20 Tripura Secretariat Officers Deputed to BIPARD, Gaya for Four-Day In-Service Training, Questions Raised Over Selection Process

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 20, 2026

The General Administration (Personnel & Training) Department of the Government of Tripura has issued an order deputing 20 officials of the Tripura Secretariat Service to attend a four-day in-service training programme at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development Located in Gaya, Bihar. This state government training agency specializes in training officials on public administration, rural development, e-governance, and management.

The training will be held from February 24 to 27, 2026, following a proposal submitted by the State Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (SIPARD). The officials have been directed to leave Agartala on February 23, 2026, and return on February 28, 2026, after completion of the programme or on the actual date of completion of their to-and-fro journey, whichever is earlier. The officers will travel by air for the official tour.

According to the order, a total of 20 officers have been nominated for the training. In addition, a waiting list of five officers has also been prepared and enclosed as Annexure-I to the official order.

According to the state secretariat sources, the in-service training programme is aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency, strengthening governance capacity, and upgrading the professional skills of Secretariat-level officers. BIPARD (Bihar Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development), Gaya, is known for conducting capacity-building programmes for government officials from different states.

Sources also said that such exposure visits and structured training modules are generally intended to improve policy implementation, public service delivery, and administrative coordination within the state machinery.

However, questions have reportedly emerged regarding the selection process of the nominated officials. Sources indicate that the SIPARD and Secretariat administration did not strictly follow seniority norms while selecting officers for the out-of-state training.

Some officials have raised concerns that the nomination process lacked transparency and did not clearly reflect either seniority criteria or the necessity of specific officers requiring such training outside the state. It has also been alleged that no publicly known benchmark, such as pending promotion, specialization needs, or departmental performance parameters was cited while finalizing the list.

Though the order was issued in pursuance of SIPARD’s proposal and with the approval of the State Government, the debate over the selection methodology has triggered discussions within administrative circles.

No official clarification has yet been issued regarding the criteria adopted for nomination.

The development is likely to draw further attention in the coming days as stakeholders seek clarity on whether future training nominations will follow a more structured and transparent framework.

Notably, the following officers have been selected to attend the training:

Shri Samarjit Sinha, O/o Chief Secretary, Shri Bhajan Debnath, Law Department, Shri Saibal Datta , GA (P&T) Department, Smt. Rupali Das (SC), GA (SA), Department, Shri Budhuroy Debbarma (ST), Revenue Department, Shri Rajesh Das (No.2) (SC), GA (SA) Department, Shri Diwaja Singha Jamatia (ST), Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Shri Amit Debbarma (ST), Finance Department (Estt. Branch) Shri Saikat Kumar Das (SC), Transport Department, Shri Bimal Das (SC), Finance Department (General Branch), Shri Ramen Roy Choudhury (SC), Revenue Department Shri Apurba Debbarma (ST), Law Department, Shri Sushil Debbarma (ST), GA (AR) Department, Shri Elvis Hrangkhawl (ST), GA (P&T) Department, Shri Shantanu Debbarma (ST), Transport Department, Shri Pinaki Chakma (ST), GA (SA) Department Smt. Joylo Debbarma (ST), Revenue Department Shri Lal Vula Betu (ST), GA (P&T) Department, Smt. Sharmistha Debbarma (ST), RD Department and Shri Sanjib Debbarma (ST), GA (AR) Department.

The following five officers have been kept in the waiting list:

Shri Rajesh Das (No.1) (SC), Transport Department, Shri Dulal Choudhuri (SC), GA (P&T) Department, Shri Badal Sarkar (SC), GA (SA) Department, Shri Sanjit Kumar Das (SC), Transport Department, Shri Samir Debbarma (ST), Finance Department (Budget Branch).

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