Plan to cut IAS training period

The Central Government on Friday proposed reduction of training duration for Indian Administrative Service officers from two to one-and-a-half years, based on Kiran Aggarwal Committee recommendations, despite reservations of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration chief.

The Department of Personnel and Training has sought views from State governments by November 30. If no reply is received, it will be presumed that they have no objections.

While the current training duration is 103 weeks, the Kiran Aggarwal Committee in its report submitted in February has proposed 75 weeks. LBSNAA chief Padamvir Singh has proposed 84-week duration.

In his dissent note, Mr. Singh expressed reservations saying: “Even in our discussions with State Government, and Administrative Training Institute representative and pass-outs from recent batches, the general refrain was more towards improving the content and delivery of training and refocusing it to the needs of adult learning.”