The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday (April 20, 2026) ordered the transfer of KA Senthil Velan (IPS:2003:TN), Inspector General of Police (Intelligence), and appointed IG (Technical Services) A Avinash Kumar (IPS:2004:TN) in his place.
The poll panel also directed Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar not to assign Senthilvelan to any election-related responsibilities.
Complying with the directive, Home Secretary K Manivasan issued an order appointing A Avinash Kumar as IG (Intelligence), and he has assumed charge. Avinash Kumar has prior experience on deputation with the Intelligence Bureau.
The move comes amid ongoing administrative changes initiated by the ECI following the announcement of the Assembly election schedule on March 15.
Since then, several senior officials have been transferred, including Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, DGP G Venkataraman, and Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar, as part of efforts to ensure free and fair elections in the state.
With the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) likely to defer the Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM) again, the appointment of a regular DGP for Tamil Nadu is going to be delayed further.
The meeting was virtually scheduled for April 23, 2026, but it bound to be postponed as the date coincides with the polling for the Assembly elections in the state. Under this circumstance, the state govt has conveyed that its Chief Secretary and Home Secretary would not be able to attend the empanelment meeting.
This is the second time that the ECM is being deferred. The earlier meeting called on March 20, 2026, was postponed even after the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary had reached Delhi, as some representatives of the Union Government could not attend.
Days after the first ECM was postponed, the election was announced, and the Election Commission of India (EC) appointed Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS:1992:TN) as the DGP/HoPF, replacing G. Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN), who was serving as acting DGP.
According to sources, the UPSC would finalise a fresh date for the ECM after the election process was over. The Model Code of Conduct, which is in force in Tamil Nadu, would continue till May 7, 2026.
Though the Supreme Court had ordered on February 12, 2026, to complete the process of appointing a regular DGP within three weeks, but the process was delayed on the part of the UPSC due to various reasons. As the situation stands, the top three officers in the order of seniority are Seema Agrawal (IPS:1990:TN), Rajeev Kumar (IPS:1992:TN), and Sandeep Rai Rathore.
In the next ECM, expected to be held sometime in May, the names of three shortlisted officers will be finalised and communicated to the state government to choose one of them as regular DGP.
Senior Himachal Pradesh bureaucrats are going to get less salary from the month of April, as, in a desperate bid to stem a looming financial crisis, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has taken a major decision to make a 30 percent salary cut for top-ranking bureaucrats in the state, including the Chief Secretary and the DGP. There will be a 20 percent cut for the middle-rung officials as well, apart from others.
The state government issued a notification to temporarily suspend a portion of their salaries for the next six months on Saturday.
According to the notification, issued by Finance Secretary Ashish Singhmar, a monthly amount of Rs 1.10 lakh of the Chief Secretary’s salary, Rs 1.05 lakh of the Additional Chief Secretary’s salary, Rs 97,500 of the Principal Secretary’s, and Rs 60,000 of the Secretary’s salary will be suspended for six months.
This arrangement will be effective from the April salary, which will be received in May.
The 30% deferment will apply to the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, DGP, ADG, Principal Chief Conservator of forests, and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of forests.
Similarly, there will be a 20% cut in the salaries of Secretaries, Heads of Departments (HoD), IGs, DIGs, SSPs, and police officers up to the level of SP, Chief Conservator of forests, Conservator of forests, and other forest officials up to the DFO level.
Just a few days ago, a cut in the salaries of lawmakers had been announced.
Apart from bureaucrats, the state govt has also directed boards, corporations, PSUs, universities, and grant-receiving institutions to implement this decision.
Around 60 department heads and over 200 officers will be affected by the temporary salary freeze.
For employees who are repaying loans, the deferment will be calculated on the pay remaining after the deduction of the loan installment amount, and they will have to submit an undertaking to their drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs).
The state govt is expected to save nearly Rs 1 crore per month through this move.
In a development that may lead to far-reaching consequences in the Indian subcontinent, former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi has been appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Trivedi, a 75-year-old veteran politician and an MP from Barrackpore in West Bengal, is the first political appointee in the neighbourhood after a long time.
He will be replacing Pranay Verma, a career diplomat. Verma is said to be moving to Brussels as the Indian ambassador to the European Union (EU).
A former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, Trivedi first became an MoS for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime and later a Union Minister for Railways before joining the BJP on March 6, 2021.
The appointment of a hardcore politician as a diplomat in a neighbouring country with which India has had strained relations after the coup of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and installation of the Mohammed Yunus regime is a significant step. During the tenure of US-backed Yunus, the India-Bangladesh ties deteriorated, with the chief advisor unable to contain sectarian violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Against this background, Trivedi’s appointment is a clear signal that India is not averse to sending political leaders as India’s envoys to key countries, and these much sought-after postings are not merely a preserve of Indian Foreign Service officers.
