INDEF Calls for Major Reforms in Engineering Sector, Advocates Technical Leadership

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Engineers Federation (INDEF) has called upon the government to urgently implement crucial reforms in the engineering sector to address the welfare of engineers and boost efficiency across engineering departments.

INDEF’s recent proposal urged the government to amend ‘The Indian Service of Engineers’ to establish it as an All India Service (AIS) under the ‘One Nation One Engineering Service Rules’ (ONOESR). They also highlighted the necessity for engineering departments to be headed and managed exclusively by technical officers, along with the formation of a dedicated Engineering Commission.

Referring to the Punchhi Commission’s 2010 report, INDEF underscored the strong recommendation for creating a specialized All India Engineering Service to foster better collaboration between central and state governments. This initiative aims to standardize administration, improve infrastructure development, and ensure uniform regulatory practices nationwide.

INDEF expressed concerns over the growing trend of highly skilled technocrats shifting to corporate sectors or opting for non-technical civil services such as IAS and IPS due to limited growth opportunities and inadequate recognition within technical services. Additionally, factors like slow career progression, inadequate training structures, and disparities in pay scales contribute significantly to talent migration and brain drain.

Citing the report from the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice (August 2023), INDEF emphasized the issue of technical officers increasingly pursuing administrative roles through the Civil Services Examination. The federation argued that enhancing career progression, improving interdepartmental mobility, and offering multidirectional career opportunities could help retain talent within technical services.

Critically, INDEF criticized placing non-technical IAS officers in leadership roles within engineering departments, emphasizing that such practices undermine the efficiency and expertise required for complex engineering projects. The federation requested the central government to ensure and guide states toward appointing qualified engineers to key managerial and secretarial positions, essential for the successful execution and management of engineering projects.

This reform, according to INDEF, is vital to fostering a professional environment that acknowledges and utilizes the full potential of India’s technical talent pool.