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Punjab transfers 12 IAS officers; Vikas Pratap gets posting after 2 months

By
LO Bureau
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The Punjab government on Monday (April 6, 2026) issued transfer and posting orders for 12 IAS officers, effecting changes across key administrative positions.

Notably, senior IAS officer Vikas Pratap (IAS:1994:PB) has been given a posting after nearly two months. He has been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary, Technical Education & Industrial Training after remaining without posting since his transfer from the Social Security Department.

Several other officers have been assigned new roles, including postings at the level of Principal Secretary, Director and Deputy Commissioner.

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

  1. Vikas Pratap (IAS:1994:PB), available for posting, has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Technical Education
    & Industrial Training.
  2. Sumer Singh Gurjar (IAS:1998:PB), available for posting, has been posted as Principal Secretary, Defence Services Welfare.
  3. Kanwal Preet Brar (IAS:2007:PB), Secretary, Health & Family Welfare with additional charge of Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration, has been given additional charge of in addition Commissioner, Faridkot Division, Faridkot.
  4. Babita (IAS:2009:PB), Commissioner, Agriculture, has been given additional charge of Commissioner, Ferozepur Division, Ferozepur.
  5. Harpreet Singh Sudan (IAS:2013:PB), Director, Sports & Youth Services, has been given additional charge of the posts of Managing Director, Punjab Small Industries Export Corporation and Managing Director, Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation.
  6. Jaspreet Singh (IAS:2014:PB), available for posting, has been posted as Director, Industries and Commerce.
  7. Himanshu Aggarwal (IAS:2014:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Patiala.
  8. Abhijeet Kaplish (IAS:2015:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Sri Muktsar Sahib with additional charge of Director, Mines & Geology, has been transferred and posted as Director, Mines & Geology.
  9. Amit Kumar Panchal (IAS:2016:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Sri Muktsar Sahib.
  10. Varjeet Walia (IAS:2018:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar.
  11. Jasbir Singh-II (IAS:2018:PB), Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development), Jalandhar, has been posted as Additional Secretary, General Administration & Coordination with additional charge of Director, Hospitality.
  12. Akash Bansal (IAS:2019:PB), Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development), Mansa, has been transferred as
    Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala.
  13. Tejdeep Singh Saini (PCS:2012), Joint Secretary, General Administration and Coordination with additional charge of Director,
    Hospitality, has been transferred as Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development), Jalandhar.

Also Read: Punjab suspends two IAS officers; administrative reshuffle follows

Chhattisgarh soon to get regular DGP; Arundev Gautam leads the race

By
LO Bureau
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DGP appointment

Chhattisgarh is soon going to have a full-time DGP. The names of two top IPS officers, acting DGP Arundev Gautam (IPS:1992:CG) and Himanshu Gupta (IPS:1994:CG), are said to be the top contenders for the post, with Gautam leading the race.

Following the Supreme Court’s directions, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had asked the state government to appoint a full-time DGP, but the state govt has been sitting on it despite getting a panel from the UPSC. The state government is now expected to take a final call soon.

The UPSC issued a notice to the state government, citing a Supreme Court order dated July 3, 2018, which clarified that no state should have an “in-charge” DGP. Despite the ruling, no permanent appointment has been made in the state.

It is pertinent to mention here that on May 13, 2025, the UPSC had submitted a panel of two IPS officers, Arun Dev Gautam and Himanshu Gupta, to the state govt to pick one as DGP. Usually, the UPSC sends a panel of three names, but due to limited options, only two names were included in it this time. Yet the state govt sat on the decision.

The Chhattisgarh govt had appointed Arun Dev Gautam as acting DGP after former DGP Ashok Juneja retired on February 4, 2025. However, the Supreme Court’s decision in the Prakash Singh vs. Union of India case of 2006 clearly mandates that the DGP’s appointment must be made according to a regular and established procedure.

On February 5, 2026, the Supreme Court had taken a strict stand on the issue of acting DGP and asked the UPSC to initiate punitive action against such states in case of delay in appointing a regular DGP, which led the state govt to act.

