The deputation tenure of Arunita Phukan Yadav (IRS-C&IT:2011) as Executive Director, Tea Board, Guwahati, has been extended for one year. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (01.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of Department of Commerce to extend the deputation tenure of Ms Yadav for a further period of one year beyond 31.05.2025 and up to 31.05.2026 (i.e. a total tenure of 5 years outside the cadre) or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Pankaj Srivastava appointed Director in Ministry of Cooperation
Pankaj Srivastava (IRS-IT:2007) has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Cooperation, Delhi. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (01.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal to appoint of Mr Srivastava to the post under central staffing scheme for a period up to July 29, 2027 (i.e. combined admissible tenure of seven years at Director level including non-CSS and CSS posts put together) or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
D Satheesh appointed PS to NITI Aayog Member Prof. Ramesh Chand
D Satheesh (PPS of CSSS cadre) has been appointed as Private Secretary to Professor Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (01.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr Satheesh to the post from the date of assumption of the post on co-terminus basis or till he ceases to function as PS to the Member, NITI Aayog or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma transferred from Delhi HC to Calcutta HC
The Union government on Tuesday (01.04.2025) notified transfer of Delhi High Court Judge Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma to the Calcutta High Court.
Justice Sharma becomes the third judge of the Delhi High Court to be transferred over the past few days after Justices Yashwant Verma and Chandra Dhari Singh.
The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting on March 27, 2025, had recommended his transfer to the Calcutta High Court.
Tripura govt informs SC of compliance with apex court verdict on DGP selection
The Tripura government on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it has been complying with the 2006 verdict on police reforms and initiated the process for appointing a regular Director General of Police (DGP) on March 7.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing a PIL filed by NGO MONDRA, which alleged that the state had failed to follow the court-mandated procedure for appointing a new DGP.
In the landmark 2006 Prakash Singh case, the Supreme Court had laid out key police reforms, including the separation of investigation from law and order functions. It had also mandated that states consult the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) before appointing a DGP. Subsequent orders reiterated that the selection process should be initiated well before the retirement of the incumbent and be based on seniority, experience, and merit. The court had directed that a regular DGP be appointed from a panel of three senior IPS officers shortlisted by the UPSC from the list provided by the state.
The plea accused the state government of failing to initiate the prescribed process, alleging that it neither formed a panel of eligible officers nor consulted the UPSC as required.
However, the state’s counsel countered these claims, submitting a letter in a sealed cover to the court, asserting that the process for appointing a new DGP had commenced on March 7. The state further stated that it had been adhering to the 2006 directives and subsequent judgments. It was also noted that the current DGP, Amitabh Ranjan (IPS:1988:TR), who took charge on July 28, 2022, is set to retire on May 31 this year.
The bench recorded the state’s submission, stating, “Learned counsel for the respondent (Tripura) has handed over a confidential letter, which will be kept in a sealed cover by the registry of this court. Accordingly, we are not issuing notice in the present petition. However, if there is a violation, the petitioner may file applications for revival.”
The court also noted the state’s assurance that the appointment process would be completed within the stipulated time, stating, “…it is submitted that the appointment will be made in the said period. We are taking the statement on record.”
Haryana: 5 IAS officers of 2024 batch get posting orders
The Haryana government on Monday (31.03.2025) issued posting orders for five IAS officers of the 2024 batch as Assistant Commissioner (Under Training).
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
- Aditi Singhania has been posted as Assistant Commissioner (Under Training), Gurugram.
- Rahul Kanwaria has been posted as Assistant Commissioner (Under Training), Ambala.
- Ruhani has been has been posted as Assistant Commissioner (Under Training), Rewari.
- Suman Yadav has been posted as Assistant Commissioner (Under Training), Yamunanagar.
- Yogesh Dilhor has been posted as Assistant Commissioner (Under Training), Sonepat.
Ex-U’khand CM Trivendra Rawat locks horns with IAS lobby
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat has locked horns with IAS Association of his state. His comments on an IAS officer has left the IAS lobby infuriated. Rawat made a comment in the Lok Sabha on Thursday saying that the illegal mining is getting rampant in his home state.
