With Many AS-level Posts Vacant, 3rd Round Of Bureaucratic Reshuffle On Cards

They said that these vacancies, 18 in total, are lying vacant across various key ministries and departments, and the same has necessitated the government to quickly move to a fresh round to fill these posts. 

The exercise, which was undertaken last week, saw over 30 officers — both Secretaries and Additional Secretaries — reshuffled on August 22 and 25 respectively. Officials said the movement of these 30 officers within the government has led to vacancies that have added to the already vacant posts. 

Given the prevailing situation, officials at DoPT said senior functionaries in the government, including in the PMO, are set to juggle and look for a third round of bureaucratic adjustments to ensure smooth functioning and continuity in key offices.

Key Posts To Be Filled

As per the DoPT roster data, the officials said that among key posts that have to be filled are those of the administrator of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Ministry of Telecom, and the chairman of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). Both posts are meant for officers at the Additional Secretary-level.

There are 10 vacant Additional Secretary posts across ministries and departments, including that of the Additional Secretary and Directorate General of Training, Skill Development, in the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, as well as that of Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Culture, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Additional Secretary in the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), and Secretary in Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Others include Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor (FA) in the Ministry of Youth & Sports, as well as additional secretaries in the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Power, and the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The list of vacant posts also includes Additional Secretary in the PMO and Additional Secretary in the Department of Financial Services under Ministry of Finance. 

Other similar posts lying vacant include Managing Director of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Director-General (DG) of the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, DG of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, DGs of National Testing Agency and Directorate General of Shipping, and CEO of National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC).

Among the vacant posts, some are considered critical in view of the global trade and tariff uncertainties induced by US President Donald Trump and need to be filled as early as possible, to streamline the decision-making processes, the officials in the DoPT said.