NEW DELHI: Two bureaucrats and one educationist are on the shortlist for the post of chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education. Acting board chairman Vineet Joshi is on top of the list followed by B Anand, joint secretary in the department of AYUSH, ministry of health and family welfare. The third name is that of Poonam Aggarwal of NCERT, who is the lone educationist with 27 years' experience.

The shortlist will now be sent for the approval of the appointments committee of the cabinet.

Within the HRD ministry, Joshi's work as officiating head of CBSE has been appreciated especially the manner in which he delivered on the grading system and making class X examination optional. Anand, on the other hand, was earlier in the HRD ministry in the higher education department.

However, sources pointed out that what can go against Joshi, a 1992 batch Tripura cadre IAS officer, is the fact that he is on deputation for more than 10 years in Delhi. In the past on similar grounds, appointments of officials in HRD were withdrawn because the department of personnel and training (DoPT) had refused to give them extension.

But sources said all efforts would be made to ensure that Joshi gets a full-five year term. "He has been non-controversial, has vision. At a time when CBSE is in the process of introducing major changes in the examination system, we need continuity," a ministry source said.

Aggarwal's credentials are no less. She has held responsible positions in universities in India and abroad. An expert in the field of food and nutrition, she has taught courses at the undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD level in areas of nutritional biochemistry, research methodology, human physiology, nutrition and mental development. An official said, "As an educationist, she is among the best. But examination reform is about administration, something for which she does not have the experience."

source: TOI