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Justice BR Gavai Sworn In as 52nd Chief Justice of India

By
LO Bureau
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Chief Justice of India BR Gavai

New Delhi, May 14 2025: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday administered the oath of office to Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He will serve for a tenure of just over six months, demitting office on November 23, 2025.

The swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was attended by top dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and former President Ram Nath Kovind, among others.

Justice Gavai becomes the second CJI from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, following Justice K G Balakrishnan, who held the post from 2007 to 2010. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985, starting under the mentorship of the late Raja S Bhonsale, former Advocate General and High Court Judge, before commencing independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987.

Over his six-year tenure at the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai has been part of around 700 benches, authoring nearly 300 judgments across a wide spectrum of constitutional, civil, criminal, commercial, and environmental law. Notably, he was part of constitution benches that delivered landmark verdicts on Article 370, electoral bonds, and demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 currency notes.

Also Read: Justice BR Gavai appointed as the 52nd Chief Justice of India

Unmesh Sharad Wagh to continue as Chairperson, JNPA

By
LO Bureau
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Unmesh Sharad Wagh IRS

New Delhi, 13 May 2025: In a recent development, Unmesh Sharad Wagh (IRS-C&IT:2000), Deputy Chairperson of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), has been granted another extension to hold additional charge as Chairperson (Joint Secretary level) of JNPA.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (13.05.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ proposal to extend Mr. Wagh’s additional charge from March 11, 2025, to August 23, 2025, or until the appointment of a regular incumbent, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Mr. Wagh has been serving as Deputy Chairperson of JNPA since February 2020. He was first entrusted with the additional role of Chairperson in the last week of March 2024. This marks the third extension of his additional charge.

Prof. Abhay Karandikar gets extension as Secretary, Science & Technology

By
LO Bureau
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Abhay Karandikar

The tenure of Professor Abhay Karandikar as Secretary in the Department of Science and Technology has been extended for one year. He was scheduled to retire on June 30, 2025, after turning 60 on June 15.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (13.05.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of Professor Karandikar’s deputation for a period of one year beyond July 1, 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Professor Karandikar was appointed to the post in September 2023 and assumed charge on October 3, 2023. At the time of his appointment, it was specified that he would serve as Secretary until his superannuation. Before joining D/o Science and Technology, he was serving as Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.

Also Read: IIT Kanpur Director Abhay Karandikar appointed Secretary, Science and Technology

Also Read: Professor Abhay Karandikar takes charge as Secretary D/o Science and Technology

Also Read: Prof. Abhay Karandikar gets addl. charge of Secretary, Department of Biotechnology


Kumar Ravikant Singh gets extension as JS in D/o Military Affairs

By
LO Bureau
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Kumar Ravikant Singh IAS

The central deputation tenure of Kumar Ravikant Singh (IAS:2008:UP) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs has been extended for two years. As per an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (13.05.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of Mr Singh’s deputation for a period of two years beyond June 1, 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Singh has been serving in the Department of Military Affairs since August 2024, when he was appointed to the post. His current tenure was scheduled to end on June 1, 2025.

Singh began his central deputation in May 2018 as Private Secretary to the then Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics and IT, S.S. Ahluwalia. In June 2019, he became Private Secretary to Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, MoS for Rural Development. His subsequent appointments included a stint in the Department of Financial Services as Deputy Secretary in July 2021, followed by successive terms as Private Secretary to MoS for Finance (Revenue), Pankaj Chaudhary, with extensions in November 2022 and May 2023. He assumed his current post in the Department of Military Affairs in August 2024.

Sanjay Garg to continue as Additional Secretary, DARE & Secretary, ICAR

By
LO Bureau
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Sanjay Garg IAS

The central deputation tenure of Sanjay Garg (IAS:1994:KL) as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) and Secretary, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has been extended by one year.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (13.05.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension of Mr Garg’s deputation tenure beyond August 24, 2025, up to August 24, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Mr Garg has been serving in this dual role since August 2021. In March 2025, he was empanelled for Secretary or equivalent level posts in the Government of India.

Also Read: 37 IAS officers empanelled for Secretary or equivalent level posts in GoI

Also Read: Modi govt effects bureaucratic reshuffle at Additional Secretary level

Dinesh Pant, Ratnakar Patnaik appointed LIC Managing Directors

By
LO Bureau
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Life Insurance of India

New Delhi, 13 May 2025: In a key development at the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Dinesh Pant and Ratnakar Patnaik have been appointed as Managing Directors (MD). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved their appointments on Tuesday (May 13, 2025), and both officers will assume charge on June 1, 2025.

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) had selected Pant and Patnaik for the MD posts earlier on February 20, 2025, and recommended their names to the ACC.

Dinesh Pant, currently serving as Executive Director (Actuarial) at LIC’s Central Office in Mumbai, will serve as MD until May 31, 2027, i.e., his date of superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Ratnakar Patnaik, presently Executive Director (INVT – Front Office & CIO) at LIC Central Office, Mumbai, will continue in the MD position until March 31, 2028, his superannuation date, or until further orders.

