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

By
LO Bureau
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In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Kerala government on Saturday (August 30, 2025) issued transfer and posting orders for three senior IAS officers, effecting changes across agriculture, transport, and water governance.

According to the official notification, B Ashok (IAS:1998:KL) has been relieved from the post of Agriculture Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary of Agriculture. He has now been appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC).

Tinku Biswal (IAS:1997:KL) has been posted as the new Agriculture Production Commissioner. In addition, she will hold full additional charges of Principal Secretary, Agriculture, and Principal Secretary, Transport, consolidating key portfolios under her leadership.

Meanwhile, PB Nooh (IAS:2012:KL), currently serving as Special Secretary, Transport, has been given the additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala Water Authority.

Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar Meena gets three-month extension

By
LO Bureau
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The Centre has extended the tenure of Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar Meena (IAS:1988:MH) by three months. Meena, who was due to retire on August 31, 2025, will now remain in office until November 30, 2025, following an order issued on August 29.

According to officials, the extension has been granted primarily to ensure continuity in two critical areas — the upcoming local body elections scheduled through October and November, and the implementation of the state government’s ambitious 150-day programme aimed at grassroots-level administrative and procedural reforms.

Meena took charge as Chief Secretary on July 1, 2025, succeeding Sujata Saunik (IAS:1987:MH) upon her retirement. His short yet impactful tenure has focused on streamlining governance and pushing reform-oriented initiatives. The latest extension allows him to oversee crucial electoral and administrative transitions before demitting office in November.

Also Read: Maharashtra: Rajesh Kumar Meena appointed Chief Secretary (30.06.2025)


Madhya Pradesh: Deepali Rastogi, Shiv Shekhar Shukla promoted to ACS rank

By
LO Bureau
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In a key bureaucratic development, the Madhya Pradesh government has elevated two senior IAS officers of the 1994 batch, Deepali Rastogi and Shiv Shekhar Shukla, to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS). The promotions, notified by the General Administration Department on Saturday (August 30, 2025), will take effect from September 1, 2025.

Both officers, who were serving as Principal Secretaries, have now been placed in the Chief Secretary’s pay scale.

Deepali Rastogi, currently heading the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, has been promoted as ACS of the same department. Similarly, Shiv Shekhar Shukla, who was serving as Principal Secretary, Culture and Tourism Department, has been appointed as ACS of the same department.

The promotions come in the backdrop of the retirement of JN Kansotiya (IAS:1989:MP), former ACS, Home Department, on August 29. His superannuation created space for promotions at the ACS level. While it was widely anticipated that Deepali Rastogi would be elevated, the state government’s decision to simultaneously promote Shiv Shekhar Shukla came as an unexpected move, given that his advancement was earlier believed to have been delayed due to lack of vacancies.

Despite the promotions, both officers will continue to oversee their existing departments without any change in assignments.

Karnataka govt appoints Dr M A Saleem as State Police Chief

By
LO Bureau
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In a major development, the Karnataka government on Saturday (August 30, 2025) appointed Dr M A Saleem (IPS:1993:KN) as the full-time Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP), the head of the state police force.

Dr Saleem had been serving as the interim police chief since May 21, 2025, following the retirement of his predecessor Alok Mohan (IPS:1987:KN). Alongside this role, he also held the concurrent charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

A 1993-batch IPS officer, Dr Saleem is currently the third most senior DGP in Karnataka after Praveen Sood (IPS:1986:KN), who heads the CBI, and Prashant Kumar Thakur (IPS:1992:KN), serving in the state cadre.

The appointment comes just days after the Karnataka High Court disposed of a PIL questioning the delay in the selection of a regular police chief. The petition had urged compliance with the Supreme Court’s 1996 Prakash Singh directives mandating transparent and timely appointments of DGPs.

During the hearing, a division bench led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakru and Justice C M Joshi recorded the assurance of Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty that the state would finalise the appointment soon after receiving the UPSC empanelment list.

With the government’s notification now in place, Dr Saleem’s elevation as Karnataka’s top cop ends months of uncertainty over the leadership of the state police and paves the way for continuity in law enforcement.

Also Read: K’taka to have new police chief soon; MA Saleem leads race, Prashant Thakur also a contender

Also Read: MA Saleem gets concurrent charge as Karnataka DGP & IGP

Also Read: Karnataka govt extends DG&IGP Alok Mohan’s tenure to uphold two-year rule, sets key precedent


Telangana govt assigns additional responsibilities senior IAS officer Sabyasachi Ghosh

By
LO Bureau
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In a key administrative move, the Telangana government on Saturday (August 30, 2025) entrusted senior IAS officer Sabyasachi Ghosh (IAS:1994:TG) with additional responsibilities.

Currently serving as Special Chief Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries Department (AH, DD & F), Mr. Ghosh has been given full additional charge of Special Chief Secretary, Welfare, and Special Chief Secretary, Tribal Welfare.

This order relieves Varsini VS (IAS:2012:TG) from her earlier role of holding additional charge of Tribal Welfare.

G Venkatraman likely to become Acting Tamil Nadu DGP

By
LO Bureau
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Senior IPS officer G Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN), currently serving as DGP (Administration), is likely to be appointed as the acting Director General of Police (DGP) of Tamil Nadu.

