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B Ashok likely to challenge transfer order, set for fresh legal battle

By
LO Bureau
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Dr B Ashok IAS

In what could trigger another round of litigation, senior IAS officer B Ashok (IAS:1998:KL) is preparing to approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) against the Kerala government’s decision to remove him from the post of Agriculture Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department.

Ashok, who is on leave till September 8, is reportedly unwilling to assume his new assignment as Chairman of the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC), a deputation role to which he was shifted. The post has now been filled by Tinku Biswal (IAS:1997:KL), who has also taken charge as Agriculture Production Commissioner.

The transfer comes against the backdrop of a controversy surrounding the diversion of World Bank funds earmarked for the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KERA) Project. The Agriculture Department opposed the Finance Department’s decision to reallocate the funds, sparking tensions within the government.

The row escalated after a World Bank email related to the fund diversion was leaked to the media. Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, K M Abraham, flagged the issue and directed an inquiry. Ashok, tasked with the probe, concluded that the email could not have been leaked from the Agriculture Department and suggested that the source may have been higher up, even pointing toward the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

Soon after the report was submitted, Ashok was transferred from the Agriculture Department. This is not the first time he has challenged a reassignment—his earlier posting as Chairman of the Kerala State Local Self-Government Reforms Commission was quashed by CAT following his appeal.

With Ashok gearing up for another legal battle, the case is expected to ignite a prolonged tussle over administrative autonomy, accountability, and the handling of sensitive files in the state government.

Also Read: Kerala govt transfers three IAS officers; B Ashok is new Chairman of KTDFC

Also Read: Kerala: CAT rules Dr B Ashok’s transfer violated IAS cadre rules

Also Read: Kerala IAS officer B Ashok gets relief from CAT, to continue as Agriculture Principal Secretary

MOIL records highest-ever August production, achieves 17% growth

By
LO Bureau
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State-owned manganese mining company MOIL has achieved its highest-ever production for the month of August, touching 1.45 lakh tonnes in August 2025. This marks an impressive 17% growth over the corresponding period last year (CPLY).

On the sales front, MOIL also registered robust performance with 1.13 lakh tonnes sold, reflecting a strong 25.6% year-on-year growth.

For the April–August 2025 period, the company delivered its best-ever performance, producing 7.92 lakh tonnes of manganese ore, up 9.3% y-o-y. In addition, MOIL carried out 50,621 meters of exploratory drilling, recording an 8.6% increase compared to the same period last year.

Ajit Kumar Saxena, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), congratulated the MOIL team for their consistent efforts. He lauded their ability to maintain growth in both production and sales despite challenging weather conditions, attributing the achievement to the dedication and resilience of the workforce.

This record-breaking performance highlights MOIL’s sustained momentum in strengthening its production capacity and contributing to India’s manganese requirements, an essential raw material for the steel industry.

Deepak Mittal appointed India’s new Ambassador to UAE

By
LO Bureau
-

Senior diplomat Dr Deepak Mittal (IFS:1998) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Mittal will soon assume charge in Abu Dhabi, succeeding Sunjay Sudhir (IFS:1993), who has been in office since 2021.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the appointment on Tuesday (September 2, 2025), stating, “Dr. Deepak Mittal (IFS:1998) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.”

India and the UAE share strong diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties that date back to 1972. Relations gained renewed momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic 2015 visit—the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over three decades. Since then, PM Modi has visited the UAE five more times, including his most recent trip in late 2023 to attend COP28 in Dubai.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) has also undertaken several high-profile visits to India, including participation in the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi and the 2024 Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

Dr. Mittal’s appointment comes at a time when the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to expand across energy, trade, defense, and climate action. His leadership is expected to further strengthen this vital bilateral relationship.

Two IRS (IT) officers appointed as SPs in CBI

By
LO Bureau
-

In a key administrative move, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Tuesday (September 2, 2025) approved the induction of two Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officers into the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).

Vedant Kumar (IRS-IT:2016) has been appointed as SP in the CBI for an initial tenure of three years, effective from the date he assumes charge of the post, or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.

Similarly, Kavinder Singh Negi (IRS-IT:2015) has been appointed as SP in the CBI for a period of four years, starting from the date of his assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Virendra Tiwari appointed Chairperson of National Biodiversity Authority

By
LO Bureau
-

In a major leadership change, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) cleared the appointment of Virendra Tiwari, Director of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), as the new Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). Tiwari, a 1990-batch Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer from the Maharashtra cadre, will succeed Chirra Achalender Reddy (IFoS:1986:AGMUT), whose three-year tenure ends on November 30, 2025.

