Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar on November 13, 2026, formally launched One Notch Better, a book authored by retired IAS officer Harmander Singh, who served as Additional Chief Secretary in the Tamil Nadu government.
The launch ceremony, held in Chennai, was attended by several prominent personalities, including retired Madras High Court judge Justice P. Jyothimani and former Tamil Nadu Minister S. Gokula Indira. Justice Jyothimani received the first copy of the book.
Drawing on nearly 35 years of administrative experience, Singh has brought together his professional insights and lessons from public service. He clarified that the publication is not intended to be an autobiography or a conventional memoir, but rather a compilation of knowledge gained through his diverse administrative assignments.
Who Is Harmander Singh?
Harmander Singh is a retired 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. He superannuated on October 31, 2022, after a distinguished career spanning more than three decades in public administration.During his service, he held several important positions across district administration, urban governance and key departments of the Tamil Nadu government.
An academic background in science and public policy further complemented his administrative experience. Singh holds an M.Sc. in Botany and a postgraduate diploma in Democratisation, Public Policy and Governance.
His career involved handling responsibilities in diverse sectors, including transport, healthcare, textiles, sericulture, municipal administration and urban infrastructure.
From Sub-Collector to Additional Chief Secretary: His Administrative Career
Singh began his career in Tamil Nadu as Sub-Collector of Dharapuram.
He subsequently moved into senior administrative assignments, including serving as District Collector in several districts, notably Dindigul.Over the years, he occupied leadership positions in multiple departments and public institutions.Some of his significant administrative responsibilities included:
* District Administration: Served as District Collector, including in Dindigul, and handled various district-level governance responsibilities.
* Sericulture Department: Headed the department, overseeing initiatives related to the development of the sericulture sector.
* Transport Department: Held senior administrative responsibilities in the state’s transport sector.
* Health Department: Served in the department, contributing to healthcare administration.
* Handlooms and Textiles Department: Served as Secretary, handling departmental policies and programmes concerning the textile and weaving sectors.
* Municipal Administration and Water Supply: Held senior responsibilities in a department dealing with urban local bodies, sanitation, water supply and municipal governance.
His professional experience also extended to urban development, solid waste management and the implementation of environmental and public infrastructure initiatives.
What Is Harmander Singh’s Book ‘One Notch Better’ About?
At the book launch, Singh explained that One Notch Better is not a chronological narration of his personal or professional life.
Instead, the publication reflects the administrative understanding, practical knowledge and lessons he accumulated while working in different capacities within the Tamil Nadu government.
His experiences across multiple departments and challenging assignments have shaped the perspectives presented in the book. The publication seeks to share these insights beyond the confines of government offices and make them accessible to people interested in public administration and governance.
Singh also reflected on his early association with Tamil Nadu. Originally from New Delhi, he recalled arriving in Dharapuram at the beginning of his administrative career without imagining that the state would eventually become his home.
Over the years, his professional and personal connections with Tamil Nadu grew stronger. He noted that Chennai had become home for his family, with his children also settling in the city.
What Did Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar Say?
Addressing the gathering, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar highlighted the important role played by civil servants who serve in states away from their places of origin.
He observed that India’s constitutional and administrative framework enables officers from different regions to contribute to the development and governance of the states in which they are posted.
Prabhakar also acknowledged Singh’s contributions across several government departments, emphasising the value of experienced administrators sharing their knowledge and professional insights. He noted that such documentation could help strengthen administrative understanding and benefit future generations of public servants.
Justice P. Jyothimani Highlights Singh’s Environmental Contributions
Retired Madras High Court judge Justice P. Jyothimani, who received the first copy of the book, described it as a potentially valuable reference for future administrators.Recounting his professional association with Singh, Justice Jyothimani highlighted the retired officer’s contributions to environmental issues.
He particularly recalled Singh’s role in implementing court directions relating to waste management, including garbage segregation. Such initiatives, he indicated, demonstrated the importance of effective administrative execution in translating judicial directions into practical outcomes.
Former Minister S. Gokula Indira Recalls His Work in the Handlooms Department
Former Tamil Nadu Minister S. Gokula Indira also shared her experiences of working with Singh during his tenure in the Handlooms and Textiles Department.
She appreciated his administrative guidance and support in departmental decision-making, particularly concerning the participation of local weavers in the government’s free dhoti and saree distribution scheme.
Her remarks highlighted Singh’s engagement with welfare-oriented programmes and the importance of involving traditional weaving communities in government initiatives.
A Legacy of Administrative Experience and Knowledge-Sharing
The launch of One Notch Better represents an effort to preserve and share the practical knowledge accumulated through decades of public service.For retired civil servants, documenting administrative experiences can offer valuable perspectives on policymaking, institutional functioning and the challenges of governance.
Through this publication, Harmander Singh seeks to extend the benefits of his administrative experience to a wider audience, particularly aspiring administrators, serving officers and readers interested in public policy and governance.
