Chief secretaries to meet on Monday to deliberate issues on security, technology, global challenges and opportunities

CHIEF secretaries of all Indian states and Union Territories are landing up in New Delhi to attend the first annual conference of chief secretaries, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday. The two day conference, which is aimed at institutionalizing the process of interaction with states and Union Territories, will act as a standing forum for exchange of views between the Centre and the states and provide an occasion for interaction on internal matters, a government release said.

The conference, which is organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, will deliberate upon the latest trend in technology, emerging global challenges and opportunities and key security concerns to name a few. Global developments that have a bearing on the country would also figure prominently during the conference.

The conference will also be attended by the minister of state for Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions Prithviraj Chavan, cabinet secretary KM Chandrashekhar, in addition of various Government of India secretaries.

Action and Appointments

a) S Sundareshan, a 1976 batch Kerala cadre IAS, assumed charge as new petroleum secretary on Sunday. Mr Sundareshan took charge from RS Pandey, a 1972 batch Nagaland cadre IAS, who demitted office on superannuation. (See Picture: Sundareshan (right) with outgoing secretary Pandey).

BIO-DATA of S Sundareshan

b) Kumar Sanjay Krishna, a 1985 batch Assam cadre IAS, has assumed charge in the cadre as Assam’s principal secretary of planning and development. Mr Krishna served as a joint secretary, first in the PMO and then in the DEA under the ministry of finance.