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Never mind Paris, IAS & IFS officers jostling for ISA DG post

By M K Shukla & Rakesh Ranjan- 12 Dec 2020
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New Delhi (12.12.2020): As the December 15, 2020 deadline is just a few days away, jostling for the post of DG of International Solar Alliance (ISA) has intensified. Even though France, India's joint partner in the ISA, may like to see an Indian solar energy expert head the post for sound technical reasons, New Delhi is seen as unable or disinclined to cast off its dependence on civil administrators even in the technical arena.

Further, the lure of international assignments, that carry with them international pay and allowances, is such that the country's entrenched bureaucracy has never been willing to concede them (assignments) to an outsider to the IAS, IFS, and allied services.

Moreover, ISA DG's post has an additional advantage: since it is headquartered in New Delhi, the officer gets the bonus of continuing with his social circles.

Following the displeasure expressed by Paris over the functioning of current ISA DG Upendra Tripathy (Retd IAS:1981:KN) who has been an accomplished officer and many achievements to his credit in his cadre state of Karnataka (he comes from Odisha), the following officers have been pushing their CVs for the job.

Top in the list is Sanjiv Nandan Sahai (IAS:1986:UT). He is currently the Power Secretary, has the backing of his minister RK Singh, but he may be a difficult choice for the ISA Council in view of his perpetual anti-renewable energy advocacy.

Gauri Singh (ex-IAS, 1987) has been seen lobbying for over a year to get the job. He is well regarded for his capability and has familiarity and experience with the renewable energy sector having worked with the IRENA.

Anand Kumar (IAS:1984:KL), a former MNRE Secretary, also figures in the list, though his bleak prospect may well be explained by his abrupt shift from the MNRE and Culture to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). 

Further Rahul Chabbra (1987:IFS), who deals officially with ISA and is a well-regarded officer, and Manjiv Puri (IFS:1982), who is considered an outstanding officer and had been  India's representative to Nepal and Brussels, is also in the race.

It may be underlined that on 25 January 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Holland inaugurated the ISA Interim Secretariat in National Solar Energy Institute (NISE) located in Gurugram (Haryana).

On 21 March 2017 former Union Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Upendra Tripathi was appointed as the full-time Interim Director General (IDG) of the International Solar Association (ISA), a coalition of 122 countries, headquartered in Gurugram (India). The Director-General has a term of four years and is eligible for re-election.

(By M K Shukla & Rakesh Ranjan)

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