Y K Sinha protected India's image abroad. Now, he must do it at home

The ex-IFS officer takes over as CIC at a time when activists believe the RTI Act has been whittled down progressively

Officers of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) are generally considered cerebral thought warriors who inhabit exotic locales and protect India’s interests abroad while having a cushy time of it. But there is another side to them: One that tussles bureaucracies both foreign and Indian, streamlines administrative systems, and generally deals with the unwashed masses who are far away from home, and sees the embassy/high commission as their only link with their roots. An Indian diplomat can be successful only if he wears his band gala with aplomb but can also shuck it off if necessary, roll up his sleeves, and