Are you a “young and dynamic” civil servant with a degree in engineering or management? Then e-mail your CV to Power Minister Piyush Goyal, who is looking for a private secretary.
The minister has come up with this novel move to find a private secretary at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been breathing down the necks of his colleagues against appointing those who had served UPA ministers in the capacity of Private Secretaries or Officers on Special Duty.
Some ministers had tried to lobby with Modi to get their choice of officials as their personal staff but Modi had shot down such proposals. Most of the ministers have got personal secretaries after clearance from Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) but they have not gone through the exercise that Goyal is pursuing.
In a communique posted by Department of Personnel and Training, Goyal said he is looking to appoint a young and dynamic IAS or Group A Central Services officer. “The candidate should preferably have engineering or management background.
Experience in power sector is desirable but not essential. Officers of the level of Director or Deputy Secretary with proven integrity and track record may please send their CVs at piyush.goyal@nic.in by August 8,” it read.
It is interesting to note that the CVs will land directly in Goyal’s email and he will shortlist his candidate. However, the appointment will have to be cleared by the ACC and there are possibilities that Goyal’s selection may not get the nod from the high-power committee chaired by Modi himself.
However, this is not the first time that a minister is trying to find an officer for himself by inviting CVs. During UPA regime, P Chidambaram had conducted interviews to appoint an Officer on Special Duty in Home Ministry when he was at the helm. After a series of interviews, IPS officer Ajay Yadav was selected by Chidambaram.
Last week, the Centre appointed Utsav Mitra, non-government official, as OSD to Goyal.