Samir Chandra Saxena has been selected for appointment as Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on January 30, 2025. Presently, he is serving as Director (Market Operation), Grid-India.
He will be appointed to the post of Chairman & Managing Director after receiving vigilance clearances and approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The following 3 applicants were interviewed in the selection meeting:
Rajiv Kumar Porwal, Director (System Operation), Grid Controller Of India Limited (Grid-India)
Samir Chandra Saxena, Director (Market Operation), Grid Controller Of India Limited (Grid-India)
Manoj Kumar Agrawal, Executive Director, (SP&M, C&M, Renewable Energy), Grid Controller Of India Limited (Grid-India
The Central Board of Direct Taxes on Thursday (30.01.2025) issued orders appointing 82 officers to the grade of Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (CCIT) for panel year 2024 on in-situ basis.
Amit Meena (IAS:2011:KL), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, has been re-designated as Director. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (30.01.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Meena ’s post to Director level with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the re-designated post, and for a period up to March 30, 2026 i.e. total tenure of five years under the central staffing scheme.
It is noteworthy that Amit Meena began his central deputation tenure on March 31, 2021.
Poonam Meena (IRS-C&IT:2011), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has been re-designated as Director. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (30.01.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Meena ’s post to Director level with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the re-designated post, and for a period up to January 26, 2027 i.e. total tenure of five years under the central staffing scheme.
It is noteworthy that Poonam Meena began her central deputation tenure on January 27, 2022.
It is an amazing story of a government waking up after several years of slumber, only to spring a surprise through a ludicrous action. It happened in Gujarat recently, where an IPS officer was promoted after several years of his retirement. IPS officer Narendra K Amin, who retired as Superintendent of Police (SP) in 2017, was given a notional promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) on January 21, this year. That too, more than a year after a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) ordered it.
The Home Department’s notification says that Amin, a 2003-batch IPS, was granted Junior Administrative Grade Level-12 from January 1, 2012 and Selection Grade to Level-13 from January 1, 2016. “Dr NK Amin, the then Superintendent of Police, Mahisagar, is hereby promoted to Deputy Inspector General of Police Level-13A with effect from January 1, 2017, on notional basis,” the notification reads.
One of the key accused in the alleged fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan, Amin was under suspension for nearly eight years. He was brought back into the police service in 2015. However, he stepped down from his post two years later.
Himachal Pradesh does not need any new IAS or IPS officer in the state. This is what the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Himachal government has told the central government by flatly refusing to bring IAS and IPS officers to the state from the Centre. This development took place after the central government asked the state government as to how many new IAS and IPS officers it needed. The state government has denied the need for any.
Not only this, CM Sukhu has even cancelled the file related to the demand of IAS and IPS officers to be brought to the state. The most plausible reason being given for such a decision is to reduce the burden on the expenditure incurred in maintaining the bureaucracy.
In fact, the personnel department of the central government asks from the states every year for their requirements of IAS and IPS officers, so that they could be provided to the state.
It is not the first time that such a demand has been placed before the Chief Minister. But many previous governments in the past tried to take this decision for the same reason – to reduce the burden of bureaucracy – but they could not muster the courage.
Similar attempt was also made by the Shanta Kumar government, but he could not refuse under the pressure of the state bureaucracy. But Sukhu has shown the guts of saying no.
Senior IPS officer Vineet Vinayak (IPS:1995:SK) has been appointed as the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for five years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (28.01.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment Mr. Vinayak to the post for five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Known for his integrity and efficiency, Mr. Vinayak has held several key positions, including a tenure of over seven years in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He was appointed as Joint Director of the CBI in April 2016 and was relieved from the agency in August 2023 after the Supreme Court granted permission for his repatriation to his parent cadre, Sikkim.
During his tenure at the CBI, Vinayak was involved in several high-profile investigations, including the Aircel-Maxis and Coal Block allocation cases. Notably, while he was investigating the coal block case, the Supreme Court ruled that no officer involved in the probe could be transferred without its approval. To facilitate his and other officers’ return to their parent cadre, the CBI had to seek clearance from the apex court.
Before his central postings, Vinayak served in Bihar for nine years on inter-cadre deputation from Sikkim. He held several key roles, including Central Range DIG in Patna, as well as SP of Khagaria and Nalanda, and SSP of Patna.
His appointment to NCB marks a significant step in his distinguished career in law enforcement, particularly in combating drug trafficking and organized crime.
The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday (29.01.2025) appointed senior IPS officer Harish Kumar Gupta (IPS:1992:AP) as new Director General of Police (DGP) of the state. According to an order issued by the Chief Secretary K Vijayanand (IAS:1992:AP), Gupta, who is currently serving as Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement, and ex-officio Principal Secretary to the government, GA (V&E) department, has been placed in full additional charge of the post of DGP until further orders.
D Tirumala Rao (IPS:1989:AP) DGP (Coordination) has been relieved with effect from January 31 consequent on his retirement from service. Several names of IPS officials had been circulated in the news for the DGP past.
Notably, the Election Commission of India appointed Harish Gupta as the DGP during the elections last May. The EC then transferred Kasireddy Rajendranath Reddy (IPS:1992:AP) following political allegations.
Following the formation of the NDA government led by N Chandrababu Naidu, the administration prioritized seniority in police appointments, leading to the selection of Dwaraka Tirumala Rao as the DGP. Consequently, Harish Kumar Gupta was reassigned as the Director General of Vigilance and Enforcement.
In terms of seniority, Maddireddy Pratap (IPS:1991:AP), current Director General of the Fire Services Department, was next in line for the DGP position. However, the Andhra Pradesh government, reportedly satisfied with Harish Kumar Gupta’s performance in various roles has decided to appoint him as the state’s top police officer.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday (29.01.2025) assigned additional charges to two IAS officers and issued a fresh posting order for an IFS officer.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
Shantmanu (IAS:1991:AGMUT), Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Higher Education Department with additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Information Technology, has been given additional charge of Administrative Secretary, School Education Department.
Saurabh Bhagat (IAS:2002:AGMUT), Commissioner/Secretary, Science and Technology Department, has been given additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Information Technology Department.
K Ramesh Kumar (IFS:2000:AGMUT), CCF Settlement & Demarcation, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner/Secretary, Culture Department.
In a significant development, the Odisha government has forwarded IPS officer Gajbhiye SK Ishwardas‘s (IPS:2002:OR) representation to the Union Home Ministry for a decision. In his representation, Ishwardas requested the state government not to relieve him from the state cadre.
Notably, Ishwardas’ name was recommended to the Government of India for inclusion in the Offer List-2024. Subsequently, on December 6, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) conveyed the approval of the competent authority for his appointment as DIG in the CRPF. Following this, the state government placed his services at the disposal of the MHA on December 12, and he was relieved by the state police headquarters on December 30, 2024.
However, Ishwardas later submitted a representation to the state government, stating that he has not been empanelled for IG-level posts at the Centre and is not inclined to take up the new assignment. He has also requested that he not be relieved from the state cadre for this purpose.