A section of even career diplomats describes Trivedi’s appointment as a commendable move, as it feels politicians have distinct working styles not fettered by protocols as happens with professional diplomats.
That was perhaps the reason why veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayar had been appointed as India’s High Commissioner in the UK by the then VP Singh govt in 1989-90.
Similarly, former Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag also served as Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles from 2019 to 2022.
Thus, the Trivedi’s posting to Dhaka should be interpreted as India’s fresh diplomatic recalibration to position political heavyweights to the neighbourhood as envoys. It also indicates that in the changing global geopolitics, the era of an ambassador for good times needs to be redefined at least in the Indian subcontinent.
The Uttar Pradesh Government on Sunday night carried out a major administrative reshuffle, transferring 40 IAS officers and changing District Magistrates (DMs) in 15 districts.
Alok Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industrial Development Department, has been relieved of the additional charge of the MSME and Export Promotion Department. Meanwhile, Pankaj Kumar has been removed as Managing Director of UP Power Corporation and is yet to be assigned a new posting.
In a significant move, Durgashakti Nagpal, District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri, has been promoted and appointed as Divisional Commissioner of Devipatan Division. Agra DM Arvind Mallapa Bangari has been posted as Special Secretary to the Chief Minister.
Transport Commissioner Kinjal Singh has been shifted and appointed Secretary in the Secondary Education Department, while Ashutosh Niranjan, who recently returned from central deputation, has been made the new Transport Commissioner.
Among other changes, Bulandshahr DM Shruti has been appointed Managing Director of Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam. Jhansi DM Mridul Chaudhary has been moved as Special Secretary in the Tourism Department.
Fatehpur DM Ravindra Kumar has been appointed Special Secretary in the Energy Department. Raebareli DM Harshita Mathur has been posted as Director in the Women and Child Development Department, while Shravasti DM Ashwini Kumar Pandey has been appointed Director in the Minority Department.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows:
Gaurang Rathi (IAS:2014:UP), District Magistrate of Unnao, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Jhansi.
Indrajit Singh (IAS:2016:UP) , Special Secretary, Energy and Renewable Energy Sources Department; Director, UPNEDA and Managing Director, UP Renewable and EV Infrastructure Limited, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Sultanpur.
Kumar Harsh (IAS:2016:UP), District Magistrate of Sultanpur, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Bulandshahr.
Annapurna Garg (IAS:2016:UP), Special Secretary, Appointment and Personnel Department, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Shravasti.
Alok Yadav (IAS:2015:UP), Vice Chairman, Jhansi Development Authority, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Shamli.
Arvind Kumar Chauhan (IAS:2015:UP), District Magistrate of Shamli, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Saharanpur.
Nitin Gaur (IAS:2016:UP), Vice Chairman, Hapur-Pilkhuwa Development Authority, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Amroha.
Abhishek Goyal (IAS:2016:UP), Special Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department and Controller, Legal Metrology (Weights & Measures), has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Hamirpur.
Sarneet Kaur Broca (IAS:2016:UP), Director, Child Development and Nutrition, and Director, State Nutrition Mission, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Rae Bareli.
Nidhi Gupta Vats (IAS:2014:UP), District Magistrate of Amroha, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Fatehpur.
Ghanshyam Meena (IAS:2015:UP), District Magistrate of Hamirpur, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Unnao.
Anjani Kumar Singh (IAS:2015:UP), District Magistrate of Mainpuri, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Lakhimpur Kheri.
Dr Indramani Tripathi (IAS:2014:UP), District Magistrate of Auraiya, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Mainpuri.
Brijesh Kumar (IAS:2014:UP), Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, and Additional Director, Uttar Pradesh State Agricultural Produce Market Board, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Auraiya.
Manish Bansal (IAS:2014:UP), District Magistrate of Saharanpur, has been transferred and posted as District Magistrate, Agra.
Arvind Mallappa Bangari (IAS:2011:UP), District Magistrate of Agra, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh Government.
Nitish Kumar (IAS:2010:UP), Managing Director, Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam, Agra, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited.
Shruti (IAS:2011:UP), District Magistrate of Bulandshahr, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam, Agra.
Ashutosh Niranjan (IAS:2010:UP), awaiting posting orders, has been posted as Transport Commissioner.
Kinjal Singh (IAS:2008:UP), Transport Commissioner, has been transferred and posted as Secretary, Secondary Education Department.
