Excellent information on corporate world.
Sahdev Khatua

Contact-suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com> & <mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com>

Lull before the storm-Swiss banks A/Cs details onpassed to WikiLeaks ?
As the grapevine has it an individual in Switzerland has onpassed list of Swiss bank account holders to WikiLeaks. Since Swiss laws don't permit sharing such an information, it cannot be availed officially. However, WikiLeaks has reportedly been given a list that includes 150 Indians as well. Who will be the ultimate gainer? This million Dollars rather Billion Dollars question is hotly being debated in corridors of
power.

Central cabinet reshuffle deferred?
The much awaited reshuffle of the cabinet being headed by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh has been deferred. As the grapevine has it such a situation was triggered due to absence of a consensus between Dr. Singh and UPA chief Ms. Sonia Gandhi who also heads the ruling Congress party.

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Pawar is trying to wiggle out of the corner he is in!!!

Now for price rise Mohna and Pranab he is trying to pin!!!

He says they agreed to Government's attempt to make farming paying!!!

But Pawar's game was deeper and a trick he was playing!!!

The Farmer got pittance for his produce and thereafter all made a killing!!!

A huge add on in price at every level's billing!!!

Artiya to wholesale/horder to hoarder/retail all made huge profits!!!

And it is alleged in all this Pawar too profits!!

Pawar has also tried to 'bowl' a chinaman and a leg cutter!!!

'Veggies do not come under my charge and market decides price' he did utter!

Fact of the matter is we pay a hidden Pawar tax for our khana!!!!

When it comes to food he has made us remember not only our Nani but also our Nana!

Insiders say in this stint alone Pawar has raked in 10,000 crore plus!!!!

Choos liya humaare food se sabh russ!!!!!

How can the Common Man enjoy khana when he cries to buy it!!!!!

And curses his hunger when to eat he does sit!!!

As per Mohna two wrongs make a right!!!!

In SC with Justice Verma being made NHRC's Chairman despite a factured vote he is going to fight!

When Justice Verma was appointed Congress's dissent was on political grounds!

But in Balki's case the allegations should make NHRC Chairmaship for Balki 'out of bounds'!!!

Hope SC sees the stupidity in Mohna's affidavit and throws it out!!!!

Hope SC gives Mohna a shout!!!!

Rahul is going to Sabrimala where a stampeded took place!!!!

And on BJP the blame he will try to place!!!!

Why does he not send Youth Congress volunteers and mobilize material aid????

Relief by Congress volunteers with material for which Congress has paid!

What will he achieve by going there....will his visit give relief or solace?????

All that he can do is express grief with a sombre face!!!

Does he think this drama makes him popular??????

In fact if you ask me this empty drama and the security fuss makes him unpopular!!!

After such tragedies why do our Netas try to score brownie points??????

Et tu Rahul...... sure disappoints!!

Even if a sign of protest and a hue and cry is made!!!!

Many say if he is so paranoid and wants no protests then its better at home he stayed!

There was some protest during one of his trips to Uttar Pradesh!!!

And UP got from PMO on 'breach of Rahul's security' a sandesh!!!

A young girl was raped and then falsely jailed and Media highlighted this injustice!

Did Mohna send a missive to UP Sarkaar demanding 'for the girl justice'?????

Kushwant Singh says in 2011 Sonia, Rahul and Mohna will bounce back!!

'Ground reality' ke maamle mein Kushwant did and does lack!!

What he needs to do is step out and talk to the Common Man!!!!

He'll learn that Congress is 'in the can'!!!

Come election and Public will flush Congress down the loo via the EVM!!!

This time it will be Electing and Vacating Machine or EVM!!

It will elect a non Congress Government and make Congress vacate throne of power!

Sonia they say dreads this hour!!!

Confucius says....... So Madam for your sake I hope you have a rabbit in your hat!!!

At present the only rabbit I can envisage is ' you send Priyanka in to bat'

Adds..... Madam Ji from Aawaz a factual and not a flatterers view you get!!!!

