MEOs urge Minister Lokesh to effect transfers at earliest
In a letter to the Minister, State President Samala Simhachalam said many MEO-1s have been serving in the same post since 2017, despite norms allowing transfers after five years. Addressing the media on Sunday, Simhachalam noted that while transfers have been carried out in several departments under the new government, MEOs have been overlooked. He said the association had recently met Lokesh, who responded positively to their request.
The association highlighted the lack of self-drawing powers for MEO-1s, which they said hampers administrative efficiency. State Chief Secretary Ravi Nayak Buxa joined Simhachalam in urging prompt government action. It expressed hope that Lokesh would solve both the transfer backlog and financial autonomy issues.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Push services-oriented trade deal with US: Niti Aayog
AI image NEW DELHI: Building on the model of the India-UK agreement, India should pursue a services-oriented trade deal with the US, placing strong emphasis on key sectors, such as information technology, financial services, professional services, and education, the govt's policy think tank Niti Aayog said in a report. "The agreement should include robust provisions for digital trade, creating a framework for enhanced cross-border service delivery," the think tank's quarterly trade watch report said, while recommending policy measures to boost services trade. The report, released on Monday, said India must advocate for improved visa access for its professionals, particularly under H-1B and L-1 categories. "This should include provisions for intra-corporate transferees and independent service providers, which are crucial for maintaining India's competitive edge in the global services industry," the report said. It noted that with growing global demand for digital data services, India should seek firm market access commitments from the US in high-growth areas, such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, telecom, and design services. "Leveraging India's strengths in these sectors can help increase bilateral trade and innovation-led growth," the report added. The report highlighted that regulatory barriers, such as inconsistent data compliance and intellectual property concerns hinder Indian service exports. "Joint efforts between India and the US are needed to simplify licensing procedures and address cross-border data flow issues, enabling smoother market access for Indian firms," it stated. To expand opportunities, the report suggested that India should push for broader mutual recognition agreements that cover a wider range of professions, including engineers, architects, and healthcare workers. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India.com
11 hours ago
- India.com
Big boost for army as India plans to develop suicide drone with range of 900 km, check its Pinaka connection, bad news for China, Pakistan due to...
Suicide drone- Representative image India's long-range hitting capabilities: In a significant development strengthening India's long-range hitting capabilities, India, under the leadership of PM Modi is developing a long-range suicide drone with a range of over 900 km for precision strikes deep into enemy territory. In the recent Make In India push, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) had invited technical and commercial bids from several companies. As a part of the process Solar Industries, the companies associated with Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system scored 80.30, outperforming others like Bharat Dynamics (78.62), Rafael MFHB (76.78), and Bharat Electronics (73.43). Therefore, CSIR-NAL will now proceed with a joint collaboration with the company to develop the drone. Why Indian Army wants suicide drone? Notably, the Indian Army and Air Force have shown strong interest in acquiring large numbers of these drones to bolster their offensive and defensive capabilities and with this step, the dream is going to come true. How will India use kamikaze-style drones? These kamikaze-style drones will carry explosives and use advanced targeting to hit high-value targets, with the Army and Air Force showing strong interest. Deployment is expected in the coming years to boost India's defense capabilities. PM Modi inaugurated Solar Defence and Aerospace's Loitering Munition Test Range In another related development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Loitering Munition Test Range of Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, which is supplying the Nagastra-1 'suicide drone' and key components of the Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System to the Indian Army, in Nagpur. 'I visited the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited facility in Nagpur and inaugurated the Loitering Munition Test Range. This will significantly boost self-reliance in the defence sector,' PM Modi said in a post on X. The agreement, formalised during the World Economic Forum in Davos, envisages a project, with an investment of approximately Rs 12,700 crore, will focus on expanding production capabilities in critical defence products such as drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), counter-drone systems, energetic materials, and next-generation explosives. (With inputs from agencies)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
20 hours ago
- Business Standard
11 million US visa backlog crushes Indian H-1B, green card dreams: Decoded
