Here’s how bureaucrats will be promoted now. These are the criteria

For the first time ever, Indian bureaucrats will be promoted on the basis of integrity, reputation and ability to work hard.

The Indian government is planning to put in place a policy on promoting bureaucrats on a number of parameters. This will go beyond the annual report. Earlier, the government used to consider the Central Vigilance Commission report as the basis for assessing candidates' integrity. But the CVC could not ascertain a bureaucrat's involvement in a case of corruption or impropriety unless it was in the records.

As per reports, before being promoted as secretaries or additional secretaries, bureaucrats will be assessed on the basis of their leadership qualities as well.

The policy is being formed by a clutch of retired secretaries who will assess bureaucrats on seven parameters such as leadership, effectiveness in delivery, domain understanding and administrative skills.

"So the integrity of a bureaucrat and his or her general reputation as someone not prone to taking bribes or commissions or circumventing administrative processes to suit corporate groups or vested interests is being taken most seriously," one of the officials told ET.

If the policy is implemented, it will be in line with how promotions take place in private companies.

Meanwhile, while assessing a bureaucrat, his/her junior and senior will also be interviewed and asked specific questions about the general reputation and integrity of the person.

ET reported senior bureaucrat Sanjay Mitra was appointed as the defence secretary and Rajiv Gauba the home secretary under the new system. Both belong to the 1982 batch of IAS and they will have more than two years before superannuation.