. Earlier, he had served as Commissioner of Geology and Mines from 2021 to 2023. Having developed considerable expertise in mining and geology, Singh is regarded as having a strong command over the sector, and the government has so far shown little inclination to move him out. However, he has recently been given an additional charge as Chief Commissioner of the State Tax Department, fuelling speculation over where the government intends to utilise his full-time services in the near future. Questions are being raised in the Secretariat over whether he will continue at GMDC or be appointed full-time to head the State Tax Department. Notably, his efforts in steering GMDC’s initiative to establish India’s first rare earth elements processing hub have won widespread appreciation.

‘Not Found’ Set to Exit RTI Portal

In a bid to reduce appeals and ensure quicker access to information, the Gujarat Information Commission had urged the government to link all departments and offices to the RTI portal, as many applications were being met with “Not Found” responses due to certain offices not being mapped on the system. Acting on the recommendation, the General Administration Department has decided to complete the mapping of all offices under its control within 30 days. This will include e-governance mapping of Public Information Officers (PIOs) and First Appellate Authorities. In a ruling on an RTI application filed by a citizen, the Gujarat Information Commission had directed that all Public Information Officers be mapped on the portal. Following the order, the Department of Science and Technology has initiated the exercise.

Notably, mapping of offices on the portal is mandatory under directions issued by the Supreme Court.

El Niño Raises Anxiety Among Officials

With rainfall being delayed due to the El Niño phenomenon and uncertainty still prevailing over the monsoon, the Gujarat government has undertaken a review of the situation. In view of forecasts indicating below-normal rainfall this season, officials have been directed to take measures to prevent any worsening of irrigation and drinking water availability. Apart from Cabinet ministers, the situation has heightened concerns among dozens of IAS officers overseeing agriculture, Narmada and water resources, water supply, irrigation and revenue departments, as well as all 33 district collectors. During a review meeting, the government directed officials to fill reservoirs and lakes using Narmada waters. Notably, eight of the last 25 years have been influenced by El Niño. Despite a strong El Niño impact in 2023, Gujarat received 117 per cent of normal rainfall. The extent of its impact this year remains to be seen.

‘Pratiraksha’ Gives Delta Hunt An Edge

The Gujarat Police has developed an application named Pratiraksha to identify accused persons and infiltrators. By simply scanning a person’s photograph, the application instantly displays the individual’s details. Linked with Aadhaar records, the app helps identify suspicious persons residing in or moving around the state. Developed by the Gujarat Police, Pratiraksha is an advanced facial recognition system. Once a person’s image is captured, Aadhaar-linked data is retrieved immediately, enabling the detection of fake Aadhaar cards as well. The application proved particularly useful during the recently launched Operation Delta Hunt, helping police identify Bangladeshi nationals. It can also instantly detect forged documents, including fake passports, Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards.

‘Live Well, Earn Well’ Tops Industry Agenda

For the first time in Gujarat, representatives of the corporate sector were invited to be present during the announcement of the state’s new Industrial Policy. One of the key features of the policy is the “Choose Your Incentive” initiative, under which investors will be able to select incentives best suited to their requirements. Leading industrial groups, office-bearers of industry associations and several policymakers attended the event. Following the announcement, members of the corporate sector congratulated Mamta Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Mines Department, for steering the policy. According to Verma, the policy is based on the vision of “Living Well and Earning Well”, aimed at empowering industries and creating quality employment opportunities for the youth. She said the policy was formulated after consultations with industry groups, startups, MSMEs and representatives of academic institutions.