So livid at Aawaz why do you get??????

Bharat Kumar

BUREAUCRACY

Will R Gopalan succeed Ashok Chawla ?
Grapevine has it that Secretary Financial Services R Gopalan is going to succeed Ashok Chawla on February 1 as Secretary Finance. He is 1976 batch IAS Officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.

3 approved in GM panel of Railways
The ACC has approved three senior officers of Railways in the panel of General Managers (GMs). They are: Rajeev Bhargava, Abhay Khanna and Chandrashekhar. However, uncertainty prevails regarding the date from which seniority should be given to them.

Decks cleared for Anand Sinha to be DG, RBI
The PMO has cleared the file relating to appointment of Anand Sinha as Deputy Governor (DG) Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Sinha who was to retire in February 2011 has been given two year term till February 2013.
(We said this on September 13 )

Subbarao to be Director KIOCL
K Subbarao is being tipped to be new Director (Projects and Production) of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL).

Alok Kumar Rai appointed as DIG, BPR&D
Alok Kumar Rai on central deputation has been appointed as DIG, BPR&D. The centre has urged the state government to relieve him immediately for this assignment.He is an IPS officer of the1991 batch who belongs to the Haryana cadre.

A.M. Ganapathy poised to be Joint Director, CBI
As the grapevine has it, A.M. Ganapathy IGP Dehradun on central deputation is likely to be appointed as Joint Director, CBI. He is an IPS officer of the 1986 batch who belongs to the Uttarakhand cadre.

Vivek Sahai selected by GOI for central deputation
Vivek Sahai has been selected for central deputation. The Ministry Home Affairs (MHA) has sought consent from West Bengal government for his appointment. He is an IPS officer of the 1988 batch who belongs to the West Bengal cadre.

CSB meet postponned
CSB meeting scheduled to be held on January 17, 2011 has been postponed.

Ms. Mona Singh poised to be a Director in GoI
Ms. Mona Singh is likely to be selected as a Director in Government of India (GOI) on central deputation. She is an IRS(IT) officer of the 1990 batch.

Ms. Monica Bhatia likely to be selected as a Director in GOI
Ms. Monica Bhatia is likely to be selected as a Director in Government of India on central deputation.She is an IRS(IT) officer of the 1990 batch.

Sanjeev Singh likely to be a Director in GoI
Sanjeev Singh is likely to be selected as a Director in Government of India on central deputation. He is an IRS(IT) officer of the1991 batch.

K. S. Mehra Commissioner to be changed
As the grapevine has it, K. S. Mehra, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), is poised to get some other assignment. Mehra is an IAS officer of the 1978 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

Rahul Asthana's services sought by Maharashtra Govt.
As the grapevine has it, the Maharashtra government has sought services of Rahul Asthana, an IAS officer of the 1978 batch, who belongs to the Mahrashtra cadre & is currently Chairman Bombay Port Trust(BPT),Bombay. He is already serving the Government of India (GOI) in the Additional Secretary's rank. If he goes back then he will become an Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) in Mahrashtra.

D N Pandey relieved from the Lok Sabha secretariat
D N Pandey, (IAS officer of 1985 batch ,Gujarat cadre) who was Principal Secretary (PS) to the Lok Sabha Speaker Ms. Meira Kumar has been relieved.

Post of MD, DFC advertised
The post of Managing Director (MD) of Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) has been advertised.

P C Haldar nominated to National Security Advisory Board
P C Haldar has been nominated to National Security Advisory Board, reconstituted by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

117 new Commissioners of Income tax next month
117 IRS officers belonging to 1989 batch are being promoted to the rank of Commissioner next month.

Minor IAS changes in Punjab on the anvil
A minor bureaucratic reshuffle in Punjab is on the anvil.

Ms. Anuradha Mitra to be shifted from Chennai
Ms. Anuradha Mitra (IDAS, 1984) is slated to move from Chennai to Delhi in next few months.

