PM breaks the ice with secretaries, bowls them over

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, true to his style, opened a direct channel of communication with the country's top bureaucrats on Thursday. In a meeting of almost three hours and well into late evening, Modi is learnt to have clearly indicated to the secretaries (77 of them were present) that he's a hands-on prime minister.

The secretaries Business Standard spoke to said it was an upbeat experience for them. They could speak to the PM on any matter whenever there was a problem - on phone, email or through face-to-face interaction - Modi assured them, calling each by his name. Modi also recounted his first day in the Prime Minister's Office, saying he walked the corridors, greeting officials and catching a glimpse into their files.