Govt launches mandatory mid-career training for IAS officers

New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) The government has decided to introduce mandatory mid career training programme for IAS officers at three different levels in their career which would be a 'necessary but not a sufficient condition for promotion,' the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Suresh Pachouri said in a written reply that the primary objective of the programme was to help develop 'next level of competency' before the officers get promoted to higher positions. It was intended for the capacity building of IAS officers.

Mr Pachouri said there would be programme of eight weeks between the seventh and ninth year of service, another eight weeks between fourteenth and sixteenth year of service and a programme of four weeks between 26th and 28th year of service.

''This Mid Career Training Programme would henceforth be a necessary but not a sufficient condition for promotion. Further, participation in the programme designed for officers between the 26th and 28th year of service shall be a minimum requirement for empanelment as Additional Secretary or Secretary to the government of India and for further increments after 28th year of service,'' he clarified.

He said the work of detailed design and delivery of each of these phases of the Mid Career Training has been entrusted by an expert committee to TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and IIM, Ahmedabad.

TERI School would design programme for officers with seven to nine years of service. IIM Bangalore with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University would design programme for officers with 14 to 16 years of service. IIM, Ahmedabad and Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University for the programme designed for officers with 26 to 28 years of services, he informed.

He said programme designed for the officers of 26 years to 28 years of services has been conducted at IIM, Ahmedabad from January 2 to 25 this year. The programme for those with 14 to 16 years was scheduled to commence from April 23 and for officers with seven to nine years experience, would be conducted from June 11 at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.

UNI