Hari Ramulu shunted from Burdwan disivion
Hari Ramulu (IAS, 1987, WB) has been shifted as Editor, State Gazetteer from his current post of Commissioner, Burdwan Division as a fallout of his failure to attend a meeting that Chief Minister of West Bengal had convened in Durgapur recently.

Vinay Mittal is GM, SE Railways
Vinay Mittal (IRTS, 1975) has taken over as GM of South Eastern Railways (SER) . He was earlier GM, North Western Railway (NWR).

Bansal takes additional charge in Dehradun
Additional Director General of Forests (Forest Conservation) AK Bansal has taken over the additional charge of the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) in Dehradun.

Sanjiv Kumar Mittal returns to Uttar Pradesh
On conclusion of his extended deputation tenure as Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor in Ministry of Coal Sanjiv Kumar Mittal - IAS (UP: 1987) has rejoined his parent cadre of Uttar Pradesh.

Alumni get together of SRC, held at Taj Palace Hotel
A galaxy of big shots attended an alumni get together of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRC), Delhi in Taj Palace Hotel, Delhi on January 14, 2011. Among others who attended the contributory dinner were: HDFC Vice President, Vice President ICICI bank and owner Yes Bank.

Ajay Kumar Singh DGP, Karnataka to retire
Ajay Kumar Singh DGP to the Karnataka government is going to retire on January 31, 2011. He is an IPS officer of the 1974 batch who belongs to Karnataka cadre.

Dr Prasad appointed ADG
Dr T. Ravi Prasad, Director Medical of ITBP has been appointed as Additional Director General of Medical wing of Central Para military Forces. Today,he took over charge of ADG (Medical) at ITBP HQ. He is an ENT Specialist. He took over charge of Directed Medical of ITBP in 2008.He joined ITBP medical wing in 1978.He completed his medical studies from Andhra Medical Collage, Visakhapatnam. Born in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh,he is first officer from south to be chief of medical wing of all the Central Para Military Forces.

S Banerjee is Information Commissioner in Tripura
Shyamalima Banerjee, former Principal Secretary, Govt.of Tripura, has been appointed State Information Commissioner.

Dr Prasad appointed in ITBP
Dr T.Ravi Prasad,Director Medical of ITBP has been appointed as Additional Director General of Medical wing of Central Para military Forces. He is an ENT Specialist.He took over charge of Directed Medical of ITBP in 2008.He joined ITBP medical wing in 1978.He completed his medical studies from Andhra Medical Collage, isakhapatnam. Born in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh,he is first officer from south to
be chief of medical wing of all the Central Para Military Forces.

Minor reshuffle of IPS officers in Karnataka
In a minor reshuffle of IPS officers in Karnataka M.N. Reddy was posted as Executive Director (ED) of the Karnataka government's Police Housing Corporation while P.S. Meena ED Karnataka government's Police Housing Corporation was shifted as ADG to Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and N S Meghrik IG State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) to IG, CID.

S.M. Krishna goes to Australia on January 17, 2011
S.M. Krishna Indian External Affairs Minister is going on a tour to Australia for bilateral talks on January 17, 2011. He will return by the week end.

CBDT constitutes DRP Bangalore
Central Board Of Direct Taxes has constituted the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP} comprising of three Commissioners of Income- Tax/Directors of Income-tax as its Members. Accordingly, DRP Bangalore includes A.K. Aggarwal, DIT (International Taxation), Bangalore Rakesh Bhaskar, DIT (Transfer Pricing), Chennai and Goutan Kar, CIT-II, Bangalore.

Sahu is CVP GRSE (UPDATED)
Barun Kumar Sahu has been appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer in Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata. He is 1992 batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre.

A large scale bureaucratic reshuffle on the anvil in Kerala (UPDATED)
As the grapevine has it a large scale bureaucratic reshuffle is on the anvil in Kerala. This will be the last reshuffle before state assembly polls were held later this year.

