New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Atomic Energy, Space, and Personnel, Dr Jitendra Singh hosted a special informal luncheon for officers of the Jammu & Kashmir AGMUT cadre at his official residence in New Delhi. The gathering brought together officers from the All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFoS) and DANICS/Secretariat Services, many of whom had served in the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir Cadre before its merger into the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram–Union Territories) cadre.
The event was a mix of professional camaraderie and personal nostalgia, continuing a tradition Dr Singh has upheld over the years to promote connection and trust among officers beyond formal frameworks. Officers spanning multiple batches reconnected over shared memories of their service in J&K, some recalling postings from as far back as the early 1990s.
Celebrating Service and Strengthening Unity
Dr Singh, in his address, emphasized the importance of personal bonding in governance, noting that trust built outside official environments greatly enhances coordination in administrative roles. “Knowing each other personally makes it easier to collaborate professionally. Trust is key in governance,” echoed one senior officer in attendance.
The Minister reflected on the unique legacy of service in Jammu & Kashmir and praised the cadre’s contributions over the decades. He spoke fondly of an initiative launched soon after the Modi Government took office in 2014 — where senior officers were asked to revisit their first posting districts to assess progress and offer insights. “It brought a sense of continuity and personal connection to public service,” he remarked.
A Distinguished Gathering of Civil Servants
The luncheon was attended by a notable lineup of senior officers from across services:
IAS: Navin Kumar Choudhary (1994), Manoj Kumar Dwivedi (1997), Hirdesh Kumar and Sarita Chauhan (1999), Ajeet Kumar Sahu (2003), Pandurang K Pole (2004), Simrandeep Singh (2008), Sushma Chauhan (2009), Shah Faesal (2010), and Sheikh Arshad Ayub (2013).
IPS: Pankaj Saxena (1992), Rajesh Kumar (1995), Mukesh Singh (1996), Danesh Rana, Viplav Kumar Choudhary, and Vijay Kumar (1997), Abdul Ghani Mir, S.P. Pani (2000), Keshav Ram Chourasia (2003), Atul Kumar (2004), Amit Kumar (2006), Abdul Jabbar (2008), Ambarkar Shriram (2011), Sandeep Choudhary (2012), and Chandan Kohli (2013).
DANICS/Secretariat Services: Preetpal Singh (2000), Naveen Kumar Shah (2000), and Rushal Garg (2018) also participated in the event.
The gathering saw a vibrant exchange of memories, ideas, and reflections on the transformation in Jammu & Kashmir’s administrative landscape post-cadre merger.
Continuing a Meaningful Tradition
Such informal engagements were common during Dr Jitendra Singh’s earlier interactions with officers in Jammu & Kashmir. Recalling that history, many officers appreciated the continuity of this initiative in Delhi. “These interactions build a sense of belonging, especially when one is away from the region they once served so closely,” said one officer.
As India continues to transform governance practices and promote civil service reforms, events like these offer a humanizing and collaborative approach — reminding officers of the shared purpose that binds their service to the nation.
