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Haryana govt transfers 23 IAS officers in major bureaucratic reshuffle

By
LO Bureau
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Haryana Map

In a major administrative overhaul, the Haryana government on Thursday (March 19, 2026) issued transfer and posting orders for 23 IAS officers, including several senior officers.

Among the key changes, Dr Raja Sekhar Vundru (IAS:1990:HY) has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Transport Department. Apoorva Kumar Singh (IAS:1991:HY) has been appointed as ACS, Higher Education Department, while Anurag Agarwal (IAS:1994:HY) has taken over as ACS, Town & Country Planning and Urban Estates Department.

Pankaj Agarwal (IAS:2000:HY) has been posted as Principal Secretary, Irrigation & Water Resources Department, marking another key assignment in the reshuffle.

The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;

  1. Dr Raja Sekhar Vundru (IAS:1990:HY), Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and ACS, Transport Department, has been transferred and posted as ACS, Transport Department and ACS, Printing & Stationery Department.
  2. G Anupama (IAS:1991:HY), ACS, Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of SCs & BCs and Antyodaya (SEWA) and ACS, Citizen Resources Information Department, has been transferred and posted as ACS, SEWA Department and ACS, Civil Aviation Department.
  3. Apoorva Kumar Singh (IAS:1991:HY), ACS, Town & Country Planning and Urban Estates Department, has been transferred and posted as ACS, Higher Education Department and ACS, PW (B&R) and Architecture Department.
  4. Anurag Agarwal (IAS:1994:HY), ACS, PW (B&R) & Architecture and ACS, Irrigation & Water Resources and Advisor, Haryana Saraswati Heritage Board, has been transferred and posted as ACS, Town & Country Planning and Urban Estates Department.
  5. Vijayendra Kumar (IAS:1995:HY), ACS, Cooperation Department, OSD for proposed Haryana Income Enhancement Board, ACS (Appointments), Personnel Department and ACS, Sainik & ArdhSainik Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as ACS, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department, OSD (Income Enhancement Board), ACS (Appointments), Personnel Department and ACS, Sainik & ArdhSainik Welfare Department.
  6. Pankaj Agarwal (IAS:2000:HY), Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Mines & Geology Department, has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary, Irrigation & Water Resources Department, Advisor, Haryana Saraswati Heritage Board and Principal Secretary, Mines & Geology Department.
  7. Vijay Singh Dahiya (IAS:2001:HY), Principal Secretary, Printing & Stationery, Animal Husbandry and Sports Department, has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Animal Husbandry Department and Sports Department.
  8. Ashima Brar (IAS:2004:HY), Commissioner & Secretary, Excise & Taxation and Haryana-II Finance Department, has been given additional charge of Commissioner & Secretary, Energy Department.
  9. Phool Chand Meena (IAS:2004:HY), Commissioner & Secretary, Human Resources and General Administration and CEO, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, Gurugram, has been given additional charge CEO, Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority, Faridabad.
  10. Saket Kumar (IAS:2005:HY), Additional Principal Secretary to CM, Commissioner & Secretary, Development & Panchayats, MD, Haryana Power Generation Corporation and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies and Member Secretary, Kurukshetra Development Board, Kurukshetra, has been relieved of the charge of Kurukshetra Development Board.
  11. A Mona Sreenivas (IAS:2006:HY), Additional Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi and CEO, Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority, has been transferred and posted as Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi and CEO, Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority.
  12. J Ganesan (IAS:2006:HY), CEO, Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority and DG Housing for All, Secretary Housing for All, Chief Administrator, Housing Board, CEO SPV (Haryana AI Project), MD HARTRON and MD, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner & Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Commissioner & Secretary, Citizen Resources Information, DG Housing for All & Secretary Housing for All, CEO SPV (HAIDP & HCAPSD) and MD HARTRON.
  13. Ashok Kumar Meena (IAS:2006:HY), DG, Urban Local Bodies, Commissioner & Secretary, ULB, Director, State Urban Livelihood Mission and DG, Foreign Cooperation, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner & Secretary, Urban Local Bodies and DG, Foreign Cooperation Department.
  14. Mani Ram Sharma (IAS:2009:HY), MD, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited and Secretary, Energy Department, has been transferred and posted as Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Haryana.
  15. Mukul Kumar (IAS:2011:HY), MD, HAFED, MD, Haryana International Horticultural Marketing Corporation, Ganaur and Director/Special Secretary, Haryana Hospitality Department , has been transferred and posted as Director/Special Secretary, Urban Local Bodies and Mission Director, State Urban Livelihood Mission & SUDA and Director/Special Secretary, Hospitality.
  16. Dr Aditya Dahiya (IAS:2011:HY), MD, Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation, MD, Haryana Financial Corporation and Director, Future Department, has been transferred and posted as MD, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam and Director, Future Department.
  17. Vijay Kumar Siddappa Bhavikatti (IAS:2011:HY), Awaiting posting, has been posted as MD, HAFED and MD, Haryana International Horticultural Marketing Corporation, Ganaur.
  18. Sushil Sarwan (IAS:2012:HY), Deputy Commissioner, Sonipat, has been transferred and posted as MD, Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation and MD, Haryana Financial Corporation.
  19. Vikram (IAS:2014:HY), MD, Haryana Minerals Ltd and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, has been given additional charge of MD, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited.
  20. Neha Singh (IAS:2015:HY), Awaiting posting, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Sonipat.
  21. Varsha Khangwal (IAS:2018:HY), Additional Director (Admin), Information, Public Relations & Languages and Additional Secretary, Vigilance Department, has been given additional charge of State Project Director, Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad.
  22. Manita Malik (IAS:2018:HY), Additional Transport Commissioner, has been transferred and posted as Director, Elementary Education, and Additional Secretary, School Education Department.
  23. Vandana Disodia (IAS:2018:HY), Additional Director (Admin), Skill Development & Industrial Training, has been transferred and posted as Director, Skill Development & Industrial Training and Additional Secretary, Skill Development & Industrial Training Department.