Anil Madhav Lal appointed as new CS, J & K (UPDATED)
Anil Madhav Lal has been appointed as Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir as S.S. Kapur incumbent Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir will be retiring on January 31,2011. Anil Madhav Lal is an IAS officer of the 1977 batch who belongs to Jammu & Kashmir cadre. At present on central deputation he is Development Commissioner (DC) of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

( We said this on December 10 and on January 15)

Bureaucratic changes in Mizoram (UPDATED)
The Government of Mizoram has affected minor bureaucratic changes. Niharika Rai, IAS (AGMUT:2005) Registrar of Cooperative Societies has been transferred and posted as DC, Kolasib District vice R. Liankima, MCS who, on promotion, has been transferred as Addl. Secretary, AH&Vety. Nikhil Kumar, IAS (AGMUT:2002) Special Secretary, Revenue, Environment & Forest has been transferred as DC, Serchhip District vice H. Darzika, MCS who, on promotion, has been posted as Secretary, Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation, Sports & Youth Services and Information & Public Relations.Besides, the Government of Mizoram has promoted the following MCS Officers to Supertime Grade 'B' and posted them as follows: 1. Rodney L. Ralte, MCS Jt. Secretary, Planning to Addl. Secretary, Planning, LAD 2. Lalhmingthanga, MCS, Jt CEO to Addl. Secretary, UD&PA, Fisheries 3. Biaktluanga, MCS Director, LAD to Addl. Secretary, H&TE 4. V. Sapchhunga, MCS Director, DM&R to Addl. Secretary, GAD, SAD

Three new Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court (UPDATED)
Justice Rajan Gupta, Justice Ajay Tewari, and Justice Jitendra Kumar Chauhan, and JusticeAugustineGeorge Masih Additional Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court have been appointed Judges of that High Court.

RTI

Filing of RTI application by a Public Authority
The applicant requested for information pertaining to income computation with TDS Challan, Trading Account, Balance Sheet with Schedules, Audit Report, Assessment Order/ self assessment information etc. in respect of 4 persons from the Income Tax department. The applicant stated that they were themselves public authority namely The New India Assurance Company Limited. The information was sought to defend their position in a claim of Rs. 181 crore against the death of individual in a road accident. The CIC directed to provide the information holding that the disclosure would serve the ends of justice and is in larger public interest by causing an unwarranted discharge of public funds.

Comments

Filing of a RTI application by a Public authority against another is indicative of the pattern of evolution of RTI Act. Against the time tested method of using the official channel for securing documents, RTI is being considered as a more potent tool for protecting the commercial interest of the company. Many more applications of the
similar kind are likely to be filed in the times to come.

[Sh. S.S. Hira v. Income Tax Department, Jaipur in Appeal No.
CIC/LS/A/2010/001130DS]

- Weekly article by Dr. (Mrs.) Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in), RTI Consultant to IIM, Indore and Co-author of the book: RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE by Taxmann. (The views are Personal)

CORPORATE
Bhadra appointed MD of NLC Nalco India
NLC Nalco has appointed Alok Kumar Bhadra as the new Managing Director of NLC Nalco India.

Jha is part-time Director SAIL
P C Jha has been appointed part-time non-official Director of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL).

Karandikar resigns as Sr. VP (Finance) and Company Secy. APLAB Ltd
S.S. Karandikar, Sr. Vice President - Finance and Company Secretary, APLAB Ltd has resigned from the company.

Deherkar appointed Company Secy. APLAB Ltd
Rajesh K.Deherkar has been appointed as Company Secretary and Finance Controller of APLAB Ltd as also the Compliance Officer of the Company.

Barlow appointed President, Carlson Hotels (Asia-Pacific)
Simon Barlow has been appointed as President of Carlson Hotels (Asia-Pacific).

Desai appointed CFO, Everest Kanto Cylinder Ltd
Bimal Desai has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Everest Kanto Cylinder Ltd w.e.f. January 7, 2011. He has been appointed in place of J. Sivakumar who has resigned from the Company due to personal reasons.