According to the official order, Tiwari’s appointment will be for a term of three years, or until he attains the age of 65 years, whichever comes earlier. His elevation comes at a critical juncture for the NBA, the statutory body formed in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, tasked with overseeing biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of resources.

C.A. Reddy has been at the helm of the authority since December 1, 2022, steering its mandate of biodiversity management and policy advisory to the Central and State Governments. With Tiwari stepping in, the NBA is expected to strengthen its role in addressing the growing challenges of balancing conservation with economic growth in one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots.

The National Biodiversity Authority plays a central role in regulating access to India’s biological resources, ensuring fair and equitable benefit-sharing, and advising governments on conservation strategies. It is also responsible for identifying and declaring biodiversity heritage sites of ecological importance.

SC Collegium recommends 26 names for Allahabad HC Judges

By
LO Bureau
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IAS Abhishek Prakash

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of 12 Advocates and 14 Judicial Officers as judges of the Allahabad High Court. The recommendations were finalized during the Collegium’s meeting held on September 1, 2025.

Among the 26 proposed names, Senior Advocates Garima Prashad, Swarupama Chaturvedi, and Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary are noted practitioners at the Supreme Court of India.

The names of the recommended Advocates;

  1. Vivek Saran
  2. Adnan Ahmad
  3. Vivek Kumar Singh
  4. Garima Prashad
  5. Sudhanshu Chauhan
  6. Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary
  7. Swarupama Chaturvedi
  8. Jai Krishna Upadhyay
  9. Siddharth Nandan
  10. Kunal Ravi Singh
  11. Indrajeet Shukla
  12. Satya Veer Singh

The names of the recommended Judicial Officers;

  1. Dr Ajay Kumar- II
  2. Chawan Prakash
  3. Divesh Chandra Samant
  4. Prashant Mishra-I
  5. Tarun Saxena
  6. Rajeev Bharti
  7. Padam Narain Mishra
  8. Lakshmi Kant Shukla
  9. Jai Prakash Tiwari
  10. Devendra Singh-I
  11. Sanjiv Kumar
  12. Vani Ranjan Agrawal
  13. Achal Sachdev
  14. Babita Rani

Karnataka govt assigns concurrent charges to 11 IAS officers

By
LO Bureau
-
Karnataka Govt pulls up IAS

In an another significant administrative reshuffle, the Karnataka government on Tuesday (September 2, 2025) issued transfer and posting orders, placing several IAS officers in concurrent charges of key departments.

The names of the officers and their postings are;

  1. Mohan Raj KP (IAS:2007:KN), Managing Director, Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (KBJNL), Bengaluru, has been given the additional charge of Commissioner, Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Upper Krishna Project, Bagalkot.
  2. Patil Yalagouda Shivanagouda (IAS:2012:KN), Commissioner, Agriculture Department, has been placed in concurrent charge as Director, Horticulture and Director, National Horticulture Mission, Bengaluru.
  3. Dr Gopal Krishna HN (IAS:2012:KN), Commissioner for Labour, Bengaluru, has been assigned concurrent charge of Commissioner for ESIS, Labour Department, Bengaluru.
  4. Dr Rajendra KV (IAS:2013:KN), Commissioner, Bengaluru West City Corporation & Greater Bengaluru Authority, will hold the additional charge of Managing Director, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Bengaluru.
  5. Mullai Muhilan MP (IAS:2013:KN), Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps, Bengaluru, will additionally serve as Commissioner, Revenue (Revenue, LAQ, R&R and Social Security), Bengaluru.
  6. Venkat Raja (IAS:2013:KN), Deputy Commissioner, Kodagu District, Madikeri, is placed in concurrent charge as Regional Commissioner, Mysuru Division, Mysuru.
  7. Nalini Atul (IAS:2014:KN), Secretary, Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board & E/o Joint Secretary, Planning, Programme Monitoring & Statistics Department, Kalaburagi, will hold additional charge as Additional Commissioner for Public Instruction, Kalaburagi.
  8. Lokhande Snehal Sudhakar (IAS:2017:KN), Additional Commissioner (Development), Bengaluru East City Corporation, Greater Bengaluru Authority, has been placed in concurrent charge as Managing Director, Karnataka Vidyut Karkhane Limited, Bengaluru.
  9. Bharat S (IAS:2017:KN), Director, Pre-University Education, Bengaluru, is placed in additional charge as Director of Tourism, Bengaluru.
  10. Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur (IAS:2019:KN), Additional Commissioner (Development), Bengaluru Central City Corporation, Greater Bengaluru Authority, will hold the additional charge as Joint Controller of Examination, Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), Bengaluru.
  11. Daljeet Kumar (IAS:2021:KN), Deputy Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and Science & Technology, Bengaluru, is placed in concurrent charge as Director, Information Technology and Bio-Technology, Bengaluru.

