The Centre’s decision to pull Mr Pant back into the Union government is being seen as both a reward for reliability and a subtle message to states: when the Centre wants a particular officer, it will get that officer

xSudhansh Pant’s abrupt move from Rajasthan’s highest babu kursi to a Central posting has triggered an immediate surge of speculation and conversation in Jaipur. On paper, it’s a standard reshuffle: A senior IAS officer, 1991 batch, taking charge as secretary in the ministry of social justice and empowerment. But anyone who has watched Rajasthan’s bureaucracy for more than a week knows this wasn’t exactly a planned send-off with farewell laddoos. Mr Pant still had over a year of service left, and by all accounts, his innings as chief secretary was far from over. That’s precis

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