The United States is now sitting on an immigration backlog of 11.3 million pending cases—its highest ever—following a surge of 1.6 million cases in the second quarter of financial year 2025, covering January to March. This is the first major dataset published since Donald Trump returned to office, and comes from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) portal. USCIS processed just 2.7 million cases during the quarter, down from 3.3 million during the same period last year. Compared to the previous quarter alone, completions fell by 12 per cent. One of the more striking developments is the return of a 'frontlog' — over 34,000 cases were waiting to be opened or assigned, a scenario not seen in more than a year. Key forms are taking longer than ever Form I-129 (used for H-1B and L-1 employment-based visas): Median processing time jumped 25 per cent from the previous quarter, and 80 per cent year-on-year. Form I-90 (green card replacements): Wait time surged from 0.8 months to over 8 months within one quarter, marking a 938 per cent increase. Form I-765 (work permits): Pending initial applications rose 87 per cent. Total pending forms—across renewals and reissues—now exceed 2 million, up from 1.2 million. Net backlog for I-765s (cases outside processing norms): Up by nearly 181 per cent. There was some movement in the other direction for Form I-129s, which saw a 75 per cent drop in net backlog from the previous quarter. However, applications under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme declined by over 8,000. What this means for employers and foreign workers For foreign nationals on temporary work visas and their employers, the delays are already making daily operations uncertain. 'In some cases, candidates may not be authorised to enter the US or start work when anticipated. For employees currently maintaining status, adjudication delays may lead to a lapse in work authorisation or an inability to travel internationally,' Blake Miller, partner at Fragomen, a US-based immigration law firm told Business Standard. 'Ultimately, delayed processing causes uncertainty for employers around their workforce and for visa holders' ongoing employment and lawful immigration status.' Charles Kuck, founding partner at Kuck Baxter in Atlanta, put it bluntly: 'In simple words, people cannot start their jobs, companies cannot begin projects and growth, and visa holders cannot relocate.' 'It's all intentional,' he told Business Standard. Michael Wildes, managing partner at WILDES & WEINBERG PC, said delays now affect both first-time petitions and extensions. 'Backlogs can significantly delay approvals for both initial petitions and extensions, creating uncertainty for employers and foreign workers alike.' Indian green card applicants could face even longer waits For Indian nationals, the situation is compounded by the existing per-country limits for green cards. In FY2023, about 73 per cent of approved H-1Bs (new and continuing) were to Indian-born workers. Approximately 78,070 received lawful permanent residence (a green card). 'Indian green card applicants, already facing long wait times due to per-country limits, may see even further delays in adjudication of adjustment of status or consular interviews. These delays can affect work authorisation renewals and create added stress for families waiting to reunite,' Wildes told Business Standard. Miller pointed out that those already in the US on other visas such as the H-1B might not feel the pinch immediately. 'In many cases, delays in green card adjudications—whether through adjustment of status or consular processing—do not immediately affect individuals who hold another form of US immigration status or work authorisation.' Kuck noted that consular processing is slowing dramatically, adding, 'The data reflects a troubling slowdown in processing that undermines predictability and transparency in the immigration system.' Blame on staff cuts, enforcement shift, and new policies 'The Trump administration has told USCIS to slow down processing of cases,' Kuck said. 'Predictably, the system has quickly developed massive backlogs. By the end of 2028, we will pine for the days of a functioning legal immigration system because it will effectively not exist by the end of the Trump term.' He attributed the growing backlog to a mix of policy choices: 'Starting with the staff reductions ordered at the USCIS (which is funded by user fees, not tax dollars), followed by seeking 'volunteers' from USCIS to assist ICE in enforcement efforts, which then leads to the administration's effort to find fraud in every application, slowing down processing times.' 'There is zero per cent chance that processing times will speed up at any time under this administration,' Kuck said. Workarounds and suggestions for Indian applicants Some applicants are choosing to pay extra for premium processing, where available. 'Some employers may choose to use premium processing, when available, to help ensure timely adjudication of petitions,' said Miller. However, that may not be enough. 'Unless there is a meaningful increase in staffing, technological efficiency, or congressional support, delays are likely to persist,' said Wildes. He added, 'The backlog is largely driven by a combination of insufficient staffing, outdated processing systems, and inconsistent policy shifts that strain agency resources. Budgetary constraints and rising application volumes compound the problem.' For those still planning to apply for work, study or family-based immigration, Wildes suggested exploring more than one pathway: 'For those with flexibility, exploring multiple pathways—including consular routes or alternate visa categories—can help mitigate risk.' Kuck had a more candid list of dos and don'ts for Indian applicants: • Get a good, experienced lawyer who will tell you the truth • Listen to your lawyer • Be prepared for long delays at USCIS and the consulate • Always bring a lawyer with you to interviews
