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Manish Pradhan selected as Director (Technical), MRVC

Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has selected Manish Pradhan for appointment as Director (Technical), Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC). The selection was made during a PESB meeting held on October 17, 2025.

Mr. Pradhan is currently serving as Chief Workshop Engineer in the Ministry of Railways.

Following the PESB’s recommendation, his name has been forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. His appointment will be subject to necessary vigilance clearances and the ACC’s nod.

The PESB had issued an advertisement on May 21, 2025, inviting applications for the post of Director (Technical), which fell vacant on February 1, 2025, after Vilas Sopan Wadekar—then serving as Director (Technical)—was appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of MRVC following PESB selection and subsequent ACC approval.

A total of 10 candidates were shortlisted and interviewed by the Board. Those who appeared before the PESB included:

  1. Arun Venkatesh Vernekar, Chief General Manager (Business Development), Ircon International Limited
  2. Atul Shriram Patil, Additional General Manager (Township Administration & Plant Civil Maintenance), NTPC Limited
  3. Murari Lal Meena, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction/Road Safety Projects), North Western Railway, Jaipur
  4. Manish Pradhan, Chief Workshop Engineer, Ministry of Railways
  5. Ashish Mehrotra, Chief Electrical Engineer (Distribution), Northern Railway
  6. Prafulla Chandra, Chief Electrical Engineer (Operation), Ministry of Railways
  7. Uday Prasad Singh, Principal Chief Project Manager, NHSRCL, Mumbai
  8. Anoop Kumar, Chief Track Engineer, Ministry of Railways
  9. Harishankar Chaurvedi, Chief Project Manager (MRVC), Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited
  10. Rajneesh Kumar Tomar, Chief Rolling Stock Engineer (Coaching), Ministry of Railways

Indian Red Cross Society Felicitates REC Foundation with CSR Award of Appreciation

Recognizing its exceptional contribution to healthcare accessibility and community welfare, the Indian Red Cross Society has conferred the ‘CSR Award of Appreciation’ upon REC Foundation, the CSR arm of REC Limited.

The honour was presented by Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, Hon’ble Governor of Punjab, to Shri Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited.

REC Foundation’s continuous efforts to deliver quality healthcare through Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) underscore its unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people in the nation’s most remote and underserved regions.

Through its CSR initiatives, REC continues to promote inclusive growth and equitable access to essential services, reaffirming its dedication to nation-building and community empowerment

Simmi Chaudhary gets additional charge as Financial Adviser, KVIC

Simmi Chaudhary (IES:1996), Economic Adviser, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), has been given the additional charge of Financial Adviser (FA) (JS level) in the Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Mumbai.

According to an order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Thursday (October 16, 2025), she will hold the additional charge for a period of six months with effect from July 12, 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

ACC approves Apex Pay Scale for IPS officers Praveen Vashista and Rajesh Nirwan

Indian Police Service

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Thursday (October 16, 2025) approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to grant the Apex pay scale (Level-17 in the pay matrix) to two senior IPS officers with immediate effect.

The officers are:

  1. Praveen Vashista (IPS:1991:BH), presently serving as Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs. He is scheduled to retire on July 31, 2026.
  2. Rajesh Nirwan (IPS:1992:RJ), currently serving as Director General, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). He is scheduled to retire on January 31, 2029.

Rajasthan govt relieves Dr KK Pathak for central deputation as Joint Secretary in Ministry of Fertilisers

The Rajasthan government on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) finally relieved Dr KK Pathak (IAS:2001:RJ) from his charge, enabling him to take up his new assignment as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Fertilisers. This move brings an end to the stalemate that had persisted for weeks over his central deputation.

Dr Pathak was serving as Secretary, Department of Personnel, in the Rajasthan government.

The case drew attention when the Rajasthan government communicated to the Centre that it had withdrawn the No Objection Certificate (NOC) earlier granted for his central deputation. Reportedly, the state government took the decision in July 2025, but conveyed it to the Centre only in the second week of September 2025.

Citing an acute shortage of IAS officers in the cadre, the state government was reluctant to relieve its key officers. Along with Dr Pathak, the central deputation requests of two other IAS officers, P Ramesh (IAS:2005:RJ) and Nakate Shiv Prasad Madan (IAS:2011:RJ), were also turned down.

