get the rank of a secretary with the apex salary (Basic: Rs 80,000 plus the current 113% dearness allowance per month plus car, accommodation and other perks), which all other union secretaries draw per month.
In Rajya Sabha secretariat, Secretary General receives the same pay with that of the cabinet secretary and secretary in Rajya Sabha receives the same pay as secretaries of other ministries or departments.
Singh, a retired CSS officer, was appointed in June this year as secretary in Rajya Sabha Secretariat. It’s the first time in the history of Indian bureaucracy, a CSS officer has moved up the ladder to draw the apex pay scale, i.e. secretary's pay.
A PhD in chemistry and also an LLB, Singh worked in ministries of steel and law, and also had a stint with former minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pension Suresh Pachouri. Later, he was elevated to the level of joint secretary and then additional secretary in the secretariat of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India. After his superannuation in 2014, he was appointed as Advisor in Rajya Sabha before getting elevated as secretary.
As the secretary, he handles Rajya Sabha’s personnel section, establishment (general) section, committee section (MPLADS), recruitment cell, committee section (PPG), Rajya Sabha Television Channel and any other work assigned, according to the work allocation listed out in the Rajya Sabha secretariat’s official website.
The CSS is one of the oldest organised services in India. During the British Raj, there was an Imperial Secretariat Service which was replaced by the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) in 1946. Till 2003, CSS officers were recruited through the UPSC-conducted Civil Services Examinations. Now, it’s the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) which recruits them.
Most CSS officers retire at the rank of director whereas some move up to the rank of joint secretary or even additional secretary.
Unnikrishnan Thiruvazhiyode of 1966 batch (a Malayalam language novelist who received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for the novel Driksakshi) is one of the most prominent CSS officers. The other prominent CSS officers include Arun Kumar of 1976 batch (former GoI additional secretary, secretary of Oil Industry Development Board and executive director of Petroleum Conservation Research Association) and Gautam Sanyal of 1978 batch (principal secretary to Government of West Bengal, post retirement).
If anyone knows more about other CSS officers who reached at the rank of GoI additional secretaries, kindly write about them in the comment boxes below.
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It is an example that anyone who has calibre should be given opportunity to hold higher responsibilities. Sometimes, it seems that our system of bureaucracy also follows the so called "Manuvad" which is a kind of official "Manuvad'. In modern official "Manuvad", it is the service or group of service in which a person is born decides future of the person. An IAS cosiders and IPS/IRS etc. inferior and that IPS/IRS does not accept this but at the same time that IPS/IRS considers a DANICS/DANIPS or CSS officer inferior. There have been many discussion with numerous arguments on this issue but it is actually a kind of Manuvad prevalent in which all the opportunities of promotion, pay,entitlements etc. are decided with sole consideration of the service of Group (i.e. A,B,C,D) in which a person has joined initially. No matter how intelligent he or she is,how honest and diligent, how much competent; he will be treated in whole official life according to his "Varna" i.e. service in which he is born. Will there be any end to this official 'Varna vyavastha' ever.
ReplyDeleteThere is one more prominent CSS cadre officer:
ReplyDelete- P.G. Lele, Retd. Additional Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure).
One more prominent officer:
ReplyDeleteDr KV Jacob (CSS 1984), Former Joint Secretary to Government of India and OSD to Defence Minister (AK Antony)
A BIG SALUTE TO D B SINGH FOR THIS HISTORIC ELEVATION.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to know of my dear friends- Dr D.B.Singh and Dr Jacob.
ReplyDeleteSudhir Naib
He has become an Secretary after one year of superannuation also not for his hard work but for his links that he has. He is not letting other succeed. He is in his second year of extension after superannuation using his links. We should not be proud of such people.
ReplyDeletePeople reach such prestigious positions by their hardwork and sincerity and we should be proud that in today's world such hardworking people still exist
DeleteThere is one more prominent CSS cadre officer:
ReplyDeleteDr. Dinesh Bahadur Singh.
He was serving as Secretary of Rajya Sabha in APEX scale before Dr DB Singh was appointed into the same post.
Dr. DB Singh and Dr. Dinesh Bahadur Singh is the same person
DeleteThe person who works hardcannot be jugded by others he himself knows what has he done. Dr. D.b singh knows how he has reached here. He might be happy but there is stage in life when we look back and think what we have achieved and how that time realise your mistakes i hope mr. D.b singh will also cross this phase of life and answer that did he really worked had or did what anonymous said on 29-10-2015. But think anonymous said the right thing
ReplyDeleteWhen people reach such top positions, there will be some people in the organization who will feel jealous of such persons because they themselves could not make it. Pity can only be taken on such people. Entire beaurocracy in central government knows the worth or Dr. D. B. Singh and what he is, frustrated comments by some disillusioned people do not make any difference to the reputation of Dr.D.B.Singh
DeleteWorking hard and reaching a level in life is very tough. It is clear that the anonymous is someone who is definitely envious of Mr. Singh and is using his/her energy in such negative thoughts. Before commenting, in my view, I think people should focus on their lives and work hard so that maybe they can get something better from their lives rather than questioning someone else's success.