Centre extends Telangana CS K Ramakrishna Rao’s tenure by 3 months

By
LO Bureau
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K Ramakrishna Rao IAS

The Central government on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) approved the Telangana government’s proposal to extend the tenure of Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao (IAS:1988:TG) by three months. Rao was due to retire on March 31. He will now continue in office till June 2026.

The extension has been given in view of the ongoing 99-day Praja Palana–Pragathi Pranalika programme. The programme is expected to finish in June.

This is the second extension given to Rao. Earlier, in August 2025, the Centre had extended his tenure by seven months after a request from the state government.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had personally taken up the matter of extending Chief Secretary’s tenure with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting earlier this month.

At the same time, the race for the next Chief Secretary has narrowed to a few senior officers. Jayesh Ranjan (IAS:1991:TG), who is handling the Municipal Administration Department as Special Chief Secretary, and Vikas Raj (IAS:1992:TG), who is in charge of Transport, Roads and Buildings as Special Chief Secretary, are among the main names.

EC partially rolls back order, retains two Bengal IPS officers

By
LO Bureau
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Election Commission of India

The Election Commission of India on Thursday (March 19, 2026) changed its earlier order on shifting IPS officers out of West Bengal. It has now allowed two officers to stay in the state for the time being ahead of the Assembly elections.

Officials in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said Murli Dhar (IPS:2005:WB) and Syed Waqar Raja (IPS:2007:WB) will not be sent out as observers for now. They will remain in West Bengal until further orders.

Murli Dhar was serving as Police Commissioner of Bidhannagar. Syed Waqar Raja was Commissioner of Siliguri Metropolitan Police.

The Commission has allowed both officers to stay back in the state without immediately assigning them observer roles elsewhere.

However, the remaining 13 IPS officers will be sent to other states. They will work as observers in poll-bound states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

This comes a day after the Commission cancelled the new postings given to 15 IPS officers by the state government. These officers had been removed from their posts and were not allowed to handle election work.

Earlier, the Commission had planned to send all 15 officers out of West Bengal as observers. Now, it has allowed two of them to remain in the state.