Chopra appointed Director , Starwood Hotels
Moushumi Chopra has been appointed as Director and Legal Counsel, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, India, Bangladesh & Maldives.

Eastman appointed Executive Chef, The Leela Palace, New Delhi
Glenn B Eastman has been appointed as the Executive Chef of The Leela Palace New Delhi.

TOP CORPORATE POWER HOUSES IN INDIA
1. Mukesh Ambani & Anil Ambani
Reliance Group
Apart from heading one of India's biggest and diverse business conglomerates, Mukesh Ambani is the man keenly watched globally. For the record sake Mukesh's worth is over US $27 Billion as per Forbes list and he may be the richest man in the World by 2014. So, it is hard to believe that his footprints are not behind any major policy initiatives, especially that relating finance, taxation or trade and commerce. Mukesh's Man Friday in Delhi, Bala Subramaniam, takes care of the group's networking. He has unhindered access to all power centres in Delhi be it Congress party's Pranab Mukherjee or Motilal Vora, BJP's L.K. Advani or Nitin Gadkari, Communist party's Sitaram Yachuri or D. Raja, RJD's Laloo Yadav or other smaller parties. His aim is to get a Bharat Ratna award for the late Dhirubhai Ambani - his father and founder of Reliance Group - besides, total allegiance of the country's bureaucrats and politicians. His team is feverishly working along with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi. However, the row over lobbyist Neera Radia tapes and her conversations that became public have tarnished the image of the company still, he is not the one who can just be stopped over by such minor irritants.
His younger brother, Anil Ambani had already enjoyed unhindered access to the -corridors of power and ever since the patch up with the elder brother is trying to consolidate his gains. His team is active round the clock keeping a tab on critical issues in governance.

2. Shashi Ruia and Ravi Ruia
Essar Group
They are number four in Forbes list of richest Indians with assets worth nearly US$ 15 billion, but maintain an extremely low profile. The government is said to have supported them in the attempt to restructure their group in recent years and they enjoy the most unhindered access to all political parties. The fact that they have no political ambition has stood them in good light with all political parties. Their man in Delhi is Sunil Bajaj, who enjoys an easy access to all political bigwigs and bureaucratic strongholds. They only travel to Delhi when work calls for their presence and their coming and going go unnoticed as they travel unobtrusively with the minimum noise. Of late, the Group's networking too has acquired a higher crescendo, what with all the expansion plans, and acquisitions in foreign countries.

3. Gautam Adani
Adani Group
Forbes has placed him at number 7 in the richest Indians list with a worth of more than US $ 10 billion in kitty. Adani's is the fastest growing group in the country's Corporate landscape forcing observers to say that he is the Dhirubhai Ambani in the making. His political connections are fantastic. His claim to fame is for having been caught on the wrong side of the law more than any other business man in the country. However, he sails out of trouble every time and moves ahead with greater conviction. His strong political connections with BJP patriarch L.K. Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress' Ahmed Patel is the talk among observers and the envy of his competitors. His key aide Puneet Sharan presides over the Public Relations activities of the group in Delhi.

