HRD ministry's Testing problem

The human resources development (HRD) ministry is in the process of setting up the National Testing Service, an agency to conduct all entrance tests for higher education. The government is aiming to make it operational by 2018. The aim is to free organisations such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and other institutions from administrative responsibilities so that they can focus more on academics.

Currently, these bodies conduct tests such as Joint Entrance Examination, National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) and National Eligibility Test among others.

The start, however, has hit a bump. The ministry wanted the CBSE to use its experience of conducting large entrance tests such as the JEE (Main) and NEET to run the body initially for a bit and handhold it through teething troubles. The CBSE has turned down the government’s request on account of being overburdened with work. This means that either ministry babus will have to run the show or hire a new team before the body is established.

Munir A. Khan: J&K’s top cop
Due to his high-profile in counter-insurgency operations and effective handling of law and order problems, inspector-general of police Kashmir zone, Munir Ahmad Khan, is likely to continue as head of the Kashmir executive police even after his elevation to the rank of additional director-general of police (ADG) along with four other officers of the 1994 batch.

The departmental promotion committee (DPC) of the state home department had met earlier this year and approved rank promotion in favour of five IGPs. Headed by chief secretary B.B. Vyas, the DPC also comprises of senior-most IAS officer K.B. Agarwal, principal secretary home, R.K. Goyal, DGP Dr S.P. Vaid and law secretary Abdul Majid Bhat as members.

Sources say that even after his promotion to the rank of ADG, Mr Khan would continue as head of the executive police in Kashmir zone that includes Ladakh. Mr Khan had replaced Gilani as IGP Kashmir in May this year.

RBI deputy guv Second-time lucky?
Almost six months after S.S. Mundra, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India, completed his tenure, and after a failed attempt to find his replacement, the government has started the selection process again. Sources say that the Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee (FSRASC) headed by Cabinet secretary P.K. Sinha has decided to restart the search.

However, no explanation is being offered for the delay or why the initial procedure was dropped. Sources say that bankers from both public and private sector banks meeting the eligibility criteria would be called for interaction by the high-level panel.

The central bank has four deputy governors — two from within the ranks and one commercial banker and another an economist — to head the monetary policy department.

The members of the search committee include RBI governor Urjit Patel, financial services secretary Rajiv Kumar, and three independent members, including Manoj Panda, director, Institute of Economic Growth; and Bimal Patel, director, CEPT.

Mr Munda’s successor will be appointed for three years and the person will be eligible for reappointment. The deputy governor will draw a fixed salary of Rs 2.25 lakh per month plus allowances.