Jasmeet Singh Bindra (IRTS:1997) has been appointed as Chairperson (Joint Secretary level) of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (May 8, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment to the post for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Bindra will succeed M Angamuthu (IAS:2002:AM), who was appointed Chairperson of the Mumbai Port Authority in September 2025. Subsequently, in November 2025, Angamuthu was given additional charge of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Friday (May 8, 2026) approved entrustment of additional charge of two major port authorities under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Sushil Kumar Singh (IRSME:1993), currently serving as Chairperson of Deendayal Port Authority, has been given additional charge of Chairperson (Joint Secretary level) of New Mangalore Port Authority.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (May 8, 2026), the ACC granted ex-post facto approval for entrustment of the additional charge to him for a period of six months from December 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, or till regular appointment to the post, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Similarly, S Viswanathan (IAS:2008:MP), currently serving as Deputy Chairperson of Chennai Port Authority, has been given additional charge of Chairperson (Joint Secretary level) of the Chennai Port Authority.
His additional charge has also been approved for a period of six months from December 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, or till regular appointment to the post, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Anand Madhukar (IRPS:1997), currently serving as Additional Director General (ADG) in the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has been prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (May 8, 2026), the competent authority has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Culture to repatriate him to his parent cadre to enable him to avail the benefit of promotion in the cadre.
Notably, Anand Madhukar has been serving in the position since March 2024. His central deputation tenure was scheduled to continue till March 2029. However, he is being repatriated ahead of schedule to avail promotion benefits in his parent cadre.
He is a 1997-batch Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRPS) officer.
There is good news for the senior Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officers in Uttar Pradesh, as 35 of them are going to be promoted to the coveted IAS cadre in the coming months, as the Union Government has allocated 35 vacancies in the IAS cadre to the state for the selection year 2025. It will prove a career-changing development for those who have been aspiring for promotion to the IAS cadre, as the vacancies will be filled through the promotion quota.
According to sources, PCS officers belonging to the 2010, 2011, and 2012 batches are currently under consideration for induction into the IAS. Sources indicate that the process has already begun at the departmental level.
The development will significantly strengthen the bureaucratic framework in the state where several districts and departments are facing a shortage of IAS officers.
This is a yearly exercise in which the central government determines the number of vacancies available for promotion from State Civil Services to the IAS cadre in each state.
The Appointments Department has reportedly already begun the process by seeking complete service records, including Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs), of eligible officers to expedite the promotion process.
As per available figures, UP currently has 8 PCS officers of the 2010 batch, 21 officers from the 2011 batch, and 41 officers from the 2012 batch, totaling 70. Naturally, then, only half of the eligible officers will make it to the final list, as the total number of vacancies is only 35.
The selections will be based on seniority, service records, vigilance status, and overall performance assessments. The only hitch is if any serious complaint, disciplinary issue, or adverse entry is found against an officer, their name may be excluded from consideration.
As per norms, the Appointments Department prepares a panel containing three names for every single vacancy. These names are then forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for further scrutiny. After the scrutiny process is completed, the UPSC convenes the meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC).
The DPC generally includes the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary (Appointments and Personnel), and a representative of the Union Government.
The final selection list is issued only after receiving formal approval from the DPC. The entire process is expected to take a few months.
The Centre on Friday (May 8, 2026) assigned additional charge of three key ministries and departments to senior IAS officers during the leave period of incumbent secretaries.
Senior IAS officer Pankaj Agrawal (IAS:1992:MP), currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Power, has been given additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Coal. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the competent authority has approved the assignment of additional charge to him from May 9, 2026 to May 19, 2026 during the leave period of Vikram Dev Dutt (IAS:1993:AGMUT).
Senior IAS officer Sudhansh Pant (IAS:1991:RJ), currently serving as Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, has been assigned additional charge of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan). He will hold the charge from May 9, 2026 to May 24, 2026 during the leave period of V Vidyavati (IAS:1991:KN).
Similarly, senior IAS officer Abhilaksh Likhi (IAS:1991:HY), presently serving as Secretary in the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has been given additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj with immediate effect till May 20, 2026 during the leave period of Vivek Bhardwaj (IAS:1990:WB).
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Thursday (May 8, 2026) approved 21 appointments at the level of Joint Secretary and Joint Secretary-equivalent posts across various ministries and departments of the Government of India.