4. Ratan Tata
Tata Group
From salt to heavy vehicles to the most high tech IT set ups, Tata's is one of the oldest Indian conglomerates, having touched the lives of every Indian. People have learnt to live with Tata, for Tata's stood for quality, conviction and growth with humility. Though the contents of the Radia Tapes have done great damage to the reputation of Ratan Tata, still his is the most revered business house in the country. For the record, Forbes does not have him on their rich list. Is he a billionaire? No, Ratan Tata is not a billionaire. Of course he is the Chairman of Tata Group having 96 businesses out of which 28 are publicly listed and are worth more than US $ 70 billion. Well, to be a billionaire, on your financial statement, your assets must be worth billions of dollars. The main bulk of the shares of its 96 Businesses are not on Ratan Tata's personal financial statement. Tata Group's Key holding Company, Tata Sons has 65 per cent ownership to various Tata group charitable organizations out of which Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir J.R.D. Tata Trust are the main holders. About 18 per cent of the holdings in Tata Son's are with Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry who maintains low profile and is known as "Phantom of Bombay House". Ratan Tata himself holds less than 1% of TATA Sons, the key holding Company of Tata Group. This is the reason why he is not a billionaire.
Ratan Tata given his respect among common man should have been number one in this list but his public spat with TMC leader Mamata Banerjee over the Nano project and land acquisition in Singur, West Bengal have left his image tarred. Moreover, the shifting of his pet Nano small car project to Narendra Modi's Gujarat has marred his chances of getting a Bharat Ratna, as long as the Congress is in power at the Centre. His personal office general manager, who happens to be son of a senior lady journalist in Delhi, is RNT's networking man.

5. Lakshmi N. Mittal
ArcelorMittal
Steel tycoon and the chairman of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaking company is placed by Forbes at the number two position with a net worth of US $ 26.1 billion. His journey to become one of the richest man in the world, has been very controversial from his association with former
Indonesian President Suharto to British Prime Minister Tony Blair who allegedly helped him in his business ventures. In India his association started with for Union Minister N.K.P. Salve and this helped him move closer to power centres in India. He enjoys personal rapport with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress' Political Secretary Ahmed Patel and enjoyed equally close relationship with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's family.

6. Sunil Mittal
Bharti Enterprises
With a worth of US $ 8.6 billion the telecom czar, Sunil Mittal is placed at number 9 in the Forbes list. Son of a father who was MP from Ludhiana of the Congress Party, he started business with manufacturing cycle parts at the age of 18. He is a risk taker and known to have best networking with political masters in Delhi. His office door conference room) near Qutub Minar says it all SULTANAT. His aim is to be Emperor of telecom world and he has already taken steps in that direction looking for joint ventures, acquisitions and mergers in Africa and elsewhere in Asia.

7. K.P. Singh
DLF Limited
Forbes pitches him shade ahead of Sunil Mittal at number 8 in the India rich list with a worth of US $ 9.2 billion. His chance meeting on the road with late Rajiv Gandhi turned him from a small time builder of south Delhi to the biggest builder in India. His controversial tie up with Dubai World company Emaar Group has tarnished his image and probably made him loose a few billions. He is regarded as the Ambassador of Good times by the political glitterati in Delhi. He is said to be richest person in the national capital.

8. Venugopal N. Dhoot
Videocon Industries Limited
Videocon Industries limited being headed by its Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Venugopal N Dhoot, is the flagship company of US $ 5 billion Videocon Group having diversified business interests in white and brown goods, power generation (both conventional and renewable energy). Exploration and Prospecting Oil and Gas, Providing GSM Mobile Telephone Services, last mile retail, and Direct to Home Delivery of Television Contents. Its activities are well spread out in India, China, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Mozambique, with employee strength of more than 15,000. Venugopal N Dhoot, a second-generation entrepreneur and an engineer by training, transformed Videocon from a conference room-sized assembly line in 1979 into a conglomerate across the verticals of consumer electronics and home appliances, office automation, telecom, power, crude oil and natural gas. Dhoot has a vision to led Videocon and make it a Fortune 500 company in the next five years. Dhoot is an environmental enthusiast having successfully completed a project of planting 2,00,000 teak saplings across India.