SAIL set to appoint new Chairman; interviews likely by March-end

By
LO Bureau
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Panel recommendation for SAIL

With the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) Chairman, Amarendu Prakash, slated to formally step down from the post on April 1, 2026, the PSU is all set to appoint its next Chairman, for which interviews are expected to be conducted by the end of March. As per reports, the race for this prestigious post has attracted a strong pool of candidates, including senior SAIL executives, IAS officers, and leaders from other public sector undertakings (PSUs).

According to sources, the shortlisting of candidates is expected by the end of March 2026, with approximately 12 to 14 individuals likely to make it to the interview stage. While most shortlisted candidates are expected to be current or former SAIL executives, a few external PSU officers could also secure a place.

Interviews are likely to be conducted online, with results being announced shortly after completion of interviews.

With an aim to ensure a smooth transition at the helm of the steel giant, the Ministry of Steel is closely monitoring the selection process.

Among those who are considered as frontrunners for the Chairman race are Priya Ranjan, Director In-Charge, Bhilai Steel Plant (BSL); Surjit Mishra, Director In-Charge, Durgapur Steel Plant; Alok Verma, Director In-Charge, Rourkela Steel Plant; A.K. Panda, Director (Finance & Accounts), SAIL; Manish Raj Gupta, Director (Mining), SAIL; Anish Sengupta, Executive Director (Projects), BSL; and S. Shubhraj, Executive Director, Alloy Steel Plant.

Apart from these SAIL insiders, officials from other PSUs and a select number of IAS officers have also reportedly submitted their applications, indicating a competitive and diverse candidate pool.

The appointment process for the SAIL chairman is considered rigorous, as the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) recommends candidates for whom detailed background and vigilance clearances are conducted.

It is the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) that takes the final call. 

If PESB does not recommend any candidate, the matter can be referred to a Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC), potentially prolonging the appointment of a full-time Chairman. This makes the interim appointment a critical decision to maintain leadership continuity.

Interestingly, as the process for appointing a new chairman is lengthy, the Ministry of Steel is preparing to appoint an interim chairman in the meantime to oversee operations until a permanent appointment is finalized. The interim posting is expected to be announced by March 30, 2026.

P Bala Kiran IAS Biography: Family, Career, and Posting Details

By
Neel Kamal
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P Bala Kiran IAS
P Bala Kiran IAS

P Bala Kiran IAS is a 2008-batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the Kerala cadre, widely known for his contributions to district administration, urban governance, tourism, and several important roles within the Government of India.

P Bala Kiran IAS Early Life and Education

Born on March 9, 1981, he hails from Andhra Pradesh and is proficient in English and Telugu. He completed his engineering in Computer Science from IIT Madras, followed by an M.Tech in Computer Science from the same institution. He later pursued a Master’s degree in Public Policy from IGNOU and also underwent professional training at the LBSNAA, the premier training academy for Indian civil servants.

P Bala Kiran Key Postings in Kerala Cadre

During his service in Kerala, Bala Kiran held several important administrative and developmental roles, including:

  • District Collector and District Magistrate, Kannur
  • Director, Kerala State IT Mission
  • Director, Women & Child Development Department
  • Director, Panchayats
  • Mission Director, MGNREGS
  • Managing Director, Kannur International Airport Limited
  • Chief Executive Officer, Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Limited

These assignments reflect his involvement in e-governance, rural development, urban infrastructure, tourism, and social welfare administration within the state.

P Bala Kiran IAS
P Bala Kiran IAS

Central Deputation and Roles with Government of India

Bala Kiran proceeded on central deputation beginning March 1, 2021, serving in the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs as Director (Census Operations). Later elevated to Joint Secretary-equivalent level responsibilities

Subsequently, he was appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. His central deputation tenure is scheduled up to February 28, 2028 (with tenure extension).

P Bala Kiran Professional Profile

With a strong academic background in technology and public policy, combined with wide administrative exposure at both state and central levels, Bala Kiran is regarded as an officer with expertise in:

  • Digital governance and IT-enabled public service delivery
  • Urban infrastructure and smart city development
  • Census administration and personnel governance at the national level

UP poised to get full-time DGP; Rajeev Krishna top contender

By
LO Bureau
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After the Supreme Court cracked the whip on the practice of having acting DGPs, several states are now towing the line of appointing regular DGPs by sending a panel to the UPSC for empanelment. Uttar Pradesh too has reportedly moved decisively to end a nearly four-year phase of adhocism by forwarding a panel of senior IPS officers to the UPSC for the appointment of a regular DGP now.