Serving IAS, IPS now to join BPSC interview panels

By
LO Bureau
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BPSC interview panels

In order to align state civil services recruitment standards with the UPSC, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has included IAS and IPS officers in its interview panels. The inclusion will be effective for the 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) interview phase, which started in January and will conclude this month.

In a three-tier exam system comprising prelims, mains, and an interview, BPSC members and subject experts currently form the panel. The new panels feature a mix of academicians and serving high-ranking bureaucrats.

The move is considered part of broader structural reforms undertaken between 2023 and 2026. A BPSC source states that the inclusion of serving bureaucrats enhances their ability to assess a candidate’s on-ground decision-making skills and temperament for managing administrative crises. The panel will also continue to have subject experts.

BPSC source points out that an IAS officer helping choose a state-level administrator and an IPS officer having a say in selecting a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) would add value to the panel.

An official said, like the UPSC, the current system now operates on a strict annual calendar.  After clearing the 150-mark prelims, candidates must take the 900-mark mains—General Studies-I, General Studies-II, and Essay papers of 300 marks each—and a 120-mark interview or personality test. The mains also include a 100-mark optional paper, which is qualifying and does not count toward the total.

According to him, candidates are now expected to demonstrate mental agility and a profound understanding of Bihar’s specific socio-economic challenges.

 

Retired UP bureaucrats ‘reminisce, rejoice, and recreate’ at two-day reunion in Lucknow

By
LO Bureau
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Retd UP IAS meet

In an interesting event, retired Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officers for the first time held a unique two-day reunion at the Civil Services Institute in Lucknow on Saturday and Sunday. The occasion provided a refreshing opportunity for these retired bureaucrats to reminisce, rejoice, and recreate while sharing experiences on post-retirement challenges.

The inaugural session of the programme was titled “Bless the reunion celebrations: Long live the camaraderie.”

What added special attraction to the event was a cultural evening that included dance and drama focusing on how life changes after retirement, how retired officers are treated by young serving officers, how wives react to the new environment after glorious years in service, and how they behave post-retirement.

According to a participant, about 200 retired IAS officers and their families participated in the function at the Civil Service Institute on both days; besides, about 20 serving officers, including Chief Secretary SP Goyal and Board of Revenue Chairman Anil Kumar, were also present at the cultural programme on Saturday evening.

Interestingly, a facility to submit life certificates was also available at the venue on Sunday, keeping in mind that some retired officers face problems with them.

An officer said a discussion on the issues concerning the retired officers took place on Sunday, when only retired officers were present.

These former bureaucrats favoured holding such an event every year until the UP IAS Association began holding the IAS Week.

According to a retired officer, the reunion was organised by a body of the retired IAS officers constituted about two decades ago.

ECI directs Bengal DGP to review ‘lapse’ in police deployment for security of TMC people

By
LO Bureau
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Election Commission of India

The confrontation between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the West Bengal government continues unabated.  In a fresh development, the ECI has raised concerns over the deployment of police personnel to provide security to people allegedly associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in the state.

A senior govt official said the Commission has issued directions to the Bengal DGP, Siddh Nath Gupta (IPS:1992:WB), to ensure corrective measures at the earliest.

According to sources, the Bengal govt had deployed 2,185 police personnel to provide security to 832 people belonging to the TMC directly and 144 others, who include TMC supporters. It was done before the elections were announced.

The ECI has described the matter as “a lapse” and has directed the DGP to conduct a strict professional review within the next 2–3 days.

The Commission is said to have emphasised that security deployment must remain impartial and in line with established norms.

MP facing crisis of governance due to huge shortage of 156 IAS officers

By
LO Bureau
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Shortage of IAS in MP

Madhya Pradesh is facing a crisis of governance due to a shortage of more than 156 IAS officers at present. This huge shortage is emerging as a major handicap for the administrative efficiency of the state. Its impact is telling, as many officials are facing immense work pressure due to having to handle multiple departments.

Though the state has an authorised cadre strength of 459 IAS officers, it currently has only 391 officers working in the state cadre. Around 50 of these officers frequently serve on central deputation at any given time. It reduces the working strength to about 341. To further complicate the situation, 38 IAS officers are currently deputed as poll observers for assembly polls in five states: West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu. They would return only after polls are concluded in May. Thus, the effective strength further comes down to only 303.

