Why Are The Proposed Amendments to IAS Cadre Rules Drawing Criticisms?

States and the centre are headed for a clash over the Union government's proposed amendments to the IAS cadre rules that would give them a greater control in the central deputation of IAS officers without requiring any consent from the states.

The proposal to amend Rule 6 (deputation of cadre officers) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules 1954, was sent to the states recently on 12 January, by the Department of Personnel and Training or DoPT which is the controlling authority of IAS officers. 

Expectedly, the new proposals have riled up the opposition ruled states like West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, etc who have labelled these new rules to be "draconian" and against the principle of federalism.

As per reports, at least six state governments have already written to the DoPT opposing any such move, which also includes the states governed by the BJP and NDA allies.

But what do these proposed alterations to Rule 6 entail exactly? What could these changes lead to? And why are the proposed amendments drawing flak?

Host and Producer: Shorbori Purkayastha
Guests:
Arvind Mayaram, IAS officer from the 1978 batch of the Rajasthan cadre who's also been the former Finance Secretary in the Ministry of Finance of the Government of India
Jawhar Sircar, Retired IAS officer and former CEO of Prasar Bharti who is currently a Rajya Sabha MP from the TMC
Editor: Shelly Walia

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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