The central government on Monday (23.10.2023) granted approval for the voluntary retirement of VK Pandian (IAS:2000:OD), an Odisha cadre IAS officer who currently holds the position of Private Secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Department of Personnel and Training has transmitted an official communication to the additional chief secretary of Odisha’s general administration department regarding this decision.
“In reference to letter No.GAD-SER1-PERS-0100-2014 dated 20.10.2023 from Government of Odisha on the above mentioned subject, I am directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for acceptance of voluntary retirement of Shri V Kartikeya Pandian, IAS(OD-2000) under Rule 16(2A) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement benefits) Rules, 1958 with waiver of the notice period as recommended by the State Government,” reads the Centre’s letter.
Pandian, who has been serving in his current capacity since 2011 and wields significant influence within the political landscape of Odisha, recently gained public attention due to his extensive travels to various districts within the state utilizing a government helicopter. Both the opposition parties, the BJP and Congress, have criticized Pandian, a native of Tamil Nadu, for alleged violations of service conditions.
REC Limited has achieved a significant milestone by securing a coveted position in the esteemed Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Global Standard Index, effective from September 1, 2023,
A recent report by Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research underlined REC’s strong potential as a contender for the November 2023 review. Projections from Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research suggest that REC could witness inflows of approximately $184 Million.
The inclusion of REC in the MSCI index solidifies its standing as a key player in the financial sector and the broader market. This achievement not only expands REC’s global reach but also highlights its remarkable influence and reputation on an international scale.
It is noteworthy that the value of REC’s stock has more than doubled over the past year, surging from Rs 100.20 on August 10, 2022, to Rs 216.65 on August 10, 2023.
The MSCI Global Standard Index, crafted by MSCI Inc., comprises a series of international equity indexes widely employed by investors, fund managers, and financial experts to gauge the performance of global equity markets.
The MSCI Global Standard Index is a comprehensive collection of international equity indexes developed by MSCI Inc. These indexes serve as a prominent benchmark utilized by investors, fund managers, and financial experts for assessing and gauging the performance of global equity markets.
The Union government on Sunday notified the appointment of new Chief Justices in six High Courts. The Ministry of Law and Justice notified the appointment of six high courts namely Delhi, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Gauhati.
Following judges have been appointed as Chief Justices of 6 different high courts:
Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, has been transferred to Delhi High Court as Chief Justice.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Telangana High Court has been elevated as the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court.
Justice Amjad Ahtesham Sayed of Bombay High Court has been appointed as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court.
Justice Vipin Sanghi, Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court has been appointed as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court.
Justice Shinde Sambhaji Shiwaji of Bombay High Court has been appointed as Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court.
Justice Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya of Gujarat High Court has been appointed as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court.
Kunal Kashyap(IRS-C&CE:2008), currently serving as Commissioner (Housing) in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), has been prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on March 27, the competent authority has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to repatriate him to his parent cadre to avail the benefit of promotion.
Kunal Kashyap has been serving in the position since February 2024. His two-year extended tenure was to expire in November 2027, but he has been repatriated earlier.
Before joining the DDA, he served as Chief Assessor & Collector in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
The Karnataka High Court has asked the state government to grant the necessary approval to prosecute the controversial senior IAS officer, Rohini Sindhuri (IAS:2009:KN), in the eco-friendly bags procurement case. Sindhuri was Mysuru’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) and MD of Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) at the time when the scam took place.
While asking the state govt for prosecution approval, Justice M. Nagaprasanna noted that on the basis of material placed on record, the spectre of corruption once raised must be allowed to unfold through the process of investigation to ascertain the truth.
The petitioner, NR Ravinchandre Gowda, had filed the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act seeking prosecution of Sindhuri, alleging that a Rs 7.5 crore loss was caused to the state govt in the purchase of eco-friendly bags in 2021. Reddy alleged that under a solid waste management project, eco-friendly bags were procured for various local bodies in the Mysuru district by paying Rs 52 per bag against the prevailing market rate of Rs 13 and filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) seeking action against Sindhuri.
But the state govt declined permission to prosecute her on Sept 19, 2022, following which Gowda challenged it in the High Court.
The High Court had directed the state govt on Feb 20, 2025, to consider the request afresh. But the govt again declined approval on May 26, 2025, saying the officer was exonerated in the departmental inquiry proceedings.
It forced Gowda to approach the High Court again, on which the court observed that departmental proceedings and criminal prosecution are governed by distinct standards of proof and objectives, and the closure of one does not ipso facto extinguish the other.
