Break from tradition: Non-IAS services may get more than one secretary

The only non-IAS officer holding the post of a secretary at the Centre now is Anuradha Mitra

After a long time, non-Indian Administrative Service (IAS) divisions may get more than one secretary-level appointment in the central ministries, thus, breaking a long-standing barrier. 

The government this month empanelled four officers from the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Indian Forest Service, and the Indian Revenue Service to become secretaries. They join a batch of 41 IAS officers also empanelled for secretary and secretary-level posts in October this year. The empanelment of IAS officers for secretary-level posts is routine. Many of those on the list have already got posted as secretaries, in charge of various departments.

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