Lokpal, Durga Sakthi Nagpal kept DOPT in news during 2013

Efforts in drafting and ensuring passage of anti-corruption law Lokpal and controversial suspension of IAS officer Durga Sakthi Nagpal kept the Ministry of Personnel in limelight throughout this year.
It also took key transparency-related initiatives including setting up of a web portal to help people file online RTI applications for central government departments and asked them to ensure suo motu disclosures on governance matters using public platforms like websites and others during the year.
The Personnel Ministry was also in focus over its continuous effort to negate an order by Central Information Commmission (CIC) which brought six major political parties-- Congress, BJP, CPI, CPI (M), NCP and BSP-- under the ambit of Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Its move to amend civil services examinations by ensuring mandatory inclusion of English language by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) also came under public scrutiny and forced its reversion.
The ministry struggled hard to ensure consensus over the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 (also known as Lokpal), which had become a bone of contention among ruling Congress, BJP and civil society activists.
The historic legislation, passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 17 and the Lok Sabha a day later, has paved the way for setting up of the institution of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states by law enacted by respective legislatures within one year of coming into force of the Act.

The ministry also intervened in the matter of controversial suspension of Nagpal by Uttar Pradesh government and ensured that she was not meted out unjust and biased treatment. The 2009 batch officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre was suspended on July 27 ostensibly for ordering demolition of a wall of an under-construction mosque in Greater Noida without following the due process.
Her suspension evoked sharp reaction from Opposition parties, including BJP and BSP, which alleged that the Sub-Divisional Officer was removed for her crackdown on the sand mafia operating in Gautam Budh Nagar or Greater Noida area of the state.