With the state government yet to forward the panel of eligible DGP-rank officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) within the mandated three-month window, it has been left with no option but to make an ad hoc arrangement by appointing an Acting DGP. Officials said the file is expected to be dispatched in a day or two.

The state government had recently informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the process of finalising the panel is in progress. As per indications, Seema Agrawal (IPS:1990:TN), Rajeev Kumar (IPS:1992:TN) and Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS:1992:TN) are likely to find a place in the UPSC panel. Other DGP-rank officers in consideration include K. Vannia Perumal (IPS:1992:TN), Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal (IPS:1994:TN), G. Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN), Vinit Dev Wankhede (IPS:1994:TN) and Sanjay Mathur (IPS:1994:TN).

Also Read: Tamil Nadu likely to get Acting DGP

Justices Alok Aradhe, Vipul Pancholi sworn in as Supreme Court Judges

By
LO Bureau
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In a significant development, former Bombay High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and former Patna High Court Chief Justice Vipul M Pancholi were sworn in as judges of the Supreme Court on Friday (August 29, 2025). Chief Justice of India B R Gavai administered the oath of office to both judges. With their appointment, the Supreme Court has reached its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges, leaving no vacancies.

Collegium Recommendation and Centre’s Approval

The Supreme Court Collegium, led by CJI Gavai, recommended their elevation on August 25, 2025. The Centre cleared the appointments on Wednesday (August 27), paving the way for their swearing-in ceremony.

Justice Alok Aradhe: Career Highlights

Born: Raipur

Enrolled as Advocate: July 12, 1988

Judicial Career: Appointed Additional Judge, Madhya Pradesh High Court (Dec 2009); Permanent Judge (Feb 2011)

Transfers & Roles:

  • Jammu & Kashmir High Court (2016); Acting Chief Justice (2018)
  • Karnataka High Court (2018); Acting Chief Justice (July 2022)
  • Chief Justice, Telangana High Court (July 2023)
  • Chief Justice, Bombay High Court (Jan 2025

Justice Vipul M Pancholi: Career Highlights

Born: Gujarat

Enrolled as Advocate: September 1991; served as Assistant Government Pleader & Additional Public Prosecutor (1999–2006)

Judicial Career: Appointed Additional Judge, Gujarat High Court (Oct 2014); Permanent Judge (June 2016)

Transfers & Roles:

  • Patna High Court (July 2023)
  • Chief Justice, Patna High Court (July 21, 2025)

Centre grants 7-month extension to Telangana Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao

By
LO Bureau
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K Ramakrishna Rao IAS

In a rare move, the central government on Friday (August 29, 2025) approved the extension of Telangana Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao’s (IAS:1988:TG) tenure by seven months, allowing him to continue in office until March 2026. Rao, who took charge as Chief Secretary on April 30 this year, was due to retire on August 30.

Unlike the conventional practice of granting extensions for three or six months, the Union government sanctioned Rao’s extension in a single stretch of seven months, marking an unusual precedent in administrative appointments.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had formally requested Rao’s continuation on July 30, citing his vast administrative experience and ability to provide stability during a crucial phase of governance.

This decision is significant in Telangana’s administrative history. Since the state’s formation in 2014, only the first Chief Secretary, Rajiv Sharma, was given an extension—six months in total but split into two phases of three months each. Rao’s case stands out as the first instance of a one-time, seven-month extension.

Rao, a seasoned and non-controversial bureaucrat known for his financial acumen, holds the rare distinction of drafting 14 consecutive state Budgets as Finance Secretary since 2015.

PESB invites applications for CONCOR Director (Finance) post

By
LO Bureau
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CONCOR

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Director (Finance), Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR). The notification was issued on Friday (August 29, 2025), with September 25, 2025, set as the last date for submission of applications. Eligible candidates from both the public and private sectors can apply through the PESB portal.

The post has been lying vacant since October 11, 2024, when then Director (Finance) Manoj Kumar Dubey (IRAS:1993) was appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) on October 9, 2024. Dubey, who had joined CONCOR as Director (Finance) in October 2018 for five years, was granted a five-year extension in September 2023, extending his tenure until October 2028. However, following his elevation to CMD, the position fell vacant before completion of the extended tenure.

Since then, Anurag Kapil, Executive Director, Finance (X), Railway Board, has been holding additional charge of Director (Finance), CONCOR.

PESB invites applications for RVNL Director (Finance) post

By
LO Bureau
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The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Director (Finance), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). The notification was issued on Thursday (August 28, 2025), with September 24, 2025, as the last date for submission of applications. The vacancy is open to eligible candidates from both the public and private sectors, who can apply through the PESB portal.

The position has been vacant since June 1, 2025, following the superannuation of incumbent Director (Finance) Sanjeeb Kumar (IRAS:1989). Kumar was appointed to the post on April 13, 2020, for a five-year tenure, assuming charge on May 5, 2020. His term officially ended on May 5, 2025, but was extended until his retirement on May 31, 2025.

At present, Abhishek Kumar (IRAS:2001), Executive Director (Finance – Budget) in the Railway Board, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Director (Finance), RVNL.

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