ReplyDeleteI think Mr. Singh is an amazing example for all the people who work hard and have the zeal to achieve something in their lives.
I may be biased in his favour as he is a batchmate and friend, but I have numerous examples of his hard working and helping nature. Dr D B Singh was also instrumental in improving service conditions in CSS during and post Amrit Lal case.
ReplyDeleteThere have been other CSS officers who have reached the apex scale earlier; for example Sh M P Singh who was Vice Chairman in CAT, and had been promoted as Additional Secretary before that within the cadre. I am not aware whether any CSS officer became a Secretary to the Government of India; I hope the service reaches that spot someday. Younger CSS Joint Secretaries take note.
Dr. D.B.Singh has reached this top position by sheer hard work and honesty, not by any other means. He definitely is a source of inspiration and something to feel proud of. Hats off to such honest officers of our country.
ReplyDeleteDr. DB Singh works hard but more than that he has a mission approach to convert his labour into the desired result. Further, he has a sharp intellect and analyses all aspects of the case in hand to come to the best feasible solution. His bureaucratic/political bosses have always trusted his merit in spite of peer rivalry. His achievements are tribute to his remarkable ability to swim in turbulent waters of Rajya Sabha Secretariat and reach the zenith of Apex Scale with rank.
ReplyDeleteEqually daunting was the task of Mr. Goutam Sanyal in West Bengal to get the post of Principal Secretary in spite of opposition from mighty steel frame of West Bengal.
I sincerely wish greater success to both as I can tell by virtue of my close association with both of them work wise that they richly deserve it. There have been other luminaries in CSS like S/Shri KS Rao, SK Malhotra, PG Lele, MP Singh, DR Tiwari, Sarveshwar Jha, MV Ayyar, SK Ray, Arun Kumar, etc. Mr MP Singh got to the highest non judicial position in CAT. Mr MV Ayyar was reportedly empanelled as Secretary to the Govt. of India without getting the post. There have been Labour Secretary and Education Secretary also from CSS in 1960s when ICS officers encouraged merit in individual rather than Service. However, of late, parochial interests of IAS and peer rivalry of other Services / individuals have made it almost impossible for deserving CSS officers to rise beyond Joint Secretary. In this background achievements of Dr DB Singh and Mr Goutam Sanyal will guide others as Light House for CSS fraternity for long.
There is an saying in hindi that " no one calls his own buttermilk sour". In liitle time maybe august will come to know about whether hardwork remains or the references.
ReplyDeleteThere is a saying "envy is the art of counting the other person's blessings, instead of your own"
ReplyDeleteNot every person no matter how a strong reference they might have get to a position like that. It's only through utmost dedication and excellence that people like Shri Singh are taken to such heights because the institution requires their skills.
He is an asset to any institution that he is a part of.
ReplyDeleteIt seems mr. Singh is praising himself.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that the anonymous is someone who is definitely envious of Mr. Singh and is using his/her energy in such negative thoughts.
ReplyDeleteMay be we should stop copying and pasting. Person working in the same department as of Mr. Singh would know his honesty and hardwork rather than his friends and batchmates. Is there anyone who has worked with him or under him would better tell about him. Or maybe we can just visit his work place and find out what his coworkers has to say about him. That would be real assessment of Mr. Singh.
DeleteThe reference gone and resignation comes. Anonymous on 27-2-2017 right. This position was achieved with references.
ReplyDeleteMr Anonymous seems to be very intereted in the working environment of Dr. Singh and thats why the messages being typed are in such a haste that the sentences are also not formerd properly....showing what skill Mr. Anonymous has!
ReplyDeleteMr. Anonymous is posting himself and then referring as if Anonymous is someone else .
You to are showing your skills by writing interested as intereted. Yes very much I am posting my self and referring anonymous. Also I have proved my point and what I said was right. If he was so good he should have completed the contract period he was in. Also all
DeletePeople like him have resigned from rahta Sabha sceretarait.
Its not Rahta Sabha its Rajya Sabha. He & Others lived in the Institution with Dignity and left with it. The entire Secretariat is in tears. They are men of honour and virtue , unlike some people who post Anonymously and try to find fault in others.
DeleteI wish all success to Shri Verma and D.B.Singh
DeleteI feel that a person like Dr.D.B.Singh who is so highly educated can reach whatever heights he wants. The sky is the limit for such people. It was a boon to have a chance to work with him. All my prayers are with him.
ReplyDeleteMr. C.p.io I am a very small man I am not an css officer nor even employeed anywhere I may not be educated much but I know what i said was right and you too know that. People who liked being buttering are no more don't worry and accept the truth. And y would the whole office be in tears I have encountered people in the same office who curse him.
ReplyDelete