Descriptive Designations

DESIGNATIONS are morphing more rapidly than deep fakes that go viral. At one time, most organisations had decades-old designations which gave one a clear sense of the relative hierarchical position in the organisation.

- KIRAN KARNIK

Government continues its vintage designations – Secretary; Additional/Joint/Deputy/Under Secretary – for mainstream secretariat posts, as also Director-General, Deputy DG, etc. Consultants, Advisors and Senior Advisors are newer positions as are Principal and Chief Advisors.

Taking forward the concept of public-private partnerships, government is moving towards emulating business-like practices. Powerpoint presentations and first-name conversations have become as common in the renovated corporate-style meeting rooms in ministries as they are in company board rooms. However, in keeping with preserving our glorious heritage – with its hierarchical and feudal element – government meeting rooms inevitably have one “throne chair” for whoever rules the roost for that meeting. A few find this not only incongruous, but also hilarious; most, though, treat this as quite normal.