Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi addresses a special session of the Gujarat Assembly in Gandhinagar
With days left before he and his new team are sworn in Prime Minister designate
Narendra Modi is already setting the agenda.
Top bureaucrats of all key ministries have been called to make presentations to the cabinet secretary of their achievements in the past 5 years and their goals for the future. (
Clearing Projects Worth 20 Lakh Crores Could Be Modi's First Task)
The third question is controversial: it asks 'what in your view should not have happened?'
Some officials NDTV spoke to off camera say they sense a political undertone to the question, and that they might opt out from answering it.
We spoke to the Secretary, Fertilisers Shantikanta Das as he was leaving to make his presentation before the Cabinet Secretary. He told us the Prime Minister's Office is also being kept in the loop.
Crucially, they are also being asked -- informally -- their view on whether government should be downsized, by clubbing ministries to ensure better coordination. For instance, should the Coal and Power Ministries be brought under a single Energy Ministry.
Sources in the Coal Ministry say they have conveyed that they are against such a move, while Power is said to be in favour of it.
This is said to be in keeping with Mr Modi's election-time mantra of maximum governance, minimum government, and is an indication that he might opt for a leaner cabinet.