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Centre appoints three new CVOs in NEEPCO, NHAI and RailTel

By
LO Bureau
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Chief Vigilance Officer

In a significant development, the Central Government on Saturday (November 1, 2025) approved the appointment of three Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) in major Public Sector Undertakings — North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and RailTel Corporation of India Ltd (RCIL).

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), all three officers have been appointed for an initial period of three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

The appointments are as follows:

  1. Sasanka Sarmah (IRPS:2002) — appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO), Shillong.
  2. Ashish Nath (IDSE:1999) — appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), New Delhi.
  3. Sarika Aggarwal Syurem (IDAS:2001) — appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer, RailTel Corporation of India Ltd (RCIL), Delhi/NCR.

Former Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra Joins Ravindra Energy Board

By
LO Bureau
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Former Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra (Retd IAS:1988:MH) has been appointed as an Additional Director at Ravindra Energy Limited. His five-year term commenced on November 5, 2025, subject to shareholder approval.

Chandra, who brings decades of experience in public administration, policy formulation, and industrial development, has served in several key government roles and on the boards of multiple public sector entities.

Ravindra Energy Limited — a renewable energy company listed on both the BSE and NSE — announced his appointment as an Additional Director in the capacity of Non-Executive Independent Director.

PESB invites applications for CMD post at NLC India Limited

By
LO Bureau
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The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), NLC India Limited. The vacancy notification was issued on Thursday (November 6, 2025), with November 27, 2025, set as the last date for submitting applications through the PESB portal.

The CMD post will fall vacant on July 1, 2026, following the superannuation of the incumbent, Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, on June 30, 2026. Mr. Motupalli has been serving as CMD of NLC India Limited since January 12, 2023.

Eligible candidates from both public and private sector organizations can apply for this key leadership position at the Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Coal.

P Hemalatha gets three-month extension as Secretary, Spices Board

By
LO Bureau
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P Hemalatha IAS

Senior IAS officer P Hemalatha (IAS:2000:KN), Development Commissioner, Cochin Special Economic Zone (SEZ), will continue to hold additional charge of the post of Secretary (Joint Secretary level), Spices Board, for another three months.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (November 6, 2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of her additional charge for a period from October 24, 2025, to January 23, 2026, or until the appointment of a regular incumbent, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Ms. Hemalatha has been holding this additional responsibility since January 2025. Earlier, on January 7, the DoPT issued an ex-post facto order assigning her the additional charge of Secretary, Spices Board, for six months from October 24, 2024, to April 23, 2025. Subsequently, on June 4, her term was extended for another six months — from April 24, 2025, to October 23, 2025. With no regular appointment yet made, her tenure has now been extended for an additional three months.

Ajay Bhadoo gets extension of additional charge as DGFT Chief

By
LO Bureau
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Senior IAS officer Ajay Bhadoo (IAS:1999:GJ), Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, will continue to hold additional charge of the post of Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (November 6, 2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of his additional charge for a further period from October 21, 2025, to April 20, 2026, or until the appointment of a regular incumbent, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Earlier, on August 22, Mr. Bhadoo was given ex-post facto approval for holding additional charge of the DGFT post from April 21, 2025, to October 20, 2025, or until a regular appointment was made. Since no regular appointment has been finalised yet, his tenure has now been formally extended.

PESB recommends Deepak Gupta for GAIL India CMD post

By
LO Bureau
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Deepak Gupta

In a key development, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended the name of Deepak Gupta for the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), GAIL (India) Limited. The selection was made following the PESB interview held on November 6, 2025.

Mr. Gupta is currently serving as Director (Projects) at GAIL (India) Limited. His recommendation will now be forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval, pending the necessary vigilance clearances.

If approved, Mr. Gupta will succeed the incumbent CMD, Sandeep Kumar Gupta, who has been leading the company since October 3, 2022, and is due to retire on February 28, 2026.

A total of 12 candidates were interviewed by the PESB for the coveted post. The list included:

  1. Rajeev Kumar Singhal, Director (Business Development), GAIL (India) Limited
  2. Ajay Tripathi, Executive Director (PC-O&M), GAIL (India) Limited
  3. Ashu Shimghal, Executive Director and Managing Director, Mahanagar Gas Limited, GAIL (India) Limited
  4. Atul Kumar Tripathi, Executive Director (Projects), GAIL (India) Limited
  5. Anupam Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive Officer, GAIL (India) Limited
  6. Kamal Kishore Chatiwal, Executive Director and Managing Director, Indraprastha Gas Limited, GAIL (India) Limited
  7. Kapil Kumar Jain, Executive Director (Marketing–Retail LNG), GAIL (India) Limited
  8. Satish Kumar Sinha, Executive Director (Finance & Accounts), GAIL (India) Limited
  9. Deepak Gupta, Director (Projects), GAIL (India) Limited
  10. Atul Gupta, Director (Commercial), Engineers India Limited
  11. Anuj Jain, Director (Finance), Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  12. Dr. Pudi Hariprasad, Chief Administration Officer (Treasury and Reconciliation), Ministry of Railways

IPS officer soon to head MSRTC’s Safety and Vigilance Deptt

By
LO Bureau
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The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is all set to appoint an IPS officer as Chief Safety and Vigilance Officer. The state Home Department has already given its nod for it. According to an official, once the approval from the Chief Minister’s Office is secured, an able IPS officer will be posted on that position.  

