The 8th Pay Commission Should Break from the Colonial Past and Rethink Its Composition The composition of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) in late 2025 sparked significant debate, with critics arguing that its structure inherently favored the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) over other specialized services. The commission’s design, which placed a serving IAS officer at the helm of its secretariat, raised concerns about impartiality, as the IAS has historically benefited from a pay and promotion system that grants it a “two-year edge” over other services. This arrangement, critics argue, perpetuates a colonial-era hierarchy that privileges generalist administrators over domain-specific expertise, undermining efforts to modernize governance in a technology-driven era. The CPC’s operational framework was criticized for its lack of balance. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, the commission’s chairperson, was accompanied by a lone part-time member, leaving the majority of decision-making power in the hands of the Member-Secretary, a serving IAS officer. This role, far from being clerical, dictated how data was aggregated, how inter-ministerial consultations were shaped, and how representations were filtered before reaching the commission’s formal consideration. The Member-Secretary’s influence over the drafting process meant that recommendations were effectively filtered through a bureaucratic network dominated by IAS officers, creating a closed loop of institutional self-reference. The commission’s composition was seen as a continuation of a colonial legacy. The British Covenanted Civil Service, designed to create an elite class of administrators, left a lasting imprint on India’s bureaucratic structure.#indian_administrative_service #viksit_bharat #8th_central_pay_commission #justice_ranjana_prakash_desai #british_covenanted_civil_service
PIB Kohima holds media workshop on Central Scheme 'VB GRAMG' The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kohima, organized a one-day media workshop on the newly launched central scheme 'VB GRAMG' on March 25, 2026, at the Kohima Press Club Office. The event, part of the VARTA discourse series, focused on the Ministry of Rural Development's initiative aimed at transforming rural employment mechanisms. Prof. Jayanta Choudhury, head of the Department of Rural Development and Planning at Nagaland University, highlighted the central role of rural development in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasized that sustainable rural growth is essential for inclusive progress, noting that over 80% of the world's poor reside in rural areas and that issues like hunger and malnutrition are predominantly concentrated there. Prof. Choudhury stressed the importance of localized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sustainable practices such as organic farming to address rural challenges. He argued that the development of urban centers is intrinsically linked to the strength of rural economies, suggesting that improved rural development could reduce migration to cities. The professor also underscored that the success of all SDGs hinges on effective rural development, positioning it as a cornerstone of India's national agenda. The workshop detailed the key features of VBGRAMG, a reformed rural employment scheme replacing MGNREGA. The scheme guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household, slightly higher than the 120 days under MGNREGA. It introduces a 60:40 central-state funding split, with North-Eastern and Himalayan states receiving 90% central funding. Prof.#pib_kohima #vb_gramg #nagaland_university #viksit_bharat #mgnrega