The judge also remarked that the govt, instead of undertaking a meaningful re-evaluation, chose to reiterate its earlier position, and in the circumstances, a further remand would only prolong the process.
Umme Fardina Adil (IRS-IT:2013), who was recommended for central deputation by the Department of Revenue, has been selected for appointment as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs(DEA) for four years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (March 30, 2026), the competent authority has approved her appointment to the post for a period of four years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The central deputation tenure of IAS officer Mangesh Ghildiyal(IAS:2012:UK) as Director in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has been extended for one year.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on March 27, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal to extend his deputation tenure by one year beyond March 31, 2026, that is, up to March 31, 2027 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Mangesh Ghildiyal has been serving in the PMO since October 1, 2020, when he joined as Under Secretary for a period of five years.
He was later promoted to Deputy Secretary and subsequently to Director level.
Before completion of his tenure in September 2025, his tenure was extended for six months from October 1, 2025 up to March 31, 2026.
Now, his tenure has been further extended up to March 31, 2027.
Sunil Kumar (IRAS:1995) has been given a one-year extension as Additional Registrar General in the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on March 26, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs. His tenure has been extended beyond May 7, 2026 for one year or until further orders.
He has been serving in this post since August 2024.
Earlier, he was appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in April 2019 for five years. He took charge on May 7, 2019. He completed his deputation and was relieved from the ministry on May 7, 2024.
After that, in August 2024, he was appointed in the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. His deputation was treated as a combined tenure of seven years till May 7, 2026.
Now, his tenure has been extended by one more year.
Chanchal Kumar IAS is a senior IAS officer who has recently been appointed as the Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This is a very important role, as the ministry handles media, communication, and information across the country.
A 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre, Kumar brings with him more than three decades of administrative experience spanning grassroots governance, state administration and key assignments at the Centre.
Chanchal Kumar IAS – Biography (Quick Facts)
Full Name: Chanchal Kumar
Service: Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Batch: 1992
Cadre: Bihar
Date of Birth: July 6, 1969
Age: Around 56 years (as of 2025)
Birthplace: Madhubani, Bihar
Chanchal Kumar Biography and Age
Talking about Chanchal Kumar Biography, he was born on July 6, 1969, in Madhubani district of Bihar. Based on this, Chanchal Kumar Age is around 56 years (as of 2025).
He completed his early education in his village and later went for higher studies. He is highly educated and has studied at top institutions.
Chanchal Kumar Education and Marks
Chanchal Kumar studied B.Tech and M.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Kanpur. Later, he completed a Master’s degree in Economics from Duke University (USA) and also earned a PhD from Patna University.
Although exact Chanchal Kumar Marks are not publicly available, his academic journey shows that he has always been a bright and hardworking student.
Chanchal Kumar Batch and Career
Chanchal Kumar Batch is 1992, and he belongs to the Bihar cadre. He joined the IAS at a very young age of just 22 years, which shows his early success. His early career was rooted in field administration, beginning as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Supaul. He went on to serve as District Magistrate in key districts including Kaimur, Bokaro (now in Jharkhand), East Champaran and Nalanda, handling critical governance and development responsibilities.
He also served as Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) in Katihar and Palamu, gaining significant experience in rural development and district-level planning.
Career Highlights
Joined IAS at the age of 22
Started as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Supaul
Served as District Magistrate in multiple districts (Kaimur, Bokaro, East Champaran, Nalanda)
Worked as Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) in Katihar & Palamu
Held key roles in Bihar CM Office under Nitish Kumar
Served as Principal Secretary (2016–2022)
Work in Bihar Government
A major phase of his career was spent in the Chief Minister’s Office in Bihar under Nitish Kumar. Over the years, he held several key roles including Special Secretary, Secretary and Principal Secretary. As Principal Secretary between 2016 and 2022, he played a central role in policy formulation, governance reforms and administrative coordination.
In addition to his role in the CMO, Kumar also served as Principal Secretary in important departments such as General Administration and Building Construction, where he handled core governance and infrastructure-related matters.
Central Government Roles
At the central level, Chanchal Kumar IAS has worked in many important roles. He served as the Managing Director of NHIDCL from 2022 to 2023, where he handled major infrastructure projects. He also worked as an Officer on Special Duty in the Civil Aviation Ministry.