This crucial position has been lying vacant for several years but a sinister incident of violence against a woman at Swargate in February exposed the chinks in the MSRTC’s security and vigilance mechanisms. The issue was raised in the assembly, compelling Transport Minister and Corporation Chairman Pratap Sarnaik to make the announcement regarding the appointment of an IPS officer on that post soon.

Finance Secretary post remains vacant for four months after Ajay Seth’s retirement

By
LO Bureau
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Finance Ministry's review meeting

Nearly four months after the retirement of Finance Secretary Ajay Seth (IAS:1987:KN), the key post continues to remain vacant, leaving one of India’s most critical ministries without a central administrative head. The Ministry of Finance — overseeing taxation, expenditure, and economic reforms — is currently functioning without the coordinating authority that ensures policy coherence across its departments.

Six major departments under the ministry — Revenue, Expenditure, Economic Affairs, Financial Services, Public Enterprises, and DIPAM — are operating independently in the absence of a full-time Finance Secretary. This lack of coordination, officials say, risks procedural bottlenecks and inconsistent policy directions.

Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan (IAS:1987:TN) is reportedly handling additional responsibilities for now, but senior officials have indicated that the arrangement is not ideal, especially with preparations for the upcoming Union Budget already underway. The absence of a dedicated Finance Secretary during this period could slow inter-departmental decision-making and affect policy alignment.

Traditionally, the senior-most secretary in the Finance Ministry is appointed as the Finance Secretary. At present, K Moses Chalai (IAS:1990:MN), Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), is the senior-most among the six. Other key secretaries include Arunish Chawla (IAS:1992:BH), Secretary, DIPAM; V Vualnam (IAS:1992:MN), Secretary, Expenditure; M Nagaraju (IAS:1993:TR), Secretary, Financial Services; Arvind Shrivastava (IAS:1994:KN), Secretary, Revenue; and Anuradha Thakur (IAS:1994:HP), Secretary, Economic Affairs — notably, the first woman to hold the position.

As the ministry heads into the critical budget season, the need for a full-time Finance Secretary has become increasingly urgent to maintain administrative discipline and ensure coordinated economic policymaking.

CAT orders revocation of Andhra IPS officer Vishal Gunni’s suspension

By
LO Bureau
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IPS Vishal Gunni's suspension

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ordered the revocation of Andhra Pradesh IPS officer Vishal Gunni (IPS:2010:AP). In its order, the CAT has instructed the state government to reinstate the officer and issue posting orders. According to it, Gunni has to be accorded all consequential benefits he is entitled to.

Gunni, a deputy inspector general (DIG) rank IPS officer, was placed under suspension after a Mumbai-based actress filed a complaint against him alleging harassment and being implicated in a false case by the Andhra Pradesh police, including Gunni. The complaint also included the then state intelligence chief and Vijayawada police commissioner, among others.

Gunni first moved the High Court and secured the stay orders on proceedings in the case and approached the CAT for quashing his suspension orders.

The tribunal noted that the state government’s order to suspend Gunni was based on apprehension, which held no ground for suspension. The CAT also said that the inquiry that led to Gunni’s suspension was solely based on media reports and lacked any material evidence. The CAT also cited the major lapse—a delay of eight months in lodging the complaint—to quash the suspension, saying the action lacked merit.

Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta reportedly resigns seven months after retirement

By
LO Bureau
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After remaining in office for nearly seven months post-retirement, DGP Anurag Gupta (IPS:1990:JH) has reportedly resigned from his post as Jharkhand’s Director General of Police. While an official announcement is yet to be made, sources at the Jharkhand Police Headquarters have confirmed the development.

Speculation over Gupta’s resignation began on Tuesday evening when activity was noticed at the DGP’s office around 7:30 pm. Gupta arrived at his office after working hours and later visited Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence on Kanke Road before returning home. These movements fuelled speculation about his resignation. Sources also indicated that his resignation has been accepted by the state government.

Anurag Gupta’s appointment as DGP had been controversial from the outset. The matter drew attention when the Hemant Soren-led government decided to retain him as DGP even after his retirement, a decision later rejected by the central government. The Centre had written to the Chief Minister, stating that extending Gupta’s tenure beyond his retirement date was against the prescribed norms.

Gupta was appointed DGP on February 3, 2025, through a state government notification citing Rule 10(1) of the Selection and Appointment Rules 2025 of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand (Chief of Police Force). However, according to the Centre, he officially retired on April 30, 2025.

Earlier, Gupta had taken charge as in-charge DGP of Jharkhand on July 26, 2024, but was removed by the Election Commission of India during the Assembly elections. After the polls, he was reinstated on November 28, 2024, following the return of the Soren government to power with a strong majority.

Also Read: SC declines contempt plea against Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta’s appointment

Also Read: UPSC rejects Anurag Gupta as Jharkhand DGP, promotion meet stalled

Also Read: Ongoing Centre-J’khand standoff over DGP Anurag Gupta escalates with third letter


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