This means the MP these days is short of over 156 officers from its authorised strength of 459.

Officials point out that giving charge of multiple departments to one officer results in reduced focus on work as well as leaves the possibility of ignorance and irregularity at the ground level.

However, MP does not rank as the state most severely affected by the shortage of IAS officers. In terms of total authorised strength and the number of officers in position, MP is the fifth lowest in the country.

According to the data from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), UP is facing a shortage of 81 IAS officers, West Bengal of 75 officers, Maharashtra of 76 IAS, and Kerala of 74 IAS officers. However, the DoPT says that the allocation of candidates through the Civil Services Examination, conducted by the UPSC, is an ongoing and continuous process, and vacancies are regularly assessed, and all the advertised vacancies of IAS are filled.

SC lashes out at top Bengal officials over judicial officers being held hostage during SIR drive in Malda

By
LO Bureau
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Exclusion of CJI from CEC panel

Taking suo motu cognizance, the Supreme Court on Thursday expressed extreme displeasure over Bengal’s Malda incident in which seven judicial officials engaged in an SIR exercise were taken hostage. Calling the incident ‘deplorable’ and ‘premeditated,’ the apex court directed the Election Commission to order a probe by either the CBI or NIA and to immediately ensure security for judicial officers, following which the EC ordered an NIA probe into it.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant slammed the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, and local SP describing their roles as “deeply disappointing.” While underscoring the judiciary’s resolve to protect its officers and uphold the rule of law, Surya Kant said that attempts to intimidate or obstruct judges will not be tolerated. The Bench further said that the inaction on the part of the state government was “highly deplorable.”

The CJI said that seven judicial officials, including three women, were taken hostage by the anti-social elements in the Malda district, but despite this, top state officials remained incommunicado during the entire incident.  

In response to the letter received from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, the Chief Secretary, DGP, District Magistrate, and SSP have been instructed to show cause as to why action should not be taken against them. The court has ordered all these officials to attend virtually on April 6 at 4 PM.

The top court also instructed the state Home Secretary, DGP, District Magistrate, and all police officers to ensure that while filing an application in the SIR or during hearings, not more than two or three persons will be allowed to enter and no more than five persons will be permitted to gather at the concerned district office.

Haryana IAS moves HC against govt’s sanction to register FIR against him in corruption case

By
LO Bureau
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HC slaps penalty on IAS

Senior Haryana IAS officer D Suresh (IAS:1995:HY) has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the state govt’s sanction to register an FIR against him in a corruption case.

Currently posted as Principal Resident Commissioner at Haryana Bhawan in New Delhi, Suresh faces allegations of causing financial loss to Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) by reassigning a school site in Gurgaon.

Suresh has sought the court’s directions to quash a letter authorizing registration of an FIR against him under various provisions of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Haryana Vigilance Bureau had initiated an inquiry against him in Nov 2019 when he was posted as HSVP’s Chief Administrator in Panchkula. The probe related to a dispute over the allotment of a plot in Gurgaon Sector-23 for a school.

According to Suresh, the state govt initiated three inquiries against HSVP officers, one of which was against him and eight others. His contention is that he has already filed a petition against the ‘inquiry report of the state,’ and it’s pending before the HC. Yet the state govt ordered the registration of an FIR against him and other officials on Feb 2.

He has argued that the inquiry was conducted without complying with the mandate of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, read with the SOP framed by Union govt and adopted by Haryana.

So, he has now contended that the state should have sought separate sanction if more than one officer was found to be involved in an offence, adding that govt has not complied with Section 17A after completing the inquiry and while granting sanction to register FIR.

The state govt sought additional time to respond to the contentions raised by Suresh when the matter came up for hearing before Justice Jagmohan Bansal recently.

Punjab govt expedites process for DGP appointment, soon to submit panel to UPSC

By
LO Bureau
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Punjab DGP appointment

Following the Supreme Court’s strict warnings regarding the prolonged use of an “acting” DGP, the Punjab government seems to have decided to expedite the process of appointing a regular DGP in the state. The state govt has reportedly prepared its panel of 14 senior IPS officers for this purpose and is expected to submit it to the UPSC soon.