Apart from this, he held roles in the Ministries of Commerce and Railways. In 2023, he was appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), where he focused on development and connectivity projects in the Northeast region.
Central Government Roles
Managing Director, NHIDCL (2022–2023)
Officer on Special Duty, Civil Aviation Ministry
Worked in Commerce and Railways Ministries
Secretary, Ministry of DoNER (2023)
Chanchal Kumar IAS Posting (Current)
As per the latest update, Chanchal Kumar IAS Posting is Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This is one of the most important positions in the government.
Chanchal Kumar Wife and Family
There is very limited public information available about Chanchal Kumar Wife and family, as he keeps his personal life private.
Chanchal Kumar IAS is known for his strong education and long administrative experience. From working at the ground level to handling top government positions, his journey is very inspiring. His new role in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry will be important, especially in today’s fast-changing media world.
In an important development involving the Telangana bureaucracy, senior IAS officer Jayesh Ranjan (IAS:1992:TG), currently posted as Special Chief Secretary of the Information Technology, Electronics, and Communication departments, was issued contempt notices by the High Court on Tuesday. The contempt of court notices have been issued to Ranjan in connection with a writ petition questioning the government’s new advertising policy of 2026.
The contempt case was filed by M/s Telangana Outdoor Media Owners Association and three others, alleging that the government had wilfully disobeyed the HC order in a writ petition it had filed.
High Court Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar has directed the IAS officer to appear before it in person or through an advocate on April 9 and explain the government’s stand in the matter.
According to the association, the High Court had instructed the IAS officer to consider the representations of outdoor media owners and give them a fair hearing before deciding on the advertising policy. The petition alleges that the government finalised the policy without considering their representations on points such as permitting advertising hoardings on private buildings.
The association has argued that the govt’s decision led to serious ramifications for the livelihood of lakhs of people who depended on outdoor media and advertising-related works and the installation of hoardings.
The new breed of bureaucrats looks for a sense of purpose in an occupation rather than getting a handsome salary and an exalted position in society and gets disillusioned when they develop a feeling of being deprived of it. This seems to have exactly happened to Uttar Pradesh IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahi (IAS:2022:UP), who resigned from the elite service on Tuesday, alleging he was being denied an opportunity to serve the people.
He alleged that he had not been given any ‘meaningful’ posting for a prolonged period and was thus denied the opportunity to serve the public, although he continued receiving salary.
The Rahi claimed he was kept in an “attached” position, which he disliked.
He was nearly killed after assailants shot at him multiple times when he busted a major scam in his department when he was posted with the Welfare Department in Muzaffarnagar as a Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer before cracking the UPSC exam.
On July 28, 2025, he was appointed as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Puwayan, Shahjahanpur, but was removed from his post just after 36 hours of assuming charge.
Similarly, Rahi was transferred and attached to the U.P. Revenue Board after a video of him doing sit-ups amid a protest by lawyers in Shahjahanpur went viral on social media.
As Rahi belongs to the Dalit community, it gave Nagina Lok Sabha MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad an opportunity to raise questions over the treatment given to the officer, saying a Dalit IAS officer was forced to quit due to neglect. It raises a question mark on the system.
Azad even took to X to post his comment on it. He wrote, “Rinku Singh Rahi, a Dalit, resigns not as a personal decision by an officer but as a serious question mark on the entire administrative system.
Azad mentions that Rahi endured seven bullet wounds in a deadly attack and yet remained committed to public service within the system. Azad claims the IAS officer was denied work and that this neglect led him to resign.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) approved a large number of appointments at the Additional Secretary level, triggering a significant reshuffle across key ministries and departments of the Government of India.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
1. Puneet Kansal (IAS:1996:SK), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation by temporarily upgrading a vacant post of Joint Secretary in the Ministry.
2. Mona K. Khandar (IAS:1996:GJ), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
3. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai (IAS:1996:MP), Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training.
4. Vir Vikram Yadav (IAS:1996:OR), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, has been appointed as Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary vice Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai upon his appointment as Additional Secretary, DoPT.
5. Gyanendra D. Tripathi (IAS:1998:AM), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education and Secretary, ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
6. Vishal Gagan (IAS:1998:OR), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Central Information Commission in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
7. N. Gulzar (IAS:AP:1999), Additional Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, has been appointed as Member Secretary, National Capital Region Planning Board, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
8. Diwakar Nath Misra (IAS:AM:2000), Additional Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power.
9. Debasish Prusty (IRTS:2000), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.
10. Sridhar Chirvolu (IAS:2001:BH), Joint Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office.
11. Arti Kanwar (IAS:2001:GJ), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles vice Rohit Kansal upon his appointment as Secretary, Department of Rural Development.