Vivek Aggarwal gets 3-day extension as Tourism Secretary

By
LO Bureau
-
Vivek Aggarwal IAS

The Centre has extended the additional charge of Vivek Aggarwal (IAS:1994:MP), Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, as Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (September 2, 2025), the competent authority has approved the continuation of additional charge up to September 7, 2025, during the leave of Ms V. Vidyavathi (IAS:1991:KN).

Mr. Aggarwal was earlier entrusted with the responsibility from August 11 to September 4, 2025. With Ms. Vidyavathi’s leave extended by three more days, his tenure in the dual role has also been extended accordingly.

Greater Bengaluru Authority Replaces BBMP, IAS Officers Appointed to Key Posts

By
LO Bureau
-
Karnataka Govt pulls up IAS

In a governance reform, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officially came into existence on Tuesday (September 2, 2025), replacing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The new authority will oversee the administration of India’s tech capital through five city corporations—Bengaluru West, Bengaluru South, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru East, and Bengaluru Central.

The GBA will be headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as its President, with Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru in-charge D.K. Shivakumar serving as Vice-President. Senior IAS officer M. Maheshwar Rao (IAS:1995:KN), the outgoing BBMP Chief Commissioner, has been appointed as the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

To streamline governance under the new structure, the Karnataka government has transferred and appointed several IAS officers to crucial positions:

  • Rajendra Cholan P. (IAS:2008:KN) – Commissioner, Bengaluru Central City Corporation
  • Ramesh D.S. (IAS:2010:KN) – Commissioner, Bengaluru East City Corporation
  • Pommala Sunil Kumar (IAS:2011:KN) – Commissioner, Bengaluru North City Corporation
  • Ramesh K.N. (IAS:2012:KN) – Commissioner, Bengaluru South City Corporation
  • Rajendra K.V. (IAS:2013:KN) – Commissioner, Bengaluru West City Corporation
  • Latha R. (IAS:2012:KN) – Additional Commissioner (Development), Bengaluru North
  • Pandve Rahul Tukaram (IAS:2016:KN) – Additional Commissioner (Development), Bengaluru South
  • Lokhande Snehal Sudhakar (IAS:2017:KN) – Additional Commissioner (Development), Bengaluru East
  • Digvijay Bodke (IAS:2018:KN) – Additional Commissioner (Development), Bengaluru West
  • Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur (IAS:2019:KN) – Additional Commissioner (Development), Bengaluru Central

The creation of GBA is expected to bring greater efficiency, accountability, and decentralization in Bengaluru’s urban governance, addressing long-standing challenges of infrastructure, civic services, and urban planning.

TCA Kalyani takes charge as new Controller General of Accounts

By
LO Bureau
-

Senior bureaucrat TCA Kalyani, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), has assumed charge as the 29th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

A gold medalist from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, Ms. Kalyani holds an M.A. in International Politics and an M.Phil. in West European Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University. With over 34 years of distinguished service, she brings rich expertise in public financial management, governance, and accounting reforms.

Throughout her career, she has served in key ministries including Defence, Telecom, Fertilizers, Finance, Social Justice & Empowerment, Information & Broadcasting, and Home Affairs. Known for championing technology-driven transparency, she played a pivotal role in the launch of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for fertilizer subsidies, ensuring seamless support to farmers.

At MTNL, Ms. Kalyani spearheaded digital transformation initiatives, such as online bill payments and kiosk-based services, while also contributing to the revival of Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited.

Before her elevation as CGA, she was the Principal Chief Controller of Accounts (Pr. CCA), Ministry of Home Affairs, overseeing complex financial management and budgeting for one of the government’s largest ministries.

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