Durga Shakti Nagpal (IAS:2010:UP), District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri, has been transferred and posted as Divisional Commissioner, Devipatan Division.
Shashi Bhushan Lal Sushil (IAS:2001:UP), Divisional Commissioner, Devipatan Division, has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary, MSME and Export Promotion Department.
Alok Kumar-II (IAS:1993:UP), Additional Chief Secretary, MSME and Export Promotion, Infrastructure and Industrial Development and NRI Department, Uttar Pradesh Government, has been relieved from additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary, MSME and Export Promotion Department.
Ravinder Singh (IAS:2014:UP), District Magistrate of Fatehpur, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary, Energy and Renewable Energy Sources Department; Director, UPNEDA and Managing Director, UP Renewable and EV Infrastructure Limited.
Mridul Chaudhary (IAS:2014:UP), District Magistrate of Jhansi, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary, Tourism Department and Director, Tourism.
Ashwini Kumar Pandey (IAS:2016:UP), District Magistrate of Shravasti, has been transferred and posted as Director, Minority Welfare.
Harshita Mathur (IAS:2023:UP), District Magistrate of Rae Bareli, has been transferred and posted as Director, Child Development and Nutrition, and Director, State Nutrition Mission.
Anita Verma Singh (IAS:2013:UP), Special Secretary, Higher Education Department, and Registrar, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department, and Controller, Legal Metrology (Weights & Measures), Uttar Pradesh.
Sachin Kumar Singh (IAS-SCS:2021), Chief Development Officer, Amethi, has been transferred and posted as Additional Director, Uttar Pradesh State Agricultural Produce Market Board, Lucknow.
Basant Agrawal (IAS), Additional District Magistrate (Finance/Revenue), Hathras, has been transferred and posted as Director, ESI Scheme, Labour Medical Services.
Saumya Pandey (IAS:2017:UP), Additional Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh, and Director, Employees State Insurance Scheme Labour Medical Services, Uttar Pradesh, has been relieved from additional charge of Director, Employees State Insurance Scheme Labour Medical Services, Uttar Pradesh.
Junaid Ahmed (IAS:2019:UP), Chief Development Officer, Jhansi, has been transferred and posted as Additional Commissioner, Kanpur Nagar.
Himanshu Gautam (IAS:2018:UP), Chief Development Officer, Hapur, has been transferred and posted as Vice Chairman, Jhansi Development Authority.
Mukesh Chandra (IAS:2018:UP), Chief Development Officer, Bahraich, has been transferred and posted as Vice Chairman, Hapur-Pilkhuwa Development Authority.
Keshav Kumar (PCS:2004), Chief Development Officer, Badaun, has been transferred and posted as Registrar, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University.
Shruti Sharma (IAS:2021:UP), Joint Magistrate, Deoria, has been transferred and posted as Chief Development Officer, Hapur.
Gamini Singla (IAS:2021:UP), Joint Magistrate, Sultanpur, has been transferred and posted as Chief Development Officer, Badaun.
Sunil Kumar Dhanwanta (IAS:2022:UP), Joint Magistrate, Azamgarh, has been transferred and posted as Chief Development Officer, Bahraich.
Pooja Sahu (IAS:2022:UP), Joint Magistrate, Chitrakoot, has been transferred and posted as Chief Development Officer, Amethi.
Rameshwar Sudhakar Sabbanwad (IAS:2022:UP), Joint Magistrate, Ghazipur, has been transferred and posted as Chief Development Officer, Jhansi.
The central deputation tenure of Satyajit Mohanty (IRS-C&IT:1999) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence has been extended by one year. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Saturday (April 18, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Defence to extend his deputation tenure for a period of one year beyond July 9, 2026 or until further orders, whichever occurs the earliest.
IAS Officer Himani Pande (IAS:1998:JH), currently serving in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has been granted an extension in the temporary upgradation of her post from Joint Secretary level to Additional Secretary level.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Saturday (April 18, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of her upgradation for a term up to April 18, 2027.
Pande is presently holding the upgraded post in DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
IAS officer Ajit Roy (IAS:2013:AGMUT), who was recommended for central deputation by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs for four years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (April 16, 2026), the Competent authority has approved his appointment to the post under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of four years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier.
Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer Ankit Kumar Agrawal (IAS:2012:UP) has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Delhi, for five years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (April 16, 2026), the Competent authority has approved his appointment to the post under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of five years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier.
Haryana cadre IAS officer Prashant Panwar (IAS:2015:HY) has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Coal, Delhi. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on April 15, 2026, his appointment has been made under the central staffing scheme for a period of four years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
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