The names of the officers and their appointments are as follows;
Deepa Chawla (IRAS:1998) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Office of Secretary (Security), under Cabinet Secretariat for an overall tenure of five years up to December 28, 2028. She succeeds D Sai Amutha Devi (IP&TA&FS:1995).
Gopal Singh (IFoS:2003:BH) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal for a tenure of five years. He will replace Lakhpat Singh Choudhary (IRSS:1997).
Amit Kumar (IAS:2010:JH) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce for a combined tenure of five years up to April 4, 2030. He succeeds Darpan Jain (IAS:2001:KN).
Shiv Pal Singh (IFoS:1997:UP) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation for an overall tenure of seven years up to May 15, 2029. He replaces Siddharth Jain (IAS:2001:AP).
Neha Bansal (IAS:2010:AGMUT) has been appointed as Additional Director General (Records Management) (JS level) in the National Archives of India (NAI), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Culture for an overall tenure of five years up to April 14, 2030.
Vijay Namdeorao Zade (IAS:2002:PB) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production for a tenure of five years. He succeeds Rajeev Prakash (IP&TA&FS:1995).
Prakash Rajpurohit (IAS:2010:RJ) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production for a combined tenure of five years up to April 8, 2030. He replaces Amit Satija (IAS:2008:AGMUT).
D Senthil Pandiyan (IAS:2002:UD) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation for an overall tenure of seven years up to May 23, 2028.
Sreenivasa Rao Gangi Reddy (IRPS:2004) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences for a tenure of five years. He succeeds D Senthil Pandiyan (IAS:2002:UD).
Surabhi Rai (IFoS:2005:AGMUT) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Fisheries for an overall tenure of five years up to May 19, 2028. She replaces Neetu Kumari Prasad (IAS:2001:TG).
Manisha Saxena (IRS-C&IT:2000) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Health Research for a combined tenure of five years up to December 13, 2027. She succeeds Auna Nagar (IFoS:1995:HP).
Vivek Kumar Daksh (IPoS:2002) has been appointed as Senior Deputy Director General (Administration) in the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the Department of Health Research for a tenure of five years. He replaces Manisha Saxena (IRS-C&IT:2000).
M Ramachandrudu (IAS:2009:BH) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs for an overall tenure of five years up to August 26, 2027. He replaces Saheli Roy (CSS).
P Praveen Siddharth (IRS-IT:2001) has been appointed as Member (Finance), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for a tenure of five years. He replaces Chetan P S Rao (IRS-IT:2002).
Ajay Kumar Nema (ITS:1994) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Justice for a tenure up to July 31, 2030, i.e. date of his superannuation. He replaces Niraj Kumar Gayagi (IDAS:1997).
J Saravanan (IRS-IT:2005) has been appointed as Financial Adviser in the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Mumbai, under the Ministry of MSME for a tenure of five years. He replaces Pankaj Bodke (IRS-C&IT:2000).
Amit Agarwal (IRSE-Civil:2002) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for a tenure of five years. He replaces Alok Prem Nagar (IFoS:1995:HP).
Palka Sahni (IAS:2004:BH) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for an overall tenure of five years up to February 2, 2028. She replaces Mamta Varma (IRMS:1994).
Jayasree M G (ISS:1998) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Rural Development for a tenure of five years. She replaces Smriti Sharan (IPoS:1993).
S Sasikumar (IFoS:2002:WB) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Rural Development for an overall tenure of seven years up to July 7, 2028. He replaces Amit Shukla (IFoS:1999:TR).
Sandeep Rewaji Rathod (IAS:2009:TR) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for a combined tenure of five years up to February 23, 2030. He replaces Biswaranjan Sasmal (IRS-IT:1993).
The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has failed to find a suitable candidate for the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Cochin Shipyard Limited. The decision was taken during a selection meeting held on May 8, 2026.
Following the interviews, the PESB recommended that the Administrative Ministry or Department may consider an appropriate course of action for selection, including constitution of a Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC), or any other mechanism deemed appropriate with the approval of the competent authority.
The following two candidates were interviewed for the post:
Dr Harikrishnan S, Director (Operations), Cochin Shipyard Limited
Biju George, Director (Shipbuilding), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
Notably, Jose V J, Director (Finance) of Cochin Shipyard Limited, is currently holding the additional charge of CMD of the company with effect from February 1, 2026. He assumed the interim charge following the retirement of former CMD Madhu S Nair on January 31, 2026.
