The central government on Tuesday (21.01.2025) approved the empanelment of 13 officers of 1995 batch for promotion to the grade of Principal Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes in the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes). These officers will now serve in Level 15 of the Pay Matrix (HAG).
The central deputation tenure of Minhaj Alam (IAS:1996:KL) as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been extended for three months. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (21.01.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in central deputation tenure of Mr Alam for a period of three years beyond March 31, 2025 i.e. upto June 30, 2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Rasaal Dwivedi (IRS-C&CE:2011), currently serving as the Private Secretary to Minister for Petroleum & Natural GasHardeep Singh Puri at the Deputy Secretary level, has been re-designated as Director.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (20.01.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Mr. Dwivedi’s post to Director level with effect from the date of assumption of charge of re-designated post and for a period upto March 15, 2026 or on co-terminus basis with the Minister or till he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
It is noteworthy that Rasaal Dwivedi began his central deputation tenure on March 16, 2021.
Rishirendra Kumar (IAS:2011:UP), currently serving as the Private Secretary to Minister of State for FinancePankaj Chaudhary at the Deputy Secretary level, has been re-designated as Director.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (20.01.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Mr. Kumar’s post to Director level with effect from the date of assumption of charge of re-designated post and for a period upto August 11, 2029 or on co-terminus basis with the Minister or till he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
It is noteworthy that Rishirendra Kumar began his central deputation tenure on August 12, 2024.
Pulkesh Kumar (IRPS: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 Monday (20.01.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Kumar’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 December 21, 2025 i.e. total tenure of five years under the central staffing scheme.
It is noteworthy that Pulkesh Kumar began his central deputation tenure on December 22, 2020.
Monika Gaur (IA&AS:2011), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Commerce, has been re-designated as Director. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (20.01.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Gaur’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 June 26, 2029 i.e. total tenure of five years under the central staffing scheme.
It is noteworthy that Monika Gaur began her central deputation tenure on June 27, 2024.
Taruna Doliya (IES:2011), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Commerce, has been re-designated as Director. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (20.01.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Doliya ’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 August 23, 2026 i.e. total tenure of five years under the central staffing scheme.
It is noteworthy that Taruna Doliya began her central deputation tenure on August 24, 2021.
The Bihar government recently issued transfer and posting orders for five IAS officers.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
Dr. B Rajender (IAS:1995:BH), Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), GAD with additional charge of posts of ACS, Public Grievances, GAD; Mission Director, Administrative Reforms Mission Society; ACS, Sports Department, has been given additional charge of ACS, Rural Development during the leave period of incumbent Deepak Kumar Singh (IAS:1992:BH).
Rajesh Kumar (IAS:2001:BH), Secretary, Bihar Human Rights Commission, Patna, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner, Kosi Division, Saharsa with additional charge of Commissioner, Purnia Division, Purnia.
Dayanidhan Pandey (IAS:2008:BH), Secretary, Art, Culture & Youth Affairs with additional charge of MD, Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation, has been transferred and posted as Additional Member, Revenue Board.
Pranav Kumar (IAS:2008:BH), Secretary, Home with additional charge of IG, Prison & Reforms Services, has been transferred and posted as Secretary, Culture & Youth Affairs Department with additional charge of the posts of Secretary, Home; IG, Prison & Reforms Services; Enquiry Commissioner, GAD and MD, Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation.
Manoj Kumar Singh (IAS:2009:BH) has been posted Secretary, Health Department. He recently returned from central deputation and is currently awaiting posting orders.
The Maharashtra government on Monday (20.01.2025) appointed senior IAS officer Dinesh T Waghmare (IAS:1994:MH) as the new State Election Commissioner (SEC). This appointment came after the state cabinet authorized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to propose candidates for the crucial post. . The SEC post was lying vacant since UPS Madan (Retd.IAS:1983:MH) retired last year.
Currently, Waghmare is serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Education.
Waghmare was due to retire in June this year. He will now resign from his current post and join as State Election Commissioner for five years.
The state election commission holds elections to municipal corporations, councils and district bodies such as zilla parishads and gram panchayats. A majority of these local bodies are expected to go to polls this year and the ruling Mahayuti alliance is keen on holding the elections within the next few months.
In what is considered an unprecedented move, the Karnataka government has granted extension to senior IAS officer Luthfulla Khan Atheeq, on a contractual basis. Widely seen as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Man Friday, this 1991 batch officer has been granted an extension just ahead of his retirement this month. Atheeq was due to superannuate on January 31, but will now continue as Additional Chief Secretary to the CM on a contract basis.
Giving an extension to an Additional Chief Secretary-rank officer on a contractual basis is considered to be an unprecedented development. Besides being the CM’s Additional Chief Secretary, he also heads the finance department.
The real story behind this extension-giving exercise is said to be CM Siddaramaiah’s desire to retain Atheeq in view of the 2025-26 budget, which is going to be Siddaramaiah’s record 16th budget as the finance minister.
Siddaramaiah’s fascination for Atheeq began in 1995 when he presented his first budget. Atheeq was then a deputy secretary at the finance department. But it was in 2016 when Atheeq became Siddaramaiah’s principal secretary that they started working closely on policy matters.
Atheeq was shunted out when the BJP came to power in 2019, but Siddaramaiah’s return to power in 2023 saw Atheeq being brought back to head the finance department.
In the meantime, 1996-batch IAS officer Ritesh Kumar Singh has been appointed as principal secretary of the finance department. He is said to have been picked to replace Atheeq, who will now work with Chief Minister.
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