9. Subrata Roy Sahara
Sahara Group
Chairman of the Group having India's biggest - land bank, NBFC, Media & Entertainment Company, Service & product company, exclusive Aamby Valley City along with Major housing & commercial building projects including Malls, Premium Apartments, Hotels and Hospitals, Life Insurance Company, Mutual Fund House, Housing Finance Co., Consumer products & Retail Chain, Integrated travel & tourism services. Subrata Roy Sahara's worth is about US $ 3.3 billion and as Chief Guardian of world's largest family, providing livelihood to millions, directly touching the life of one out of every fifteen Indian, believing in collective sharing & caring for collective growth, proved over decades through CSR projects and activities carried out all over India and particularly in UP & Bihar, one of world's poorest regions, up to the assistance to families of Martyr's of Kargil war and 26/11 Mumbai attack.
Biggest supporter of Sports, being a character builder of nation, more than 60 % medal winning Indian athletes in CWG 2010 sponsored by Sahara India Pariwar. Extended critical support which made the event wonderful for India. Exploring overseas value adding acquisitions like England's legendry soccer club Liverpool, one the oldest Hollywood Studios MGM, iconic London Hotel Grosvenor House. A visionary par excellence, one of the all time great entrepreneur, dedicated to nation building.

10. Kumar Mangalam Birla
The Aditya Birla Group
Like Tata, the name Birla is synonymous with Indian Industry and has been among I the country's oldest business houses. Kumar Mangalam Birla, the Chairman of the US$ 29 billion Aditya Birla Group, a global conglomerate with operations spanning 27 countries. An iconic figure, Birla holds several key positions on various regulatory and professional boards. He is a Director of the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India and Chairman of the Staff Sub-Committee of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India. He serves on the Prime Minister of India's Advisory Council on Trade and Industry. Birla group has however,not changed like other business groups. They still believe in traditional business style and instead of expanding their empire are trying to consolidate their present business establishments. They do not want to walk on the waves of the time.

11. Anil Agrawal
Vedanta Group
Vedanta Group is an LSE-listed diversified FTSE 100 metals and mining company, and India's largest non-ferrous metals and mining company. Anil Agrawal, the NRI Chairman of the Vedanta Group has a worth of US $ 7.9 billion. Agrawal's ambition is to become the richest businessman in India. If things would have gone as he had planned out with the IPO and the expansion of mining activity in Orissa, Agrawal would have overtaken Mukesh Ambani as the richest Indian businessmen. He is said to have a direct access in the Ten Janpath.

12. G.M. Rao
GMR Group
Founder Chairman of GMR Group-global Infrastructure major the Group is well
diversified and professionally managed with focus on business verticals of Airports, Energy, Highways and Urban Infrastructure including SEZs, apart from interests in Agri-business. Born on July 14, 1950 in a small town of Rajam in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, G M Rao established the GMR business empire starting from a single jute mill in Rajam in 1978.G M Rao expanded the group's presence in the infrastructure sector by leading the group's foray into Highways. The group bagged its first global project by winning the bid to modernise the Sabiha Gokcen International (SGA) airport at Istanbul, Turkey and also ventured into the new business sector of Urban Infrastructure. The group will set up a 3300 acre multi-product SEZ in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu. It is marching ahead on lines of the Adani group. With a strong desire to serve the needs of the marginalised sections and the rural society, Rao set up the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, to raise their living standards. The Foundation is active in the areas of education, health and hygiene, community development and empowerment.

13. Gopichand Hinduja
Hinduja Group
Hinduja is worth billions of dollars, but he still shares a kitchen with his three brothers. He co-chairs the Indian multinational corporation Hinduja Group with his eldest brother Srichand. Srichand, 75, and Gopichand, 70, are based in the exclusive district of Mayfair in London. The third brother, Prakash, 65, is in Geneva, while the fourth, and the youngest, Ashok, 60, remains in Mumbai. In each country, there is a house with a joint kitchen for all four of the brothers and their families to use. They are estimated to be worth a total of about US$9.5 billion (Dh34.89bn), according to The Sunday Times 2008 Rich List. At one stage they had fast emerged as a force to reckon with in the corridors of power, but now seem to have preferred lying low.

