IAS officer Latha Ganapathy(IAS:2007:TN), currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, has been prematurely repatriated to her parent cadre. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (November 18, 2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment to repatriate Ms. Ganapathy to her parent cadre on personal grounds, with the imposition of an extended cooling-off condition.
Ms. Ganapathy was first appointed as Director in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in August 2022 and assumed charge on October 2, 2022. After her empanelment as Joint Secretary, she was appointed Joint Secretary in the same ministry in August 2024.
Subsequently, on May 28, 2025, she was appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for a five-year tenure up to October 2, 2027. Her repatriation now comes nearly two years ahead of schedule.
Two senior IPS officers of 1993 batch of the Haryana cadre — Alok Mittal and Dr. Ashindra Singh Chawla — have been promoted to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP). With their promotion, the total number of DGP-rank officers in Haryana has risen to seven.
ADGP Alok Mittal is presently heading the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), while ADGP Arshinder Singh Chawla is serving as the Director of the Haryana Police Academy (HPA) at Madhuban, Karnal.
The DGP-rank officers currently serving in the state include Mohammad Akol, Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, O.P. Singh, and Ajay Singhal.
According to officials, the DPC had approved the promotion file in October and forwarded it to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini for final concurrence. The state government has now cleared the file, paving the way for the promotions.
IPS officer Manav Verma (IPS:2015:HP) has been appointed as Superintendent of Police (SP) in the National Investigation Agency (NIA). According to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday (November 17, 2025), the competent authority has approved his induction into the NIA against an existing vacancy under the usual terms and conditions of central deputation.
The Ministry has requested that Manav Verma be relieved immediately to enable him to take up his new assignment at the Centre.
Currently, Verma has been on compulsory waiting at the Police Headquarters, Shimla, since November 5, 2025. Before this, he was serving as Assistant Inspector General of Police at the Police Headquarters.
IAS officer Avinash Lavania (IAS:2009:MP) has been appointed as Director in the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Delhi, for a period of five years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (November 18, 2025), the competent authority has approved his appointment under the Central Staffing Scheme for five years from the date he assumes charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Currently, Lavania is serving in his cadre state Madhya Pradesh as Managing Director of MP Power Management Company, Jabalpur, a position he has held since January 2025.
In a powerful recognition of his unwavering commitment to integrity in public life, senior IAS officer Dr Raju Narayana Swamy (IAS:1991:KL)— widely celebrated as Kerala’s foremost anti-corruption crusader — has been nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Savita Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai.
SIMATS, a multidisciplinary deemed-to-be university established under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, is one of India’s top-ranked institutions. Accredited with an A++ grade by NAAC and ranked 13th among all Central, State, and Deemed Universities in the NIRF 2025, the institution reserves this honour for individuals whose work reflects exceptional public service and societal impact. For Dr. Swamy, the award is yet another milestone in a career defined by courage, intellect, and ethical leadership.
A Career Built on Integrity
Dr. Swamy’s name has become synonymous with fearless vigilance and uncompromising governance. His relentless fight against corruption has earned him national admiration and several prestigious honours over the years.
In 2021, he received the Leonardo da Vinci Fellowship from the Center for Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy at George Mason University—an international recognition for his academic contributions to intellectual property law. Before that, in 2018, IIT Kanpur honoured him with the Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Award, a tribute reserved for distinguished public servants who exemplify honesty and bravery.
A Trusted Guardian of Free and Fair Elections
Dr. Swamy recently made headlines for performing a record 38 assignments as Central Observer for the Election Commission of India. His reputation for impartiality and efficiency even earned him a role as an International Election Observer in Zimbabwe in 2018, reflecting global trust in his professional integrity.
Scholar, Technocrat, and Visionary Administrator
Alongside his administrative accomplishments, Dr. Swamy is also a celebrated scholar. An alumnus of IIT Madras, where he completed his B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering, he later secured a PhD in Law from the Gujarat National Law University. He is an all-India first rank holder of the 1991 IAS batch—a distinction that set the tone for an illustrious career.
His academic journey also includes a PG Diploma from the National Law School, Bangalore, and an LLM from NLU Delhi, both earned with gold medals, underscoring his exceptional intellectual rigour.
Driving Governance Through Innovation
Throughout his postings, Dr. Swamy has played a pivotal role in shaping policies across rural development, health, and education. His hallmark has been an innovative, technology-driven approach to governance—ensuring transparency, strengthening citizen engagement, and enhancing accountability at every level.
A Life Dedicated to Public Good
Today, as Principal Secretary to the Government of Kerala, Dr. Swamy continues to inspire a generation of civil servants with his blend of administrative excellence and ethical conviction.
The Lifetime Achievement Award from SIMATS stands as a fitting tribute to a leader who has consistently championed clean governance and public welfare. For many, Dr. Raju Narayana Swamy is not just an officer—he is an institution in himself.
Suspended Andhra IPS officer N. Sanjay (IPS:1996:AP) will continue to languish behind bars, as his bail petition was rejected by the Special Court of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday.
Sanjay was placed under suspension in December last year on charges of the misappropriation of funds and was later taken into judicial custody after the Supreme Court cancelled his anticipatory bail. Currently lodged in the Vijayawada jail, his bail petition was rejected by the ACB court as the investigation in the case is still under way.
Sanjay has been a senior IPS officer, having earlier served as Director-General of Disaster Response and Fire Services as well as Additional Director-General of the Crime Investigation Department (CID).
