Brajesh Mishra, Prabhat Kumar Join Aec

The Prime Minister's principal secretary, Brajesh Mishra, and the cabinet secretary, Prabhat Kumar, have been nominated to the Atomic Energy Commission .

This is the first time non-scientists have got substantial representation in the AEC. The finance secretary was the only non-scientist representative in the AEC so far.

The nomination reflects the important role played by the two bureaucrats in the aftermath of the May nuclear tests. Mishra was the government's principal advocate for its nuclear stand in the days immediately after the blasts. Kumar is credited with coordinating activities of the AEC and the Defence Research and Development Organisation with the Prime Minister's Office.

Raja Ramanna, former AEC chairman, and S R Hashim, member secretary of the Planning Commission, have also been nominated.

The reconstituted AEC is headed by R Chidambaram.

The AEC has attracted considerable government attention after the tests and the reconstituted commission reflects this importance. Sources expect the AEC to receive more funding in 1999-2000 than in the current fiscal.

The atomic research programme and the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) are expected to get more funds because the government wants to project a positive image of India's use of nuclear power.