Back To North Block: PK Misra appointed as new DoPT secretary

DoPT secretary Misra

PK Misra, a 1976 batch UP cadre IAS and currently steel secretary, has been appointed as new DoPT secretary. Misra is a natural choice for handling this key job in the department of personnel and training as he had served there as Establishment Officer between 2007 and 2010. As an EO, Misra’s role was to handle postings, transfers etc. of senior Group A civil servants. For the last few days after Alka Sirohi’s retirement, DoPT has been handled by RC Misra, secretary of administrative reforms and public grievances and PK Misra’s batch-mate.

In August, 2011, Misra hogged the limelight when he was conferred with “Distinguished Fellow of IOD (Institute of Directors)” for the year 2011. Justice MN Venkatchaliah presented the fellowship certificate to Misra. The award is considered to be prestigious, and for the record, the first such award was conferred on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in July 1994.

BoI (babusofindia.com) had earlier written that as an EO in DoPT, Misra fixed a one-hour visiting period in the afternoon for any visitor who wanted to have an interaction with him. And many bureaucrats wishing for a transfer or postings on deputation used to hang around outside his room, incidentally located just next to then home secretary GK Pillai’s cabin in North Block, for pitching their cases.

A post graduate in economics, PK Misra was first on Central deputation in late 1980s and early 1990s as deputy secretary and director in the transport ministry. He had a six-month stint as private secretary to railway minister in 1990.

During the NDA regime (1998-2004), Misra was a joint secretary in defence ministry. In 2006, he became an additional secretary and financial adviser in the home ministry and then moved to DoPT as an Establishment Officer.

Action and Appointments

a) ACC has approved the appointment of Pradeep Kumar Pujari, a 1981 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, presently Executive Director, Food Corporation of India, as additional secretary and financial adviser in department of agriculture research and education.