Senior IPS officer Rajeev Krishna (IPS:1991:UP), who has been officiating as DGP for the last ten months while also serving as DG (vigilance), is considered the leading contender in the race. His continuity in the role, along with his seniority, places him firmly at the forefront for elevation, subject to UPSC empanelment and final approval.

According to sources, the UP government sent the names of eligible DG-rank officers to the UPSC earlier this week, nearly four months after initiating the process. This move clearly indicates a cautious but decisive action towards regularising the appointment. Though the exact date of the communication is not known, sources confirmed that the UPSC had indeed received the state govt’s request for empanelment.

This move occupies special significance as UP has not had a regular DGP since Mukul Goel (IPS:1987:UP) was removed from the post on May 11, 2022. Since then, the state has seen an unprecedented run of five consecutive acting DGPs. It often raised concerns over continuity, policy consistency, and command stability in one of the country’s largest police forces.

Now as the panel has been sent, the appointment of a regular DGP could be finalised once the UPSC completes its empanelment process and forwards its list of three top-ranking IPS officers to the state to choose one of them as a regular police chief. Needless to point out then that it will mark a formal end to the interim arrangement that has continued to dog the state for nearly four years.

Knowing NSA Ajit Doval: The James Bond of India

By
LO Bureau
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Ajit Doval
Ajit Doval

Even a simple reference to the impeccable persona of the man called Ajit Doval ignites wide public interest in knowing more about him. Often described as the James Bond of India, the story of India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval’s exploits presents a fascinating account of an undercover operative, a master strategist, and a nationalist crusader. Doval’s entire career is known for handling critical national security challenges.

Doval often appears to be an enigmatic personality that has been unfolded in the superhit spy thriller Dhurandhar. Actor R. Madhavan portrayed the character of an IB chief modeled after Ajit Doval. The movie provides an insight into the persona of Doval by highlighting his daring undercover operations in Pakistan and the role he played during the IC-814 Kandahar hijacking crisis. The film opens with a scene depicting a character inspired by Doval negotiating during the IC-814 hijacking, reflecting Doval’s real-life involvement in that crisis.

A 1968-batch former IPS officer of the Kerala cadre, Ajit Doval is India’s 5th and the longest-serving National Security Advisor since May 2014. He is a premier intelligence expert known for counter-terrorism and operational strategy.

Born in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, in 1945, Doval earned a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Agra in 1967 and joined the elite Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1968. Doval spent over 33 years in the Intelligence Bureau (IB), serving in high-conflict areas like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and the Northeast.

The dynamic role he played in the termination of insurgency in Mizoram and the political merger of Sikkim is often found by many to be a cock-and-bull story that continues to inspire young police officers all through the country. And not to forget those six years that he spent undercover in Pakistan.

The fact is, intelligence leadership has been a forte of this legendary former civil servant. He was the founder-chairman of the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) and Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI). Doval retired as the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in 2005.

Ajit Doval
NSA Ajit Doval

But the story of Doval’s grand policing career does not stop here. He is the youngest police officer to receive the President’s Police Medal for meritorious service (received after just 7 years of service) and is a recipient of the prestigious Kirti Chakra (2005), one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards.

Being the country’s longest-serving NSA, Doval plays a critical role in shaping India’s security, foreign policy, and strategic autonomy. He has been rising in his stature as the time passes by, and that was the reason why he was granted Cabinet rank during his second term as the NSA.

What is today described as the real-life “Doval Doctrine” is virtually a muscular security policy, rather than a historical knee-jerk response to its threat. 

The impact of his strategic maneuvering has been brilliant. Doval as NSA is credited with influencing major security decisions, including the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, and the resolution of the 2017 Doklam standoff.

Despite being an octogenarian, Doval continues to lead high-level security dialogues and international engagements with an infectious zeal and energy even today. 

