'Indianmandarins' has reliably learnt that the ongoing selection & appointment process of new DG, NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) may face the ire of PMO. Reportedly, Recruitment Rules (RR) was changed by the Ministry of Textiles before the post was advertised. Earlier Jt Secretary Empanelment and Grade-pay were essential as eligibility criteria but the revised RR ended the need of JS empanelment & Grade-pay as eligibility criteria. It is learnt that under new RR and criterion 17 candidates were short-listed which comprised 01 applicant from IAS, 01 from IPS, 04 from IPoS/Indian Postal Finance services whereas 11 applicants were shortlisted from IRS (IT). Out of 11 IRS (IT) candidates most of them belonged to 1989 batch and below whereas 1988 batch of IRS (IT) has seen JS empanelment this week only. A section of officers has reportedly written to the PMO to look into whether the change in RR was a part of routine course of action or was it a design to ensure certain candidate from a particular batche or a service. The post is set to be vacant by mid of May 2015 as the incumbent DG Prem Kumar Gera (IAS:GJ:1985) is set to complete his tenure shortly.