New Delhi (20.02.2023): The New Delhi establishment on Monday swung another surprise by making unique arrangements in NITI Aayog and World Bank assignments.
Former Union Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam (Retd IAS:1987:CG) was appointed as the new CEO of NITI Aayog by replacing Parameswaran Iyer (Retd IAS:1981:UP). Iyer was appointed NITI Aayog CEO in the second week of July last year but his terms were curtailed abruptly after a brief stint of eight months. A section of insiders believed that there was unease inside NITI Aayog over the functioning after the completion of Amitabh Kant's tenure.
The decision is unique. One can not term it as Iyer's ouster from NITI even though he was relieved as CEO within eight months. Instead, he was appointed as Executive Director, World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC (USA), for a period of three years.
The New Delhi establishment paved way for Iyer's choicest assignment by prematurely repatriating Rajesh Khullar (IAS:1988:HY), the incumbent ED, World Bank. A section of insiders believed that Iyer always wanted to relocate back to the USA. The New Delhi establishment claimed that the Government of Haryana wanted Khullar's services in the state.
Further, the Centre's decision came as a boon for BVR Subrahmanyam who was presumed to have fallen out of the favour after he did not join as Chairperson, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO); a post-retirement assignment which he was given days ahead of his retirement as Commerce Secretary i.e. September 30, 2022.
The Centre's latest decision pertaining to BVR and Iyer further bolsters the prevailing opinion that in the NaMo administration, bureaucrats, once favourite always remain a favourite. The decision is also seen as a living example that the present dispensation has an extraordinary quality of making unique arrangements in the administration.