12. Darpan Jain (IAS:2001:KN), Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
13. Lokhande Prashant Sitaram (IAS:2001:AGMUT), Joint Secretary, Department of Home, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs.
14. Ankita Mishra Bundela (IAS:2001:AGMUT), Joint Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
15. Vijay Nehra (IAS:2001:GJ), Joint Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare.
16. Siddharth Jain (IAS:2001:AP), Joint Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation.
17. Neetu Kumari Prasad (IAS:2001:TG), Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance vice Diwakar Nath Misra upon his appointment as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power.
18. Anuj Sharma (IDES:1991), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs.
19. Meenaxi Rawat (IES:1993), CVO, BPCL, has been appointed as Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
20. Ansumann Pattnaik (IRS-IT:1994), Director General, Competition Commission of India, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
21. Yashvir Singh (IES:1996), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce by temporarily upgrading a vacant post of DS/Director.
22. Nigar Fatma Husain (IDES:1996), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
23. Aparna Bhatia (IES:1996), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
24. Hari Har Mishra (IDAS:1998), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services by temporarily upgrading a vacant post of Joint Secretary.
25. Veena Kumari Dermal (IPoS:1998), presently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines vice Shri Sanjay Lohiya upon his appointment as Special Secretary, Department of Financial Services.
In-situ Upgradation
Sarita Chauhan Chand (IAS:1999:AGMUT), Joint Secretary, DARPG, has been upgraded in-situ as Additional Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances.
Pankaj Yadav (IAS:2001:HY), Joint Secretary, Department of Rural Development, has been upgraded in-situ as Additional Secretary, Department of Rural Development.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) Tuesday (March 31, 2026) approved a series of key appointments and reshuffles at the Secretary level across various ministries and departments in the Government of India.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
Nivedita Shukla Verma (IAS:1991:UP), Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. She will also hold additional charge as Secretary, Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare.
Chanchal Kumar (IAS:1992:BH), Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
Narendra Bhooshan (IAS:1992:UP), currently serving in the cadre as Additional Chief Secretary, Energy & Additional Energy Source Deptt & Technical Education, Uttar Pradesh, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
Chandra Sekhar Kumar (IAS:1992:OR), Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, in the rank and pay of Secretary.
Sanjay Jaju (IAS:1992:TG), Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region(DoNER) vice Chanchal Kumar (IAS:1992:BH).
Srivatsa Krishna (IAS:1994:KN), Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs in place of Chandra Sekhar Kumar (IAS:1992:OR).
Tejveer Singh (IAS:1994:PB), currently serving in the cadre as Additional Chief Secretary, Technical Education & Industrial Training, Punjab, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals in place of Nivedita Shukla Verma (IAS:1991:UP) upon her new assignment.
Sanjay Lohiya (IAS:1994:AM), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, has been appointed as Special Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance by temporarily upgrading a vacant post of Joint Secretary. He will take over as Secretary, Department of Financial Services after the superannuation of Nagaraju Maddirala (IAS:1993:TR) on May 31, 2026.
Rohit Kansal (IAS:1995:AGMUT), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development vice Shailesh Kumar Singh (IAS:1991:JH) upon his superannuation on March 31, 2026.
Bharat Harbanslal Khera (IAS: 1995:HP), Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the rank and pay of Secretary. He will take over as Secretary, MSME after the superannuation of Subhas Chandra Lal Das (IAS: 1992:AGMUT) on April 30, 2026.
Abhishek Singh (IAS:1995:NL), Director General, National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and IT, has been appointed as Director General, National Testing Agency (NTA), Ministry of Education, in the rank and pay of Secretary by temporarily upgrading the post.
Bhuvnesh Kumar (IAS:1995:UP), Chief Executive Officer, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism vice Srivatsa Krishna (IAS:1994:KN).
In addition, the ACC has approved in-situ upgradation of the following officers to the level of Special Secretary in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India as a measure personal to them:
Sanjay Rastogi (IAS:1991:OR), Director General, National Archives of India, Ministry of Culture, has been upgraded and designated as Director General, National Archives of India in the rank and pay of Secretary.
Sajjan Singh Yadav (IAS: 1995:AGMUT), Additional Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has been upgraded as Special Secretary, Department of Expenditure.
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