Mata Prasad Gets 1-Yr Extension

Mata Prasad, one of the senior-most serving secretaries, has been given a one-year extension from February 1 by the government, it was officially announced in New Delhi yesterday. A 1962 batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Prasad was due to retire on January 31 this year as water resources secretary. He could become a strong contender for the cabinet secretarys post which falls vacant on March 31 this year at the end of the second extension given to T S R Subramanian. -- PTI