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Journalism of Courage
Rajasthan’s new Principal Secretary (Energy), Ajitabh Sharma, is grabbing attention on the Internet for a powerful critique of the administrative work culture he has made in a LinkedIn post.
Sharma, a 96-batch IAS officer, questioned the obsession with routine and procedural tasks that, according to him, often eclipse the real, high-impact work government officials are meant to do.“More than 80 per cent of our work is related to attending generic meetings… dealing with transparency laws, sending replies to news clippings, responding to mundane correspondence… I call this ‘Non-Core Work’,” he wrote in his post.
Sharma, in his post, argues that while these tasks are important, they often become all-consuming, leaving little time for what he calls the “Core Work” – the department-specific challenges that actually move the needle in governance. Be it energy, health, agriculture, or urban development, Sharma believes the real impact lies in engaging deeply with these sector-specific missions.
“Getting overwhelmed by the non-core work… would not only give you a false sense of being an ‘Expert Administrator’, but also take your department on a downward slide in service delivery,” he wrote.
Having just taken over as Principal Secretary in Rajasthan’s Energy Department, Sharma has vowed to flip the script.
“The RESOLUTION this time is to reverse the scenario and dedicate 80% of my time to the Core Work!”
The post has struck a chord with bureaucrats, policy professionals, and other users alike, who are applauding the call to focus on meaningful governance over bureaucratic busywork.
One user wrote, “Truly insightful, Sir. It’s rare to come across individuals who can offer such deep and meaningful perspectives—cutting through the noise and focusing on the core aspects that truly matter in our work. In today’s fast-paced environment, many of us are constantly surrounded by surface-level interactions. It’s refreshing and motivating to receive thoughts that inspire us to think deeper and act with more clarity.”
Another LinkedIn user commented, “Your clarity of thought and honest reflection on the real challenges of governance is truly refreshing. The resolve to focus on Core Work says a lot about your commitment and depth as a leader that truly makes a difference!”
