In a significant development, the tenure of Saurabh Garg (Retd. IAS:1991:OR) as Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been extended by one more year. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the extension on a contractual basis beyond July 31, 2025, until July 31, 2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Mr Garg will continue to serve on the existing terms and conditions and will also discharge the functions of Secretary to the National Statistical Commission.
Notably, Saurabh Garg was first appointed as MoSPI Secretary on May 30, 2024, shortly before his superannuation on July 31, 2024. His initial post-retirement extension was for one year, from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025, also on a contractual basis. The latest decision marks a second consecutive extension,
Garg has previously served as CEO of UIDAI and has held several key positions in both the central and state governments, particularly in the domains of finance, technology, and governance reform.
In a significant diplomatic appointment, Sibi George (IFS:1993) has been named Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Mr George to the post.
George will succeed Tanmaya Lal (IFS:1991), who is set to retire on August 31, 2025.
With over three decades of diplomatic service, Sibi George has previously served as Ambassador of India to Japan, Kuwait, Switzerland, the Holy See, and Liechtenstein. Known for his expertise in South Asia and Western affairs, his elevation is expected to bring valuable leadership to MEA’s Western divisions and Indo-Pacific policy engagements.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) approved the empanelment of 35 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from the 1993 and 1994 batches for holding Director General (DG) or DG equivalent positions in the Government of India.
Director General/Director General Equivalent posts:
The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on July 28, 2025, approved the proposal for appointment of Vimal Kumar Yadav, a judicial officer, as a Judge of the Delhi High Court.
His elevation is part of the ongoing effort to fill judicial vacancies across the country. The appointment will be formalized upon issuance of a notification by the Government of India following necessary clearances.
In a key judicial development, the Supreme Court Collegium has approved the elevation of Justice Gurusiddaiah Basavaraja as a Permanent Judge of the Karnataka High Court. The decision was taken at a Collegium meeting held on July 28, 2025.
Justice Basavaraja, who has been serving as an Additional Judge since his initial elevation, is set to become a Permanent Judge of the Karnataka High Court. His appointment will take effect upon the issuance of the formal notification by the Government of India.
REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and one of India’s leading non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), has achieved a major milestone by becoming the first Indian public sector NBFC to receive the ISO 31000:2018 certification for its enterprise risk management framework. The certification has been awarded by the British Standards Institution (BSI), a globally recognised body for international management system standards.
The ISO 31000:2018 certification is a globally accepted benchmark that outlines principles and guidelines for effective risk management. By securing this certification, REC has demonstrated its adherence to internationally aligned best practices in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks across all levels of its operations.
The official certificate was presented to REC’s Chief Risk Officer, Subrata Aich, during the company’s 56th Foundation Day celebration. The event was attended by Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, along with Prateek Rai, India Head – Training (Sales and Operations), BSI.
“This ISO 31000:2018 certification is a testament to REC’s unwavering commitment to excellence in enterprise risk management,” said Subrata Aich. “It signifies that REC has a structured, comprehensive, and globally compliant approach to risk mitigation, which will further enhance the confidence of all our stakeholders, including investors and lenders.”
As a premier financial institution in India’s power sector, REC has consistently undertaken reforms to strengthen corporate governance and risk frameworks. With a growing portfolio in conventional and renewable energy financing, the implementation of an enterprise-wide risk management system aligns with REC’s broader strategy to maintain operational resilience and regulatory compliance.
This achievement also underscores REC’s leadership role among Indian NBFCs and PSUs in adopting international standards in risk oversight. It is expected to further elevate REC’s standing with credit rating agencies, regulatory institutions, and domestic as well as global stakeholders.
In a key bureaucratic reshuffle, the Kerala government on Monday (July 28, 2025) appointed senior IPS officer M R Ajith Kumar (IPS:1995:KL) as the new Excise Commissioner of Kerala, replacing Mahipal Yadav(IPS:1997:KL), who is currently on extended medical leave.
Ajith Kumar, who was serving as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed Police Battalions, has been transferred to the newly created ex-cadre post of Excise Commissioner with immediate effect, as per the official notification from the state’s Department of Home Affairs.
Previously in Contention for State Police Chief Post
The 1995-batch IPS officer was previously considered among the top contenders for the Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) post earlier this year. His name was forwarded by the state government along with five other IPS officers. However, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selected candidates based solely on its eligibility benchmarks, eventually leading to the appointment of Ravada A Chandrasekhar as the new state police chief.
Controversial Track Record and Recent Scrutiny
Ajith Kumar’s career has been marked by both commendable service and controversial incidents. Most recently, he faced flak for allegedly violating a Kerala High Court order by using a Kerala Police tractor on the Sabarimala Swami Ayyappan Road during the annual pilgrimage on July 12.
