Resentment among bureaucrats over government 360-degree promotion policy

Those denied promotions are feeling demoralised and thinking of returning to their home states

Recent changes in the policy on promotion and appointments of top bureaucrats in the central government have had many feeling unhappy. Their discontent stems from the central government’s recent move of bunching two batches of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) — 1987 and 1988 — for the post of additional secretary and its equivalent.

That was a sequel to, only two months earlier, the combining of the 1984 and 1985 batches for empanelment for secretary-rank charges. Made under what is termed a ‘360-degree’ policy, entailing a ‘holistic’ approach to appointments than only relying on the annual confidential report. At the