Stoking controversies seems to have become a favourite pastime for suspended Kerala IAS officer N. Prasanth. Despite his suspension having been extended for another six months just a few days back, Prasanth goes on the offensive in his relentless pursuit of fights with seniors, particularly Chief Secretary (CS) A. Jayathilak.
In the latest move, he has filed a complaint before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking action against the CS. And as usual, he took to social media to make it public. In his post on Facebook, he has announced that he has filed a Rule 7 complaint before the Chief Minister demanding action against the chief secretary, Dr. Jayathilak. Rule 7 specifies the competent authorities with respect to disciplinary proceedings against members of the All India Services.
Prasanth complained to the CM, as the latter is the disciplinary authority for IAS officers in the state. He has charged Jayathilak with violating the provisions of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. He went a step further, accusing the CS of amassing illegal assets. Interestingly, he claims to have filed this complaint with “precise evidence and supporting records.”
The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Atul Gupta for the post of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), Engineers India Limited (EIL). The selection was made following the PESB interview held on November 17, 2025.
Mr. Gupta is currently serving as Director (Commercial), EIL, New Delhi. His name will now be forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval, subject to the required vigilance clearances.
If approved, he will succeed Vartika Shukla, who has been serving as CMD since September 2021 and will retire on February 28, 2026. The vacancy was advertised by PESB on May 28, inviting applications from eligible candidates. After screening, nine candidates were shortlisted for the interview, and following today’s interaction, PESB recommended Mr. Gupta for the post.
A total of nine candidates were interviewed by PESB:
Atul Gupta, Director (Commercial), Engineers India Limited, New Delhi
Rupesh Kumar Singh, Director (HR), Engineers India Limited, New Delhi
Upendra Kumar Verma, Executive Director (Technical), Engineers India Limited, Gurugram
Dronamraju Sreeman Narayan Murthy, Executive Director, Engineers India Limited, Gurugram
KY Malleshwarappa, Executive Director & COO (Abu Dhabi Establishment), Engineers India Limited
Rajesh Kumar Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited
Ajay Tripathi, Executive Director (PC-O&M), GAIL (India) Limited
Manoj Kumar Sharma, Executive Director & Regional Head, Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Dr. Ajit Kumar Thakur, Executive Director (Alternate Energy), Indian Oil Corporation Limited
In a major step toward strengthening transparency and speeding up project delivery, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has released detailed updates on all National Highway projects for which bids have been invited. The latest disclosure covers 55 projects spanning approximately 2,269 km, with a cumulative capital investment of ₹1,19,359 crore.
By placing these comprehensive project details on its official website, NHAI aims to ensure a level playing field for bidders and enhance trust among stakeholders. The information now publicly accessible includes approval stages, land acquisition status, environment and forest clearances, railway approvals, and other critical parameters that influence project timelines and execution. The data also outlines the mode of implementation—BOT, HAM, or EPC—along with project length and estimated capital cost.
NHAI has announced that these updates will be refreshed every two weeks to maintain real-time visibility. This transparent disclosure mechanism is expected to improve the quality of bids, reduce ambiguities, minimise disputes, and encourage wider participation from contractors, developers, and investors. It will also support more accurate project assessment, resulting in timely and realistic bidding exercises.
The initiative reflects the Government of India’s commitment to open governance and efficient infrastructure delivery. By enabling data-driven monitoring and fostering greater accountability, NHAI is strengthening public confidence in the pace and scale of National Highway development while setting new benchmarks for transparency in the infrastructure sector.
The appointment of V. Srinivas (IAS:1989:Raj) as the new Chief Secretary seems to have pushed the Rajasthan bureaucracy into a phase of churning, as it may unleash a major change in the bureaucratic power structure in the state from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to district administrations.
The appointment of Srinivas, who was on central deputation before being picked to head the state bureaucracy, has given a blow to the growing perception that this time around the state’s top bureaucratic post might go to an officer serving in Rajasthan. Thus, those lobbying for the top post are naturally crestfallen. Their consternation adds another aspect to the story.
The Legendofficers had reported that the Centre can surprise the lobbyists by sending a senior Rajasthan-cadre officer on central deputation to head the state bureaucracy. And this is exactly what has happened.
There were three names from the state bureaucracy doing the rounds: Abhay Kumar (IAS:1992:RJ), Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department and State Water Resources Planning Department; Shikhar Agarwal (IAS:1993:RJ), Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister; and Akhil Arora (IAS:1993:RJ), Additional Chief Secretary, PHED.
Now the question arises as to why these three officers lost out in the race. The reason is now clear. Srinivas established a clear edge due to his close proximity to the central government, including his close ties to officers in the PMO. It sealed the fate of his rivals.
In terms of seniority also, Srinivas led the race, with his seniors, Subodh Agarwal, retiring on December 31, and Shubhra Singh in January 2026.
Another possible fallout being debated in the state bureaucratic circles is whether the aura of the officers posted in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) will remain intact or weaken.
It is an open secret that Srinivas’s predecessor, Sudhansh Pant, reportedly opted for the central deputation 13 months ago due to his tensions with an IAS officer in the CMO. This was not all. During Pant’s tenure, reports of files being sent directly to the CMO, bypassing the Chief Secretary, also came to light.
So, the key issue bothering IAS officers now, is whether the arrival of Srinivas will redefine the balance of power by reducing the influence of CMO officers. There are currently four IAS officers in the CMO handling the Chief Minister’s work, led by ACS Shikhar Agarwal.
Further, experts believe that the new Chief Secretary may form his own team. If that happens, it would trigger a reshuffle among the top 10 IAS officers of the state. So the state bureaucracy is in for fresh surprises.
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