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.
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:
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The case drew attention when the Rajasthan government communicated to the Centre that it had withdrawn the No Objection Certificate (NOC) earlier granted for his central deputation.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.
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:
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:
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:
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
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
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.
Raj Kumar Arora (IDAS:1990), presently serving as Special CGDA, has been appointed as Financial Adviser (Defence Services) in the Ministry of Defence.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (October 14, 2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment to the post with effect from on or after November 1, 2025.
Rajeev Khillan has been selected for appointment as Director (Projects), MECON Limited. The selection was made during a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on October 14, 2025. He is presently serving as Chief General Manager, NALCO Project Damanjodi & In-Charge, MECON Bengaluru, MECON Limited.
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.
Notably, Pradumn Kumar Dixit has been serving as Director (Projects), MECON Limited since September 2024 and is scheduled to retire on October 31, 2025.
Get Latest Updates