The appointments come ahead of the retirement of two incumbent MDs—M Jagannath and Tablesh Pandey—on May 31, 2025. Notably, LIC’s current CEO and MD, Siddhartha Mohanty, is also due to complete his term in the first week of June 2025.

The LIC Board comprises five Managing Directors and one MD & CEO.

Ashish Vachhani, M S Srikar Join PMO as Additional Secretaries

By
LO Bureau
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Ashish Vachhani IAS and M S Srikar IAS,

New Delhi, 13 May 2025: In a significant bureaucratic development, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has been reshaped with the induction of two senior IAS officers — Ashish Vachhani (IAS:1997:TN) and M S Srikar (IAS:1999:KN) — as Additional Secretaries. The appointments, approved on Tuesday, involve a lateral shift for both officers from their current roles.

Ashish Vachhani has been serving as Additional Secretary (Budget) in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), while M S Srikar was recently brought into the Cabinet Secretariat as Additional Secretary, replacing Puneet Kansal (IAS:1996:SK).

Vachhani and Srikar are expected to replace Arvind Shrivastava (IAS:1994:KN) and Hari Ranjan Rao (IAS:1994:MP), who were recently appointed as Revenue Secretary and Sports Secretary, respectively. The new appointments will continue until the completion of their current deputation tenures or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Dr Ajay Kumar appointed Chairman of UPSC

By
LO Bureau
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Ajay Kumar IAS

New Delhi, 13 May 2025: Former Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar (Retd IAS:1985:KL) was appointed as Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Tuesday by the President of India under Article 316(1) of the Constitution. He succeeds Preety Sudan (Retd IAS:1983:AP), who completed her tenure as UPSC Chairperson on April 29, 2025.

Dr Kumar retired as Defence Secretary on October 31, 2022. In line with UPSC service conditions, he may continue in this prestigious constitutional role until October 2027. His appointment reflects a broader trend in governance where experienced civil servants are increasingly being entrusted with key constitutional and administrative roles, including positions such as governors and union ministers.

This development follows two recent appointments to the UPSC: Sujata Chaturvedi (IAS:1989:BH), Union Sports Secretary, and Anuradha Prasad (Retd IDES:1986), both inducted as members of the Commission.

The UPSC, responsible for conducting the annual civil services examination in three stages — preliminary, mains, and interview — is chaired by a chairperson and may include up to 10 members.

Also Read: UPSC gets new member as Anuradha Prasad takes oath

Also Read: Sujata Chaturvedi appointed as UPSC Member

Punjab: Two IPS officers shifted; HDS Hans posted as SSP, SAS Nagar

By
LO Bureau
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Chandigarh, 13 May 2025: The Punjab government on Tuesday issued transfer and posting orders for two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers.

As per the notification, Harman Deep Singh Hans (IPS:2015:PB), currently serving as Joint Director, Crime, Vigilance Bureau, SAS Nagar, has been transferred and posted as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), SAS Nagar. He will relieve Deepak Prateek (IPS:2014:PB) from the post.

In another posting, Sirivennela (IPS:2021:PB), who has been serving as ADCP-II, Amritsar, has been transferred and appointed as Superintendent of Police (City), SAS Nagar, replacing Harbir Singh Atwal (PPS).

The government clarified that posting orders for Deepak Prateek, IPS, and Harbir Singh Atwal, PPS, will be issued separately.

CBDT notifies zonal and functional charge allocation among six board members

By
LO Bureau
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New Delhi, 13 May 2025: The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, on Tuesday formally issued an office order notifying the allocation of functional responsibilities and zonal charges among six Members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). The competent authority has approved the assignment of supervisory responsibilities across key Directorates General and Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (Pr. CCITs), along with regional zonal oversight for each Member.

Here is the detailed allocation:

  1. Prabodh Seth (IRS-IT:1989), Member (Administration), has been entrusted with the supervisory charge over the Principal DGIT (HRD), Principal DGIT (Training), and DGIT (Vigilance). He will continue to serve as In-charge of the West Zone, covering Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur.
  2. Ramesh Narain Parbat (IRS-IT:1989), Member (Legislation), will oversee Tax Policy and Legislation (TPL), Foreign Tax & Tax Research (FT&TR), and Principal CCIT (International Taxation). He remains In-charge of the North Zone, which includes Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (East & West), Uttarakhand, and the North Western Region (NWR).
  3. Pankaj Kumar Mishra (IRS-IT:1989), Member (TPS&R), has been assigned supervisory responsibilities over the Principal DGIT (Administration & TPS). He will handle zonal oversight as In-charge of the East Zone, comprising West Bengal & Sikkim, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the North Eastern Region (NER).
  4. Sanjay Bahadur (IRS-IT:1989), Member (Income Tax), will supervise the Principal CCIT (Exemption). He will be In-charge of the Southern Zone, covering Karnataka & Goa, and the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
  5. L. Raj Shekhar Reddy (IRS-IT:1989), Member (S&FS), will supervise the DGIT (Systems), Principal CCIT (NFAC), and Principal CCIT (NaFAC). His zonal jurisdiction will include Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  6. G. Aparna Rao (IRS-IT:1989), Member (Audit & Judicial), has been allocated supervisory responsibility over the DGIT (L&R) and will serve as In-charge of the Central Zone, comprising Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
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