The Indian Public Service is suffering under the country’s second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many top policy-makers out of action after getting infected by the virus.
Many of these officers, especially in the Ministry of Health, have been at the forefront of handling the pandemic.
More than two dozen Secretaries, Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries across Central Government Ministries have tested positive for COVID-19.
An official at the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, who did not wish to be named, said that with so many officials out of action, work was bound to be affected.
“We are trying to restructure our work schedule again like last year, organising virtual meetings to avoid physical contact and ensuring staggered attendance of staff,” the official said.
Government sources said several senior officials are also isolating at home after coming in contact with an infected person.
Besides senior Indian Administrative Service officers, about 100-to-150 Government staff posted across Ministries have also been infected, a second official said.
“In many Ministries, drivers and multi-tasking staff have tested positive and are on leave,” an official at the Ministry of Road Transport said.
“Many others are showing symptoms but have not been able to get themselves tested because of the huge rush at testing centres,” they said.
Two senior retired Public Servants have also died due to pandemic-related complications in the last few days — former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Ranjit Sinha (pictured) and former Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, Ruolkhumlien Buhril.
Meanwhile, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has deferred interviews for the 2020 Public Service examination due to a surge in COVID-19.
In a statement, the UPSC said the dates for interviews and recruitment test, when candidates are required to travel from all parts of the country, would be under constant review.
New Delhi, 21 April 2021