Interestingly, the Union government on September 13, 2025, issued an order appointing Dr KK Pathak as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Fertilisers, despite the state’s communication about the withdrawal of his NOC. These back-to-back decisions by the state and the Centre triggered a wave of speculation within bureaucratic circles in both Delhi and Jaipur.

Though the Centre’s move indicated a clear outcome, the formal relieving order from the state was awaited to put the matter to rest. With Wednesday’s development, the long-drawn episode has finally concluded, clearing the way for Dr Pathak’s central posting.

S Usha Selected as Director (Market Operation), Grid Controller of India Limited

Grid India

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has selected S Usha for appointment as Director (Market Operation) in Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India). The selection was made during a PESB meeting held on October 16, 2025.

Ms. Usha is presently serving as Executive Director, National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC), New Delhi, at Grid Controller of India Limited.

Following the PESB’s recommendation, her name has been forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. Her appointment will be subject to necessary vigilance clearances and the ACC’s nod.

Notably, PESB had issued an advertisement on July 17, 2025, inviting applications for the post of Director (Market Operation), which fell vacant on May 1, 2025, following the elevation of Samir Chandra Saxena to the post of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Grid-India. Mr. Saxena was earlier appointed as Director (Market Operation) in July 2024 for a five-year term before his promotion to CMD after ACC approval.

A total of 11 candidates were shortlisted and interviewed for the post. The following candidates appeared before the Board:

  1. Manoj Kumar Agrawal, Executive Director (NRLDC), Grid Controller of India Limited
  2. Srinivas Tumuluru, Executive Director (CISO & Engineering), Grid Controller of India Limited
  3. S Usha, Executive Director, National Load Despatch Centre, Grid Controller of India Limited
  4. Sajan George, Chief General Manager, Incharge of NERLDC, Shillong, Grid Controller of India Limited
  5. Binoy Shankar Roy, Chief General Manager, Grid Controller of India Limited
  6. Gyaneshwar Prasad Payasi, Chief General Manager (Project Management), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
  7. K. Nagaraj Bhat, Chief General Manager (Skill Development Centre Incharge), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
  8. Srinivasa Rao Gaddamanugu, Executive Director, NTPC Limited
  9. Atulya Kumar Naik, Executive Director (Energy Management, Business Development, Contracts & Procurement), Solar Energy Corporation of India
  10. Shyam Kumar, Chief General Manager (Head of Project), NTPC Limited
  11. Sanjiv Shrivastava, Executive Director (Commercial), Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)

Sagar Appasaheb Modhole Selected as Director (Finance), Munitions India Limited

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has selected Sagar Appasaheb Modhole for the post of Director (Finance) at Munitions India Limited (MIL). The selection was made during a PESB meeting held on October 15, 2025.

Mr. Modhole is currently serving as Chief General Manager (Finance), Marketing Head Office, Mumbai, at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

Following the PESB’s recommendation, his name has been forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. His appointment will be subject to the necessary vigilance clearances and the ACC’s nod.

Notably, the PESB had advertised the post on June 3, 2025, the same day it fell vacant, inviting applications from eligible candidates. Out of several applicants, 10 candidates were shortlisted and interviewed for the position.

Those interviewed included:

  1. Akhilesh Kumar Mishra, Deputy Director General (M&P), Department of Defence Production
  2. Sagar Appasaheb Modhole, Chief General Manager (F), Marketing Head Office, Mumbai, Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  3. Tilak Raj Taneja, Chief General Manager, The Cotton Corporation of India Limited
  4. Ashok Kumar Mali, Chief General Manager, E8 (CFO – NUPPL), NLC India Limited
  5. Shiv Kumar Sharma, General Manager (Head of Finance, Corporate Centre), Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India)
  6. Kamal Nath Thakur, Additional General Manager (Internal Audit), NTPC Limited
  7. Yogesh Kumar, Chief Financial Officer (on Secondment to Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd), National Fertilizers Limited
  8. Ramesh Kumar, Additional General Manager (Finance – Commercial), NTPC Limited
  9. Sanjay Sinha, Chief General Manager (Finance & Accounts), GAIL (India) Limited
  10. Deepak Kumar, Additional General Manager (Head of Finance), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

Union govt notifies transfer of 11 High Court Judges

Ministry of Law & Justice

The Union government on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) notified the transfer of 11 Judges across various High Courts in the country, following the recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium.

