PM asks secretaries to take immediate steps to fill vacancies in depts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked to take immediate steps to fill up existing vacancies in ministries and departments. The prime minister has asked this in his meeting with the secretaries on April 2. 

The PM has suggested to secretaries of the central government to hand-hold the private sector to give impetus to manufacturing and job creation. He also stressed that employment should be the focus of all government interventions in the public and private sectors.

Across the 70-odd ministries, the departments and ministries are supposed to employ 12,000 officials at the moment. Around 4600-4700 posts remain unfilled out of this total. According to a CSS official familiar with the matter, the exam that is conducted to induct personnel has also been on hold since 2017.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba wrote to the secretaries requesting them to "initiate immediate action" on the prime minister's suggestions. Listing the prime minister's suggestions, Gauba wrote, "It is imperative to hand-hold the private sector to give impetus to manufacturing and job creation and help Indian companies become world leaders." He stated the government should act as a "facilitator" and "catalytic agent" for economic development.

The letter, dated April 4, also mentioned the "decriminalisation of minor offences and violations on mission mode". "All such provisions need to be reviewed and action is taken accordingly to repeal/amend these provisions, in a time-bound manner," the letter stated. Underlining that employment should be given "high priority", the Cabinet Secretary wrote it should be the focus of government interventions across public and private sectors. "Every Ministry/Department should immediately take steps to fill up existing vacancies against sanctioned posts," the letter reads.

Categorically stating that the tendency of working in silos should be "eschewed", Gauba wrote, "Important issues should be addressed through the whole of government approach."

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