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Rakesh Kumar Singh-II gets one-year extension as YEIDA, Noida Airport CEO

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has extended the re-employment of retired IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Singh-II (IAS:2009:UP) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and Noida International Airport Limited for another year, until September 30, 2027.

According to an order issued by the state government’s Industrial Development Department on September 30, 2026, Singh’s re-employment will continue from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.

Singh retired from service on September 30, 2025, and was reappointed on a contract basis for one year, enabling him to continue in both positions until September 30, 2026. The latest order extends his tenure for a further year.

Narendra Bhooshan Assumes Charge as Environment Secretary

New Delhi: Senior IAS officer Narendra Bhooshan (IAS:1992:UP) has assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India. He succeeds Tanmay Kumar (IAS:1993:RJ), who retired on September 30, 2026.

Before this appointment, Bhooshan was serving as Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. He brings over three decades of administrative experience across the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments.

During his career in Uttar Pradesh, Bhooshan held several senior positions, including Additional Chief Secretary, Energy and Additional Energy Source, and Technical Education. He also served as Principal Secretary in the Public Works Department (PWD), Infrastructure and Industrial Development, IT and Electronics, Science and Technology, and Panchayati Raj departments.

His other assignments in the state included Chief Executive Officer, Greater Noida Authority, and District Magistrate of Mathura, Firozabad and Udham Singh Nagar.

At the Centre, Bhooshan has served as Deputy Director General, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI); Mission Director, National Food Security Management; and Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. He also served as Officer on Special Duty at the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Bhooshan holds a graduate degree in Electronics and a master’s degree in International Development Policy from Duke University, USA. His professional training includes programmes related to public finance, infrastructure and climate-change preparedness.

Three IRS-IT officers in-situ promoted to Chief Commissioner of Income Tax

New Delhi: Three Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officers have been in-situ promoted to the grade of Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Level 16 of the Pay Matrix) for the panel year 2026.

The officers promoted are Sunita Singh (IRS-IT:1994), Priya Ranjan Ghosh (IRS-IT:1994), and Manas Mehrotra (IRS-IT:1995).

The in-situ promotions place the three officers in the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax grade for the 2026 panel year.

Deletion of CAPF contempt pleas from cause list blown out of proportion: SC  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday tried to contain a controversy over the sudden deletion of contempt petitions concerning the deputation of IPS officers to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) from the cause list, saying “sometimes too much heat is generated out of nothing.”

The contempt petitions had suddenly been found deleted from the cause list on September 29 when a bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manoj Misra was to begin hearing.

The apex court has now advanced joint hearing of connected cases to October 15.

The SC bench had sought an explanation from the registry on why the contempt matters, which had been judicially directed to be listed on September 29, were dropped from the cause list.

The CJI had then constituted a special bench to hear the matter, which was placed before it on Wednesday, along with a separate batch challenging a new law framed by the Centre formalising IPS deputations in CAPFs.

The bench accepted the registry’s explanation, but said the registry ought to have informed the bench that the matters were likely to be listed before a special bench.

The controversy had erupted on Tuesday after lawyers appearing on behalf of the petitioners informed the Justice Bhuyan-led bench that the matters, which had been specifically directed to be listed on September 29, had suddenly disappeared from the cause list. The bench had then directed the registry to explain why the case had been struck off despite a judicial order.

The special bench read out the registry’s note on Wednesday and said that counsel appearing for the Centre and writ petitioners had made a mentioning before the CJI on September 23 seeking that the contempt and writ petitions be placed before the same bench. The matter, however, was subsequently listed inadvertently before Justice Bhuyan’s bench on September 29, while the CJI had ordered that the two sets of cases be placed before a special bench.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the contempt petitioners, had termed the episode a matter of “institutional credibility.”

Haryana CM’s Prin Secy Arun Gupta denied extension; retires amid buzz over re-employment

Arun Gupta IAS

Despite enjoying good rapport with Haryana Chief Minister senior IAS officer Arun Gupta (IAS:1992:HY) retired on Friday without getting an extension. He was serving as Principal Secretary to the CM and holding the charge of Finance Secretary.