By: Dinesh Kumar

With Bihar CM moving to Rajya Sabha, several bureaucrats likely to move on central deputation

By
LO Bureau
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Ex-Bihar DGP K S Dwivedi

The change of guard often leads to a realignment in the bureaucratic structure of a state. This is exactly what is happening in Bihar. With Chief Minister Nitish Kumar poised to shift to Delhi after being elected to the Rajya Sabha, there is a flurry of activity in Bihar’s administrative circles as well.

Amidst the prevailing political turmoil, there are also signs of changes within the administrative structure in the state, with sources indicating that several senior IAS and IFS officers may soon be moving on the central deputation.

It is being reported that consensus has been reached on a few names at the state government level, and final approval from the central government is now awaited. As soon as the central government gives its nod, some bureaucrats may also depart for Delhi on deputation.

According to sources, the names of bureaucrats being prominently discussed for the central deputation include IAS officer Anupam Kumar (IAS:2003:BH), currently serving as Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO); B. Rajendra (IAS:1995:BH), posted as Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department; IFS officer Gopal Singh (IFS:2003:BH), serving as OSD to the Chief Minister; and senior IAS officer Pratima S. Verma (IAS:2002:BH), currently posted as the Secretary of the Science and Technology Department.

Though the state government has yet to officially confirm it, discussions are rife within the IAS lobby about their moving to Delhi on the central deputation.

Administrative sources point out that the state government has given its consent for the central deputation of these officers, and the ball is now in the court of the central government. Once the central govt approves it, the process will be completed.

In such cases, officers assume new responsibilities only after receiving central approval. Therefore, a major decision on this matter is likely in the coming days.

Atanu Chakraborty resigns as HDFC Bank Chairman over ‘ethical’ concerns

By
LO Bureau
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Former HDFC chairman Atanu Chakraborty

Atanu Chakraborty (Retd IAS:1985:GJ) has resigned as Part-time Chairman and Independent Director of HDFC Bank.

The bank shared this in a stock exchange filing on Wednesday. Chakraborty said he was not comfortable with some internal practices. He mentioned that certain developments in the past two years did not match his personal values and ethics. The bank said no other reasons were given.

He was appointed Chairman in May 2021 for three years. In 2024, his term was extended till May 2027. During his time, HDFC Limited merged with HDFC Bank in July 2023. He also said that the full benefits of the merger are still to come.

After his resignation, Keki Mistry has been made interim Chairman from March 19. The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment.

Chakraborty is a former IAS officer. He has held key posts in the Government of India. He served as Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs and also in the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, where he played an important role in economic policymaking and disinvestment initiatives.

EC cancels Bengal govt postings, sends 15 IPS officers out as poll observers

By
LO Bureau
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Election Commission of India

In a late-night development on Wednesday (March 18, 2026), the Election Commission of India (ECI) cancelled the rehabilitation of several Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in West Bengal who had been given alternative postings by the state government after being removed from their earlier posts and barred from election-related duties.

The Commission issued a fresh notification cancelling the alternative postings of 15 such officers and decided to shift them out of the state by deputing them as police observers to other poll-bound states to ensure they do not influence the electoral process.

The officers affected by the decision include Akash Magharia (IPS:2009:WB), Alok Rajoria (IPS:2009:WB), Amandeep (IPS:2014:WB), Abhijit Banerjee (IPS-SPS:2013), Bhaskar Mukherjee (IPS:2009:WB), C Sudhakar (IPS:2006:WB), Dhritiman Sarkar (IPS:2004:WB), Indira Mukherjee (IPS:2013:WB), Murli Dhar (IPS:2005:WB), Mukesh (IPS:2006:WB), Praveen Kumar Tripathi (IPS:2004:WB), Priyabrata Roy (IPS:2017:WB), Sandeep Karra (IPS:2016:WB), Rashid Munir Khan (IPS:2008:WB), and Syed Waqar Raja (IPS:2007:WB).

Among them, Murli Dhar was serving as Police Commissioner of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, while Syed Waqar Raja was Police Commissioner of Siliguri Metropolitan Police.

West Bengal is set to go to polls in two phases, scheduled for April 23 and April 29. Polling will be held for 152 Assembly constituencies in the first phase and 142 constituencies in the second phase

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