The Union government on Friday (August 08, 2025) notified appointment of Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Additional Judge of Chhattisgarh High Court, as Permanent Judge of that High Court. His appointment is effective from the date he assumes office.
The decision follows the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation made on July 28, 2025.
Also Read: Supreme Court collegium clears multiple appointments across four High Courts
The central government on Friday (August 08, 2025) assigned IAS officer Purva Garg (IAS:2015:AGMUT) additional charge as Director of Census Operations (DCO) and Director of Citizen Registration (DCR) for Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Garg will hold the post at the Deputy Secretary level under the Central Staffing Scheme from the date of assuming charge until December 31, 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
She has been instructed to take up her new assignment immediately and inform the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) and the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India.
The Central government on Friday (August 8, 2025) appointed IAS officer Sujal Jayantibhai Mayatra (IAS:2011:GJ) as Director of Census Operations and Director of Citizen Registration, Gujarat.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Mayatra will assume the role from the date of taking charge and serve until December 31, 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
He has been directed to be relieved of his present duties immediately to join his new assignment.
Suvasis Das (IRS-IT:2014), who was recommended for central deputation by the Department of Revenue, has been selected for appointment as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Delhi, for four years. According to the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (August 08, 2025), Das will serve in the post for a period of four years from the date of assuming charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
He has been directed to be relieved of his present duties immediately to join his new assignment in the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
IAS officer Inderjeet Singh (IAS:2010:RJ) has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Culture, Delhi, for five years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (August 8, 2025), the competent authority has approved his appointment under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of five years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
He has been directed to be relieved of his present duties immediately to join his new assignment in the Ministry of Culture.
Vivek Aggarwal (IAS:1994:MP), Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, has been given additional charge of the post of Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (August 8, 2025), the competent authority has approved the assignment of additional charge to Mr. Aggarwal from August 11, 2025, to September 4, 2025, during the leave of the incumbent, Ms. V Vidyavathi (IAS:1991:KN).
Sanjeev Chopra (IAS:1990:OR), Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, has been given additional charge of the post of Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (August 8, 2025), the competent authority has approved the assignment of additional charge to Mr. Chopra from August 9, 2025, to August 21, 2025, during the leave of the incumbent, AP Das Joshi (IAS:1994:AM).
The Union government on Friday (August 08, 2025) notified appointment of Judicial Officer Vimal Kumar Yadav as a Judge of the Delhi High Court, effective from the date he assumes office. The decision follows the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation made on July 28, 2025.
Also Read: Judicial Officer Vimal Kumar Yadav recommended for Delhi HC Judgeship
A public interest lawsuit contesting the recent appointment of four IAS officers as government press spokespersons was dismissed by the Madras High Court on August 7. The IAS officers were designated as the spokespersons for the state government, not the ruling party, according to the bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan. The court was not inclined to consider the plea because it also pointed out that no laws had been broken at the time of the appointments. Advocate M Sathya Kumar of Selaiyur in Chennai had submitted the plea, which the court dismissed with costs of Rs. 1 lakh.
The petitioner’s lawyer said during the arguments that the IAS officers should not be exploited for political purposes, even in an indirect way. He said that the appointment had only been made through a press release and that no government order had been issued in the governor’s name authorising the four senior IAS officers to serve as the government’s official spokespersons.
The Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Ministry for Tamil Development, Information, and Publicity, published Press Release No. 1602, which assigned the IAS officers to interact with the media and distribute public information. The officers were J Radhakrishnan (IAS:1992:TN), Gagandeep Singh Bedi (IAS:1993:TN), Dheeraj Kumar (IAS:1993:TN), and P Amudha (IPS:1994:TN).
The plea contested this release. According to the press release, each IAS officer is allocated to a different government department, and the officer is responsible for disseminating all official comments regarding significant accomplishments, plans, and advancements within the department in question.
The court was not convinced to accept Kumar’s argument that it was a political appointment. According to the court, the appointment was made solely for informational purposes and did not violate any laws.
Also Read: PIL filed in Madras HC against appointment of IAS officers as TN govt spokespersons
Also Read: Tamil Nadu appoints four senior IAS officers as official spokespersons
K Moses Chalai (IAS:1990:MN), Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), is tipped to be appointed as India’s next Finance Secretary, with a formal announcement expected soon.
By convention, the senior-most secretary in the Union Finance Ministry is chosen for the top administrative post. Chalai, a 1990-batch IAS officer of the Manipur cadre, currently holds that seniority, making him the leading contender to fill the vacancy created after Ajay Seth (IAS:1987:KN) retired on June 30, 2025.
Chalai assumed charge as DPE Secretary on April 22, 2025. The Finance Ministry comprises six departments — Revenue, Economic Affairs, Expenditure, Financial Services, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), and Public Enterprises.
The Finance Secretary serves as the administrative head of the ministry, coordinating inter-departmental policy, overseeing fiscal implementation, and guiding the government’s broader economic strategy.
If appointed, Chalai will make history as the first bureaucrat from the Northeast to hold this crucial position, potentially serving until his scheduled retirement in January 2028. His appointment is also expected to strengthen the Centre’s engagement with the region.
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