Last date of application for JS level posts in ICMR, Cochin Port Trust, UIDAI etc. extended; Is extension of last dates a new normal?

IN THE last couple of weeks, the Central government has been on an extension spree. First, the DoPT, the government's personnel department, extended the last date of applying for scholarship in foreign universities under the DFFT scheme on the ground of “net related issues” among others, and then, there has been a series of extension of last date of application “for another month” for a number of joint secretary-equivalent posts in agencies such as Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Cochin Port Trust (CoPT), Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) etc. Yes, the government has every right to extend the last of applications for any post under its helm, but that such extensions have increasingly become a trend in the recent days, raises questions. Here are six such extensions of the last date of application:

1. The last date for submission of applications for the post of senior deputy director general (Sr DDG) (Admin) in Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, was  extended till March 23, 2018, according to a circular dated February 27, 2018. The post is meant for an officer at the level of a union joint secretary. The new officer will replace Dr Rakesh Kumar, a 1992 batch AGMUT cadre IAS.

2. The last date for submission of application for the post of Chairman (joint secretary level) in Cochin Port Trust (CoPT), Cochin, under the ministry of shipping on deputation basis, has been extended till March 28, 2018. An order issued dated February 27 extended the last date. 

3. The last date for submission of applications for the post of director (joint secretary level) in the National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) under the ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, has been extended for “another one month” with effect from February 23, 2018. This was stated in an order dated February 20, 2018.

4. The last date for submission of applications for the post of deputy director general (DDG) (JS Level) in Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Regional Office, Ranchi, under the ministry of electronics and information technology on deputation basis, has been extended for “another one month” with effect from February 24, 2018. 

5. The last date for submission of applications for the post of Director (JS level) in Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development (earlier called Central Board for Workers Education) under the ministry of labour and employment, has been extended for “another one month” with effect from February 23, 2018.

6. The last date for submission of application for the post of Director General (JS level) in National Testing Agency (NTA) under the department of higher education on non-CSS basis, has been extended for “another one month” with effect from February 24, 2018.