Naresh Kumar Vaid, Director , Vaids ICS

UPSC has recommended an overhaul for promotion to All India Services, namely IAS, IPS & IFoS. Presently, these promotions are made on the recommendations of state governments based on their Annual Confidential Reports (ATR). But now UPSC has recommende that just like the fresh entrants to these services, aspirants for promotion to these services will have to go through a three tier competition including a written test and interview. Realising the fact that states recommend only those PCS for promotion who have toed the state government's line, it must be a welcome step.

Liberhan panel had recommended a radical revamp of recruitment to civil services. "Civil servants posted at the helm of affairs ought to be picked up for the skills required to exercise rather than for completely unrelated academic skills or for casteist and regional basis". It simply means that merit should be the only consideration. According to ATR "the recommendations will be communicated to UPSC. The Action Taken Report (ATR) of the government has promised to pass on the politically volatile recommendation. Soon, the Report as well as ATR are likely to be placed before the parliament and that may be like touching the hornet's nest. The pro-resvervationists are not likely to take the issue lightly. Besides, the Congress may loose the support of reservationists et al. Manmohan Singh may be interested but will the political scenerio allow? UPSC has clarified that they are going to implement Alagh Committee recomendations submitted to it in 2001. However, the Prime ...

The Liberhan Report has created only dust, no heat. This fact finding report has revealed no new fact otherwise unknown, yet it is full of opinions and contradictions. First, the Commission had to go through the events that led to the demolition of the disputed structure and the events started with the opening of the locks on Feb. 1, 1986 on the order of the then prime minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi but there is no mention of it. If the BJP is responsible for the event, then at least some blame must be shared by Mr Gandhi too. Second, the Report has exonerated Mr Narsimha Rao, the then prime minister. While various intelligence agencies already had the apprehension and various quarters had already suggested President's rule, why he did not act? Third, Liberhan has commented that BJP listened to a few, ignoring the masses. Why the Commission ignores the fact that BJP fought the elections mainly on this issue. The issue was on the top agenda of BJP and that was clear from their Election Ma...

In a matter of three years you may expect genetically modified brinjal in your plate, But are you ready for this? Bharat Dogra in his article (The Statesman, Oct. 20) has successfully argued agaist GM foods. He has cited the reports of several researches to show that GM foods are not good for health. Bharat Dogra belongs the green lobby and his arguments can be biased. So I just talk about the logic. Scientists, for the last several decades, have been lobbing for increase in genetic diversity. Greater the genetic diversity, lesser the chances of extinction of a species in adverse environmental conditions. GM varieties, in the long run, are bound to reduce, even eliminate, this genetic diversity. Is n't it? Secondly, green revolution of 1960s is showing its adverse effects now. What is the guarentee that these GM crops will continue their positive run for ever? Thirdly, an important point raised by Dogra, Can we call these GM foods as vegeratian? Vegetarians! be aware.

After the decision of Central Government not to submit any halafnama in the supreme court in response to the judgement of high court, the matter of gay rights has taken a curious turn. Gays have been part of the society previously too (have you read the story Lihaaf by Ismat Chugtai?) but they were not a vocal community. It is because of the impact of West that they organized themselves as a community and sought legal protection for themselves. Religious leaders have called them insane/of perverted minds going against the laws of nature. Without getting into debate on this point, I would raise one question : why these religious leaders did not approach the court to tell them that it is an issue of ethics and not of law (though an archiac law of British times called it a crime) and thus beyond the scope of judiciary. Otherwise, now court gets the right to interfere in any and every ethical issue. Though the Delhi High Court's verdict has witnessed several contradictory reaction but ...

We have read about several honour killings in recent months in the name of saving the honour of the family. The traditional panchayats of Jaats of Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are traditionally known as khaps and most of the honour killings have been reported from these regions and from this community. Traditional panchayats have existed in India since ancient times. They have been regulating the affairs of the community quite efficiently. The affairs included social aspects including arranging and /or participating in marriage; economic affairs including trade preferences, redistribution, gift exchanges etc., political affairs including resolution of conflicts and imposing fine on accused, as also religious affairs. After the 73rd amendment to Indian Constitution, these traditional panchayats have been made redundant as Constitutionally elected panchayats have taken over their economic as well as political functions and without these most of the tradional panchaya...

I have been anxiously waiting for the last couple of days to find some meaningful response from the media about Rahul Gandhi's visit by Shatabdi and attack on his train in which he was travelling. Everyone worth the name has been talking about VVIP security and none has talked about the security of Indian Rail, forget about the security of commom man. The ministry of Railways declared bonus but said nothing about the mishap. Targeting glasses of AC bogies is nothing new for railways but this time was involved a VVIP. The Indian Railways must think about its overall security and the VIP security will be OK automatically.