Of how the higher echelon works upstairs.

I guess the whole ground echelon was someplace on this one.

In 2003, there was only one female occupying a first echelon position in all Ministries and all non ministerial government institutions, or less than two percent of the entire first echelon position.

Over the years, the grade distribution of posts in those categories, particularly in the upper echelon, has generally remained stable.

The pool of candidates is not restricted to civil servants. Committed, capable and competent persons, within and outside the civil service, can join the top echelon of Government.

The increasing number of women occupying second echelon in all ministries and government institutions has opened wider opportunity for them to represent the country in international or regional sub regional meetings.

Indeed, a financial G 6 may today make more sense than the current G 7, but that may no longer hold true tomorrow. In another 10 years, India may be in the top echelon of economic powers.

The expansion of the Security Council must equip it to face the challenges of the next millennium. An inclusive approach would strengthen it. Any attempt to exclude developing countries from the highest echelon of the Council s membership would weaken its credibility and support for its actions. To us, as to a vast majority, the requirement of an expansion in both the permanent and non permanent categories is self evident.