The ageing bureaucracy is thinking young.
The finance ministry, which is in the process of giving the finishing touches to the Union Budget, has proposed an internship programme in the Department of Economc Affairs (DEA) to ensure interaction between senior officials and young scholars.
The duration of the internship, to be thrown open to scholars from reputed economic institutes, national law schools and management institutes, will be two months, barring the crucial
Budget-making period of December, January and February.
Refreshing ideas from academics will enable DEA to critically analyse its activity and take corrective steps in an objective and impartial manner, according to a finmin communication.
North Block wants around 15 interns to work in the areas of inflation management, fiscal and monetary policy, foreign exchange management and foreign investment policies.
But this is no job, nor will there be one at the end of the internship,
the note clarified.
The interns, who may be privy to certain confidential documents and policies in the making, are required to take an oath of secrecy.
DEA is at present headed by Ashok Chawla, also India’s finance secretary. It is the nodal agency of the government for formulating and monitoring the country’s economic policies and programmes having a bearing on domestic and international aspects of economic management.
Its main responsibility is the preparation of the Union Budget annually.
Other than that, it is responsble for formulation and monitoring of macroeconomic policies, including issues relating to fiscal policy and public finance, inflation, public debt management and the functioning of capital market.
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