FORUM
(The views expressed in this column are of the contributors. We do not owe any responsibility, whatsoever, of the views of our surfers as they are their personal opinion. However, we would also request our contributors not to be personal, directly or indirectly, in presenting their views. Instead of countering the views which ‘X’ has already expressed, our contributors are advised to present their own views. Also be brief, say about 200 words at the most since any views longer than that if eliminated at our end would carry the risk of the contrbutor’s item losing its original essence)


Only two services in India ?

There are at least 24 services to which civil services aspirants are allocated. Top are IAS,IRS,IFS,IPS, IRTS,IAAS etc. Then there are technical services as IRSE, Forest Service etc. But reading this forum the only impression one gets is that most important services are two clerical services CSS and CSSS which are concerned with running the country and whose betterment of service conditions will only ensure betterment of country.

Rakesh Tiwari

Fed up with personalized allegations

Your forum is slowly becoming a forum for redressal of grievances of PAs, Stenos and CSS officers and also for airing the perennial jealously of non-IAS officers against IAS officers. Many are really fed up seeing such letters. I am sure with so many experienced and some retired bureaucrats amongst your viewers, you will be getting many letters with regards to improvement in our administration and to other problems facing our country. Can I blame this lowering of standards to your editorial staff who selects the letters to be published.

N Krishnan

The quality of WIC forum is excellent?

I admire M L Gupta's columns in WIC. His writings are well researched, subtle and hit the unethical practices where it hurts. I pity the sick minds who criticize his views for no valid reason. Gupta does not need a certificate and will continue to be respected. We are not paid employees of WIC. We express our views on the site by virtue of its credibility. Long live Dr Suresh Mehrotra, Editor-in-chief, WIC and his bold journalism. He is our role model.

A K Saxena (A retired civil servant)

Stenographers be brought to HAG Rank

Considering the work Stenographers are doing they should be brought to HAG Rank with retrospective effect from 01.01.2006

GD

All be treated at par promotion matters

I fully endorse the views expressed in "Disparity required to be removed" by G.C. Duggal. As a matter of policy whether a person is recruited through open or limited examination, they should all be treated at par in the matter of promotion. Once they are inducted in the seniority list the question of mode of recruitment should not be given any weightage in further promotion, all of them being performing the same duties and shouldering the same responsibilities.

B K Jain

A very deep malady

The comments appearing on your website about the CSS reflects a very deep malady. Other services have also come up with some vitriol against the IAS. All this is a symptom of a dysfunctional structure of our elite services and when these civil servants are disgruntled and full of grievances how can they function in the spirit of service and objectivity. The sad part is that no one bothers to set the house in order. One of the main plank of Administrative Reforms should be keeping the morale of civil servants high in the present scenario when one service gets away with whatever they want-even manipulating political powers, others have genuine grudge. By no standard is it justified that those who got selected through the same civil services examination should have a gap of as large as a decade in career progression. It is not the intelligence they lack. The ranking in UPSC is after all a matter of marks and marks depend on the subjects you have chosen. Maths and Science can ,if you do well, get you 100% marks while you are excellent in literature ,language or sociology even when you get 60%.It is high time that this malady is remedied. Government would do well to have an eminent group look into this area of discontent so that genuine grievances are redressed and civil servants stop fretting about personal injustices.

Aarti Khosla

Views about MACP Scheme correct

I fully support the views of Duggal about MACP Scheme after 6th CPC. The GoI should consider it positively and allow the financial benefits in the hierarchy of the Cadre only as per 5th CPC recommendations.

I would also like to add here that lot of discrepancies are there in the Stenographer Cadre in CSSS and Field Office i.e. attached and central bodies. I would further like to add here that the 6th CPC has very specifically recommended that there should be no disparity in CSSS and others as the nature of work is same, and it is also a clear cut violation of the Supreme Court's orders that equal pay for equal work. I am sorry to say that when the GoI is not implementing this equal pay for equal work what about the rest of India with reference to equality.

It is, therefore, requested through this website that the GoI should take this factor into account and restructure the Stenographer Cadre in field offices at the earliest.

V S, Rana, Shimla, H.P.