The Kerala state administration is actively working on creating a structured mentoring framework for officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) during their probationary period. This initiative follows high-level discussions held last month in a meeting of department secretaries, which was chaired by the Chief Secretary.
Inspired by IPS Model, But with Key Differences
The proposal, which was formally included in the meeting's agenda, aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of providing systematic senior-level guidance to young civil servants in their initial career phase. The discussions referenced the existing mentoring scheme for Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers, a system established as part of training reforms approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Under the IPS model, managed by the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, each trainee is paired with a designated senior officer from their cadre. The Academy's guidelines request Directors General of Police to appoint competent officers to mentor these probationers through district training and the early stages of their service, focusing on areas like investigations, ethical dilemmas, and community relations.
However, officials were quick to clarify that Kerala's exploration for IAS and IFS officers is not an attempt to copy the IPS design entirely. The administrative and policy-centric nature of the civil services demands a distinct, more flexible approach.
A Voluntary and Flexible Framework
According to the minutes of the secretaries' meeting, accessed by The Times of India, any proposed mechanism must be "voluntary and flexible." The envisioned system would rely significantly on virtual interactions where practical and would mandate periodic meetings, possibly quarterly, only if feasible. This calibrated design acknowledges the significant administrative workload senior officers already carry.
A senior official involved in the talks acknowledged the merit of the idea but stressed the need for careful implementation. "Structured mentoring can help probationers navigate demanding first postings and complex policy environments," the official stated. "But a system like this works only when there is clarity on expectations and when officers who serve as mentors have the space to fulfil the role meaningfully." The official emphasized that the framework must avoid overburdening senior bureaucrats.
Next Steps: Drafting a Formal Proposal
Following the deliberations, the Chief Secretary directed the General Administration Department (GAD) to prepare a detailed proposal. This document is expected to outline the methodology for introducing mentoring in Kerala, including criteria for selecting mentors, preferred modes of interaction between mentor and mentee, and the extent of required reporting or documentation.
Once the GAD drafts the proposal, the government will thoroughly examine it before deciding on operationalising any system. While officials indicate that Kerala's final model will likely be "lighter and more adaptive" than the structured IPS counterpart, the core objective remains identical: to provide new officers with a stable support system during the crucial, formative years of their career in public service.
