Know Your Babu: Delhi’s new acting chief secretary Shakuntala Gamlin

FOR the last couple of days, 1984 batch AGMUT cadre IAS Shakuntala Gamlin, has been in news, as she is sandwiched in the jung (war) between Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. Kejriwal did not want Ms Gamlin as his acting chief secretary (Delhi chief secretary is now in US on a personal visit), but Jung found her the most suitable among the names proposed by Delhi government. In fact, Delhi government formally asked her not to take charge, but on Saturday, Ms Gamlin took over as the top bureaucrat of the Delhi. Here are 10 things you may like to know about Ms Gamlin.

1. Delhi's new acting chief secretary is a 1984 batch AGMUT cadre IAS.
2. Ms Gamlin is 54-year-old. Set to retire on March 31, 2021.
3. She is an Arunachalee, but hails from Assam. She knows English, Hindi and Assamese.
4. She is a graduate in history and post-graduate in sociology.
5. Ms Gamlin began her career in IAS as director, tourism, in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.\
6. Between 2007 and 2008, she was director (vigilance) in NCT of Delhi. She served as chairperson of Delhi Transco Limited, Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited and Pragati Power Corporation Limited and CMD of Delhi Power Company Limited.
7. Between 2008 and 2014, she was in Central deputation working as joint secretary in health ministry.
8. She has been working now as principal secretary (additional secretary level) in Delhi government's finance department.
9. In 1996, she had a 6-week-long training in US. In 2002, she was trained in US on reduction of gas emission.
10. Her in-service trainings included one on industrial policy and another advanced course on WTO.