Govt proposes to reduce IAS officers' training duration

The Centre has proposed to reduce the training duration for IAS officers by at least six-months from present about two years, a move which was opposed by the former chief of country's premier training institute for the civil servants.
"It has been proposed to amend the training duration for the training of IAS officers on the basis of recommendations of
Kiran Agarwal committee," the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), cadre controlling authority for the IAS officers, said in an order issued today.
The Agarwal committee has suggested reduction in training time from existing about two years to about one and a half year.

At present IAS officers attend 103 weeks of training which includes foundation course (15 weeks), IAS professional course, Phase I (26 weeks), academic instruction (16 weeks), winter study tour (eight weeks) and district training (54 weeks) among others.
The committee has proposed to cut this period to 75 weeks. However, Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) has suggested 84 weeks of training period.

The DoPT has sought the views of state governments on the proposal by November 30.
"If no reply is received by the stipulated date in the department, it will be presumed that the state governments have no objections to the proposed amendment," it said.

The committee has objectively considered the arguments made both in favour of retaining the two-year training period as well as those in support of reducing it.
The general feedback received from various quarters has also been taken into account, the committee which was formed in October 2013, said in in its report submitted in February this year.
It must be mentioned that both the Ayyar Committee and the second Administrative Reforms Commission have supported retention of the two-year training period.
The Director LBSNAA (who is a member of the committee) has also expressed reservations against any proposed reduction in the duration of induction training, and his note has been placed on record, it said in its report.