The UPSC will shortlist three names from this panel, one of whom will be appointed as the regular DGP by the state govt. As per SC guidelines, the regular DGP will have a minimum tenure of two years.

Punjab has had an acting DGP since July 2022 after Gaurav Yadav (IPS:1992:PB) was appointed to that position soon after the current govt took office, and he has held the position continuously since then.

The state govt has not sent a panel for DGP appointment to the UPSC since the Bhagwant Mann govt assumed power in the state in March 2022. 

According to reports, the panel prepared by the govt comprises IPS officers from the 1992, 1993, and 1994 batches. Among the officers of the 1992 batch are acting DGP Gaurav Yadav, Special DGP of the Punjab Police Housing Corporation Sharad Satya Chauhan, Anti Narcotics Task Force’s Special DGP Kuldeep Singh, and IPS officer awaiting posting Harpreet Singh Siddhu.  

Similarly, the names of the IPS officers from the 1993 batch in the panel include Special DGP of Community Affairs Division and Women Affairs Gurpreet Kaur Deo, Special DGP of Punjab State Power Corporation Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain, and Special DGP of Railways Shashi Prabha Dwivedi.

The 1994 batch officers included in the panel are Special DGP (Headquarters) Sudhanshu Shekhar Srivastava, Special DGP- cum- Chief Director of Vigilance Bureau Pravin Kumar Sinha, Special DGP of Traffic and Road Safety Amandeep Singh Rai, Special DGP of the Cyber Crime Branch Varun Neraja, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy’s Director Anita Punj, Special DGP (Human Rights) Naresh Kumar, and Technical Services’ Special DGP Ram Singh.   

The Punjab govt initiated the process following pressure from the Supreme Court, which took a firm stance on the issue on Feb. 5, directing states to adopt a process for appointing regular DGPs and directing the UPSC to take action. The govt was asked to submit a proposal within 10 days, but the delay was a factor.

It should be mentioned here that the state govt had tried to adopt its own procedure, citing the Punjab Police Amendment Bill passed in 2023. However, on March 12, the Supreme Court rejected this argument and clarified that the DGP would be appointed through the UPSC process. It was after that the state govt decided to expedite the process.

UP IAS Rinkoo Singh Rahee now says, ‘Don’t want to leave govt job’ after resigning

By
LO Bureau
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Rinkoo Singh Rahee IAS
IAS Rinkoo Singh Rahee

Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS Rinkoo Singh Rahee (IAS:2023:UP), who created ripples in the bureaucratic circles after resigning from the elite service due to alleged denial of meaningful posting for a long time, has now clarified that he did not want to leave his government job.

In his letter to the President of India recently, in which he reportedly tendered a “technical resignation” on Wednesday, Rahee writes that some people resign because they do not like government jobs. But he claims he likes govt work and has tendered a technical resignation as he was unable to serve the people of the state.

“If you are not letting me work here, then send me back to a place where I can work,” he argues.

Rahee had been a Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer in UP since 2008 before cracking the UPSC’s Civil Service Exam and getting selected in 2023.

He rues having been kept in an ‘attached position,’ referring to his attachment to the Board of Revenue since July 30, 2025, where he claims he had no real work to do.

Just six days before he was attached to the Board of Revenue, Rahee had been transferred to the Shahjahanpur district as Joint Commissioner. His action of making a lawyer do squats for urinating in the open drew sharp public criticism. Rahee also performed five squats after lawyers surrounded him to address the issue of dirty toilets in the tehsil. A video of his action became viral, generating wide controversy.

In 2009, when he was posted in the Social Welfare department as a PCS officer, Rahee had reportedly exposed several matters of corruption, after which he was threatened by the then Principal Secretary of the department and was even later shot at by unidentified assailants. The bullets left his face partially paralysed but he remained undeterred and continued to do his work in his fearless style.

In his letter to the President, Rahee alleges that he was not given a fair hearing before being sent off to the Board of Revenue, where he even refused to accept salary for two months as he had no work to do.

He says that his situation would be highly demoralising for young bureaucrats, adding that his case may be the first since Independence, but his department has not responded to his ‘technical resignation.’

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