Further, in October 2024, he was removed from the Law and Order portfolio based on a confidential report submitted by the then DGP Sheikh Darvesh Saheb. The report cited multiple lapses, including a controversial meeting with senior RSS leaders and alleged mishandling of the investigation into the murder of Ridan, who was suspected to have links to a gold smuggling racket operating through Karipur International Airport.
Assigning Ajith Kumar—despite his controversial image—signals the government’s continued trust in his administrative abilities. He remains in service until 2028 and is still considered a strong candidate for future elevation to DGP rank, should vacancies arise.
In a major administrative decision, the Karnataka government has revoked the suspension orders of four police officers—including two senior IPS officers—earlier suspended over their alleged roles in the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, which claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured.
According to a government order issued on July 28, 2025, the suspension of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) B Dayananda (IPS:1994:KN), Superintendent of Police (SP) Shekar H Tekannavar (IPS:2014:KN), Deputy Superintendent of Police C Balakrishna, and Inspector A K Girish has been officially revoked. All four officers have been reinstated to service, though departmental disciplinary proceedings against them will continue.
However, the suspension of Inspector General of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash remains in effect, pending a court-monitored proceeding currently underway in the Karnataka High Court.
Stampede Inquiry Reports Prompt Reconsideration
The decision to reinstate the officers comes after the submission of two separate inquiry reports—one by the judicial commission led by retired High Court judge Justice John Michael D’Cunha, and another by the magisterial committee headed by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Jagadish G. The reports were submitted to the government on July 10 and 11, respectively.
The inquiry commissions highlighted significant lapses in coordination and planning by multiple stakeholders, including the event organizer DNA Entertainment Networks, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), the RCB management, and the Bengaluru City Police. While details of the reports have not been made public, sources indicated that preliminary findings may not have conclusively established individual culpability of the suspended officers.
Government Cites Procedural Grounds for Reinstatement
The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, invoking Rule 3(7)(c) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, formally revoked the suspension of the two IPS officers. The suspension of the state cadre officers was revoked under Rule 5(5) of the Karnataka State Police (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules, 1965.
“Since both inquiries are complete and the officers have requested revocation, the government has reconsidered the matter,” stated the order.
Despite their reinstatement, all four officers will continue to face departmental inquiries under the relevant disciplinary rules. The government clarified that the revocation of suspension does not imply exoneration and that accountability will be pursued through ongoing proceedings.
Background: Chinnaswamy Stadium Tragedy
The stampede happened during an open-top bus victory parade held by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on June 4, 2025, in celebration of their IPL 2025 championship. The parade started from Cubbon Park and culminated outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where massive crowds had gathered.
According to internal sources familiar with the reports, no crowd-control personnel were deployed outside the stadium despite evident congestion. “Multiple warning signs were ignored. The failure to act on early alerts directly contributed to the disaster,” a senior official said.
The Siddaramaiah-led government had immediately suspended five officers, citing “substantial dereliction of duty.” With four now reinstated, the focus shifts to institutional accountability and systemic reform in crowd management protocols.
In a move to bolster the judicial strength of the Bombay High Court, the Supreme Court Collegium has approved the elevation of three advocates as judges. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Collegium held on July 28, 2025.
They are;
Ajit Bhagwanrao Kadethankar
Aarti Arun Sathe
Sushil Manohar Ghodeswar
These recommendations come as part of the Collegium’s continued effort to fill vacancies across the High Courts and ensure smoother functioning of the judiciary. The appointments will take effect upon issuance of the official notification by the Ministry of Law and Justice after necessary clearances.
In a series of significant decisions, the Supreme Court Collegium has approved multiple judicial appointments across four High Courts. The recommendations were made during its meeting held on July 28, 2025.
In the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the Collegium has approved the elevation of four Additional Judges as Permanent Judges. The names cleared include:
In the Chhattisgarh High Court, the Collegium has recommended that Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, currently serving as an Additional Judge, be made a Permanent Judge.
For the Calcutta High Court, two Additional Judges have been approved for elevation as Permanent Judges:
Justice Partha Sarathi Sen
Justice Apurba Sinha Ray
In addition, the Collegium has proposed the reappointment of seven Additional Judges in the Calcutta High Court for a fresh term of one year. These include:
Justice Biswaroop Chowdhury
Justice Prasenjit Biswas
Justice Uday Kumar
Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta
Justice Supratim Bhattacharya
Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee
Justice Md. Shabbar Rashidi
Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court will see Justice Gurusiddaiah Basavaraja, an Additional Judge, elevated to the position of Permanent Judge.
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