The state govt had to issue his retirement orders after getting no response from the Centre on its proposal seeking a one-year extension of his service.

Though there is speculation about his possible re-employment, a major bureaucratic reshuffle is also on the cards.

In the meantime, names of several officers are doing the rounds for the key post — including one officer currently on central deputation and two senior officers.  Sources, however, indicate the possibility of Gupta’s re-employment could still not be ruled out.

What has fuelled the speculation about his re-entry into a govt post is the skipping of the customary farewell tea party hosted by the Haryana IAS Officers’ Association on the retirement of an IAS officer.

The Association, however, extended its wishes to Gupta on his superannuation but desisted from organising a farewell party for him.

If govt sources are to be believed, Gupta could be granted three months of re-employment as Principal Secretary to the CM against the cadre post under the rules. Another option for the state govt is to give him another important assignment.

Puneet Kansal gets additional charge of AAI Chairman

New Delhi: Senior IAS officer Puneet Kansal (IAS:1996:SK), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI) for a period of three months.

The post fell vacant following the lateral appointment of incumbent Vipin Kumar (IAS:1996:BH) as Additional Secretary, Department of Rural Development.

PESB invites applications for Director (Technical), CMPDIL

CMPDIL

New Delhi: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Director (Technical), Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL).

According to a vacancy notification issued on September 30, 2026, eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the PESB portal by 3:00 PM on October 21, 2026.

Applications of candidates, except those employed in private sector companies, are required to be forwarded to the PESB by the concerned Nodal Officer, Head of Organisation, Competent Authority, Administrative Secretary or Cadre Controlling Authority by 5:00 PM on October 30, 2026.

The post is scheduled to fall vacant on August 1, 2027, following the scheduled retirement of incumbent Ajay Kumar, who is due to retire on July 31, 2027. Kumar has been serving as Director (Technical), CMPDIL since October 2022.

IPS Parhlad Narayan Meena’s WCCB posting revised; now appointed Joint Director

New Delhi: Uttarakhand cadre IPS officer Parhlad Narayan Meena (IPS:2012:UK) has now been appointed as Joint Director, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on deputation basis.

According to a letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday (September 29, 2026), the competent authority has approved his appointment to the Joint Director post in Level 13A of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix against a post earmarked for IPS officers under the Non-Central Staffing Scheme of MoEFCC.

The latest order supersedes the MHA’s earlier letter dated August 20, 2026, under which Meena had been appointed as Deputy Director (Intelligence & Coordination), WCCB.

The order directs Uttarakhand Government to relieve him to enable him to take up his new assignment at the Centre.

V Vidyavathi Gets Additional Charge of Minority Affairs Secretary

V Vidyavathi IAS

New Delhi: Karnataka cadre senior IAS officer V Vidyavathi (IAS:1991:KN), currently serving as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), has been given additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), the competent authority has approved the assignment of additional charge to Vidyavathi from October 5, 2026, to October 18, 2026.

She will hold the additional charge during the period of absence on leave of Srivastava Krishna (IAS:1994:KN), Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Dhirendra Ojha to Continue as Principal DG, PIB; DG Post Upgraded for Pragya Paliwal Gaur

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) approved two proposals concerning senior-level positions under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, including the re-employment of Dhirendra Ojha (IIS:1990) as Principal Director General, Press Information Bureau (PIB), and temporary upgradation of a DG-level post for Pragya Paliwal Gaur (IIS:1991).

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal to re-employ Ojha as Principal Director General, PIB, on contract basis for one year following his superannuation on September 30, 2026.

His re-employment will be effective from October 1, 2026, up to September 30, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, on the usual terms and conditions applicable to re-employed Central Government officers.

In the second decision, the ACC approved the temporary upgradation of one Director General-level post, carrying Level 15 of the Pay Matrix, to Principal Director General level (Level 17, Apex Grade) as a measure personal to Pragya Paliwal Gaur.

The upgradation will take effect from the date of her joining the post and will remain in force until she attains the age of superannuation on July 31, 2027.

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