It was repudiated by the Mining Secretary who issued his immediate denial. A video of the mining secretary, Brijesh Sant, denying the “allegations” was released by the state government. It was made out that Rawat was targeting the IAS officer. Taken aback, Rawat shot back, “A lion doesn’t hunt dogs”. And the ball began rolling.
The Uttarakhand IAS Association convened a meeting in the wake of Rawat’s latest remark and came out with a statement saying Association naturally and inherently have the right to self-respect and dignity.
The association also lamented that as public servants, they implement the policies of elected governments within the constitutional framework and hence it expects respectful behaviour. The association has decided to submit a memorandum on this issue to the CM and the Chief Secretary of the state.
Parliamentary panel for punitive action against IAS officers not filing property details
A Parliamentary panel has suggested punitive action against Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers for failing to file their property details within the prescribed time limit. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on the Demands for Grants (2025-26) pertaining to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), has suggested it in its report. According to the report, 91 IAS officers have not filed their immovable property returns (IPRs) in 2024.
This report was tabled in Parliament on March 27. It needs to be mentioned here that it was due to non-filing of IPRs by IAS officers in different years that Vigilance clearance was denied to 15 IAS officers in 2023, 12 in 2022 and 14 in 2021. Vigilance clearance is mandatory for IAS officers to join certain posts.
In order to get rid of this systemic malaise, the panel has recommended a centralised compliance monitoring mechanism to ensure timely filing of IPRs by all IAS officers.
Additionally, the committee proposes to introduce penalties or corrective actions for non-compliance, including automatic escalation procedures for officers who fail to file their IPRs despite reminders the report said.
The panel says that corrective action is necessary to strengthen accountability and ensure timely filing of property details so that greater adherence to the requirements could be ascertained.
Two and a half months on, RBI yet to name Michael Patra’s successor
The successor to RBI Deputy Governor Michael Patra remains unnamed, even as more than two and a half months have passed since his retirement on January 14. Speculation is growing about an imminent announcement of the fourth Deputy Governor, a key position overseeing monetary policy, financial markets operations, and economic research.
Despite several candidates being interviewed in mid-January, a few names are emerging as frontrunners. These include Poonam Gupta, a former World Bank economist and part-time member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council; Chetan Ghate, a former external MPC member; and Suresh Babu of the Madras School of Economics.
Other contenders who were interviewed include Prachi Mishra, Director and Head of the Isaac Centre for Public Policy at Ashoka University; economist Ajit Ranade; and N.R. Bhanumurthy, Director at the Madras School of Economics. Their chances have not been ruled out.
Interestingly, the search panel also interviewed two bureaucrats—Ashish Vachani, Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, and Ritvik Pandey, Secretary to the 16th Finance Commission. Both are IAS officers, with Vachani from the 1997 Tamil Nadu cadre and Pandey from the 1998 Karnataka cadre. However, indications suggest that the RBI Deputy Governor role may go to a candidate outside North Block.
Meanwhile, Chief Economic Advisor Anantha Nageswaran is out of contention after the government extended his term by two years, until March 31, 2027.
The government appears to be acting cautiously in making the appointment, given the critical responsibilities associated with the post. Following Patra’s retirement, Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao was assigned his key responsibilities, including participation in the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) until a new appointment is made.
The prolonged delay in filling this vital position remains notable, given its significance in shaping the country’s monetary policy.
Subhankar Sen selected as Director (Mkt), BPCL
Subhankar Sen has been selected for appointment as Director (Marketing), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on March 29, 2025. Presently, he is serving as Executive Director Business Head (Lubes), Mumbai, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.
He will be appointed to the post of Director (Marketing) after receiving vigilance clearances and approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The following 8 applicants were interviewed in the selection meeting:
- Pushp Kumar Nayar, Executive Director (HRD), Mumbai, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
- Pradeep Goyal, Executive Director (Retail) Business Head (Retail), Mumbai, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
- Subhankar Sen, Executive Director Business Head (Lubes), Mumbai, Bharat Petroleum Corporation
Limited - Arul Muthunathan Veerasamy, Executive Director Head Engineering and Technology (Retail), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
- Biju Gopinath, Executive Director (Pipelines), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
- Hemant Kumar Rathore, Executive Director, UPSO II, Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- R Venu Gopal, Senior General Manager, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
- Ashish Dave, Deputy General Manager & Sr BM, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
Get Latest Updates