Maninder Singh likely head of PCRA
Joint secretary Maninder Singh looks set to become the new head of the Delhi-based Petroleum Conservation and Research Association (PCRA).
In theory Singh should be heading back to his home state Assam when his five-year stint in the oil ministry ends on August 1 this year. But last month Singh and several other bureaucrats who joined the IAS in 1989 were belatedly promoted to joint secretary rank.
As there are no vacant JS jobs in the oil ministry it was decided Singh should either become the new secretary to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to replace RP Watal or head up the PCRA as its new executive director. But Watal looks set to stay on as secretary in the regulator’s office, at least until after elections, which leaves the PCRA as his most likely new watering hole.
If true Singh will stay in Delhi for two more years but till then he’ll stay in the oil ministry where he’ll continue to sign off on exploration files and anti-corruption cases – till August at least.