The transferred Judges are:

  1. Justice Arun Monga — from Delhi High Court to Rajasthan High Court
  2. Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju — from Delhi High Court to Karnataka High Court
  3. Justice Avneesh Jhingan — from Rajasthan High Court to Delhi High Court
  4. Justice Dinesh Mehta — from Rajasthan High Court to Delhi High Court
  5. Justice C. Sudha — from Kerala High Court to Delhi High Court
  6. Justice Cheekati Manavendranath Roy — from Gujarat High Court to Andhra Pradesh High Court
  7. Justice Donadi Ramesh — from Allahabad High Court to Andhra Pradesh High Court
  8. Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt — from Gujarat High Court to Madhya Pradesh High Court
  9. Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh — from Allahabad High Court to Patna High Court
  10. Justice Subhendu Samanta — from Calcutta High Court to Andhra Pradesh High Court
  11. Justice J. Nisha Banu — from Madras High Court to Kerala High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on August 27, 2025, had recommended the transfer of 14 Judges from various High Courts, of which 11 have now been notified by the Centre.

Also Read: SC Collegium recommends transfer of 14 High Court Judges

Uttarakhand IPS officer Lokeshwar Singh quits to join UN-linked organisation

IPS Lokeshwar Singh

Senior IPS officer Lokeshwar Singh (IPS:2014:UK), current Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, has resigned following his selection for a prestigious international position affiliated with the United Nations.

The officer has submitted his resignation and sought the necessary clearance from the Police Headquarters and the state government. Once formal approval is received, he will be relieved of his responsibilities in the Uttarakhand police cadre to assume the new role.

Singh has served for about 11 years, holding postings in various districts such as Haridwar, Dehradun, Bageshwar, Champawat, and Pithoragarh, before taking charge in Pauri. His new assignment reportedly focuses on key global priorities—peacekeeping, institutional integrity, and sustainable development.

Also Read: Uttarakhand: IPS Rachita Juyal resigns from service

Also Read: Union Home Ministry accepts resignation of IPS officer Rachita Juyal

SC directs Telangana ex-SIB chief T Prabhakar Rao to share iCloud password with probe team

T Prabhakar Rao IPS

In a key development in the Telangana phone-tapping case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) directed former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused in the case, to provide access credentials for his iCloud account in the presence of forensic experts. The bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan also extended interim protection from arrest, while directing him to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Telangana government, alleged that Rao had destroyed electronic evidence and formatted official devices after seeking anticipatory bail. “He was intercepting the phones of several influential persons, not just politicians. After moving his bail plea, he formatted the device—making it appear brand new,” Mehta said, adding that forensic findings indicated possible data backups on 15 external hard drives.

Countering the allegations, senior advocate D S Naidu, appearing for Rao, maintained that his client was being targeted for political reasons and had already complied with most of the investigators’ requests. He clarified that the formatting of official systems followed standard departmental protocols for sensitive data and that Rao was ready to reset and share the iCloud password under expert supervision.

The courtroom witnessed tense moments when Naidu alleged that MPs and MLAs had been allowed to question Rao during the probe. Justice Nagarathna reacted sharply, observing, “It cannot be a tamasha. Elected representatives cannot be part of an investigation or act as spectators.” Mehta, however, denied the claim and offered to submit an affidavit refuting it.

Earlier, the Telangana High Court had rejected Rao’s anticipatory bail plea on May 3, 2025, leading him to approach the Supreme Court. The apex court had subsequently granted him interim protection on May 29, after a Hyderabad court issued a proclamation order declaring him an absconder if he failed to appear by June 20.

The case, which has stirred political circles in Telangana, revolves around alleged illegal surveillance and phone interception of opposition leaders and senior bureaucrats during the previous government’s tenure.

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