The PESB had issued the vacancy notification for the post on January 23, 2026.
Tamil Nadu’s chances of getting a regular DGP are going to be delayed further as the state government has written to the UPSC requesting to postpone the Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM), scheduled on May 11.
The reason given by the state is that the presence of the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary is absolutely essential in the next few days. But the actual reason is the ongoing political developments and stalemate in the formation of a new government.
A top govt official is said to have requested the UPSC to postpone the meeting to some other date, preferably in the last week of May.
This is the third time that the ECM is going to be postponed. It was first scheduled on March 20, 2026, and was deferred due to administrative reasons and then on April 23, 2026, as it coincided with polling day for the Assembly elections.
According to police sources, current DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS:1992:TN), who was appointed by the Election Commission, replacing acting DGP G. Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN), will continue to head the force till a regular DGP is appointed through the UPSC as per the Supreme Court guidelines in the Prakash Singh case.
The ECM, led by the UPSC Chairman, will include the Union Home Secretary, the DG of one of the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (not belonging to the Tamil Nadu cadre), the Chief Secretary, and the Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu.
In a highly controversial move, the Left govt in Kerala left its mark on bureaucracy while exiting from power by promoting controversial IPS officer Gugulloth Lakshman (IPS:1997:KL) to the post of Additional DGP with retroactive effect from January 1, 2022. The promotion was granted by overruling the objections raised by a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
Outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reportedly ordered the promotion be granted to Lakshman by overruling the objections of the recommending committee.
What added twist to the promotion tale is the fact that Lakshman was issued a ‘final’ promotion letter after CM Vijayan had submitted his own resignation following defeat in the Assembly election.
The credentials of this IPS officer have been controversial, as he had earlier been chargesheeted for misusing police powers to allegedly help fraudster Monson Mavunkal in his fake antique business.
Lakshman was suspended in November 2021 but reinstated in February 2023 as IG, only to be suspended again a few months later following his arrest.
Under service rules, an IPS officer facing trial in court is generally not eligible for promotion.
Further, the committee, which had raised objection to Lakshman’s promotion, included the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretaries of the Local Self-Government, Home, and General Administration departments.
As per the rules, the CM does not have the authority to overrule the committee’s recommendation and directly order a promotion.
After the CM Vijayan’s direction, the General Administration Department (GAD) issued an order promoting Lakshman on Monday, the day the election results were announced.
Later, on Wednesday, after the Chief Minister submitted his resignation to the Governor, the department revised the order and granted the promotion with retroactive effect from January 1, 2022. To cap it, the revised order was issued by G.R. Rajesh, Additional Secretary in the GAD, instead of the Chief Secretary.
In an attempt to lessen fiscal woes, the cash-strapped Himachal Pradesh government is learnt to have proposed downsizing cadre strength of All India Services, including IAS, IPS, and IFS officers. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is reported to have initiated an exercise to streamline the administrative structure in order to reduce expenditure.
According to an official, the state govt has sent a proposal to the Centre seeking to reduce the sanctioned strength of IAS officers from 153 to 147. Similarly, a separate proposal to reduce the sanctioned posts of IFS officers from 114 to 83 is also in the final stage of consideration.
Besides, according to him, the state govt is also considering reviewing the cadre strength of IPS officers in the future.
As per a rough estimate, the annual expenditure on one IAS, IPS, or IFS officer is between ₹45 lakh and ₹50 lakh. The proposed reduction in cadre strength is expected to save the state crores of rupees annually that could be utilized for welfare schemes and development works.
Thus, this rationalisation is meant to stem the worsening fiscal stress following the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) by the Centre on the recommendation of the 16th Finance Commission. Following the discontinuation of the RDG, CM Sukhu had termed the situation as “extraordinary financial challenges.”
Behind this rationalization is the govt’s belief that better management of existing resources and effective utilisation of officers can ensure smooth administrative functioning.
It is not that this move was contemplated in haste, but the state govt conducted an in-depth study of all administrative, financial, and functional aspects before preparing the proposal and sending it to the central government for approval.
The govt’s move is being viewed as an important step towards good governance.
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