Ankur Baruah, currently serving as Executive Director (ED) of Oil India Limited (OIL), has been appointed as Director (Human Resources), OIL. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (15.04.205), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr Baruah to the post till the date of his retirement, i.e. February 29, 2028, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Notably, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) conducted interviews on January 15, 2025, with 12 candidates before recommending Ankur Baruah’s name to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for the position.
Sachidananda Maharana, currently serving as Chief General Manager (CGM) of Oil India Limited (OIL), has been appointed as Director (Finance), Numaligarh Refinery Limited. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (15.04.205), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr Mahapatra to the post till the date of his retirement, i.e. December 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Notably, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) conducted interviews on February 1, 2025, with 10 candidates before recommending Sachidananda Maharana’s name to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for the position.
Façade often conceals a grim reality. It is corroborated by the latest India Justice Report (IJR), released on Tuesday at the India International Centre (IIC). Despite the tall talk of women’s empowerment and equal opportunities, the latest edition of the India Justice Report reveals a different story altogether. According to it, there are less than 1,000 women occupying senior ranks in India’s 20.3 lakh strong police force, especially in the ranks of Superintendents and Director-Generals.
Similarly, the number of women non-IPS officers is just over 25,000, comprising just 8% of the 3.1 lakh total officers. Pitiably, 90% of women in the police force occupy the constabulary rank. This figure is based on the national database of IJR 2025.
The two-year study used data from the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) among others.
According to the report, Karnataka is the top-ranking state overall followed by Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala on the indicators of the justice delivery mechanism. This is the fourth edition of the report, brought out in collaboration with partners including the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, DAKSH, TISS-Prayas, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, and How India Lives, IJR’s data partner. Initiated by the Tata Trusts, IJR’s findings were first published in 2019.
Former National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) Chairman Ajay Bhushan Pandey (Retd.IAS:1984:MH) has been appointed as Vice President (Investment Solutions) at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He was picked for this role after spearheading several reforms in finance, corporate governance, Aadhaar, digital payments, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and direct tax.
According to a statement released by AIIB, he will be in charge of three departments — the Sectors, Themes, and Finance Solutions Department; the Sustainability and Fiduciary Solutions Department; and the Portfolio Management Department — at the multilateral development bank.
An Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur alumnus, Pandey has had an illustrious career as a bureaucrat having been India’s Finance Secretary and Revenue Secretary, besides being the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (Aadhar), and Chairman of the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN).
In every role, Pandey made a notable contribution like as CEO of UIDAI, he steered the scaling of Aadhaar from the ground up, while as Finance Secretary, he introduced a series of direct tax reforms. The concepts of greater transparency and ease of doing business got new impetus under his leadership. Similarly, the tax administration rolled out the faceless assessment and faceless appeal initiatives under him.
A doctorate (PhD) in computer science from the University of Minnesota, United States, Pandey is known as a highly qualified bureaucrat.
A group of IAS officers from the 2023 batch, currently serving as Assistant Secretaries in various Union Ministries and Departments, called on President of India Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on Tuesday.
Addressing the young officers, the President commended their hard work and determination in joining the Indian Administrative Service, calling it a transformative milestone in their lives. She urged them to channel that same dedication toward bringing meaningful change in the lives of the people they serve.
“You have the opportunity to positively impact countless lives, even in your very first posting,” she said, emphasizing the importance of working for the upliftment of the underprivileged and revisiting past postings to observe the long-term impact of their initiatives.
Highlighting the responsibilities of civil servants, President Murmu stated that their duties must be viewed as responsibilities, and their rights as tools to fulfill them. She cautioned against seeking popularity through social media, stating, “Your real career story will be written by your work, not by your number of followers. Your real social net worth will be determined by the good you do.”
Underscoring the importance of values in public service, she noted that honesty, truth, and simplicity are cornerstones of a fulfilling and impactful career. “Honesty is the most desirable policy in public service,” she said, urging officers to lead by example in integrity and sensitivity.
In light of growing public awareness and rising aspirations in the digital age, the President advised the officers to stay connected with citizens, encourage community participation, and address public interest concerns raised by elected representatives. She concluded by stating that their work at the grassroots would contribute directly to national progress and public welfare.
Senior diplomat Rajeev Kumar (IFS: 2001) has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. Presently, he is serving as DDG, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
In a statement, the MEA said, “Shri Rajeev Kumar (IFS: 2001), presently DDG, ICCR, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.”
“He is expected to take up the assignment shortly,” the statement added.
Amararam Gujar (IFS: 2008) was on Tuesday appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Malawi. Presently, he is serving as Deputy Chief of Mission, Rome and is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
In a statement, the MEA said, “Shri Amararam Gujar (IFS: 2008), presently Deputy Chief of Mission, Rome, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Malawi.”
“He is expected to take up the assignment shortly,” the statement added.
The Rajasthan government on Tuesday (15.04.2025) appointed 13 IAS officers of the 2024 batch as Assistant Collectors and Executive Magistrates across various districts of the state.
The officers and their respective postings are as follows:
Srishti Dabas: Udaipur
Aishwaryam Prajapati: Alwar
Medha Anand: Bhilwara
Swati Sharma: Bikaner
Neha Uddhavsingh Rajput: Ajmer
Rohit Verma: Jaisalmer
Mohanlal: Jodhpur
Ravindra Kumar Meghwal: Chittorgarh
Birju Gopal Choudhary: Pali
Aditi Yadav: Sri Ganganagar
Mrinal Kumar: Jaipur
Aradhana Chauhan: Kota
Bhanu Sharma: Bharatpur
These officers will serve as Assistant Collectors during their field training, while also taking on responsibilities as Executive Magistrates. In this role, they are authorized to exercise certain powers delegated by the District Collector, providing them crucial on ground administrative experience.
The 2024 batch officers are currently undergoing training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) and are scheduled to be relieved from the academy on April 18. Upon release, they will report to the Director General of the Harish Chandra Mathur Rajasthan State Institute of Public Administration (HCM-RIPA), who will then direct them to their respective training districts.
The Uttar Pradesh government late Tuesday (15.04.2025) night issued orders for the transfer of 11 IPS officers across the state. The reshuffle includes changes in key police leadership positions, with the Police Commissioners of Ghaziabad and Agra being replaced.
Additionally, the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) in Mathura and Bulandshahr, along with the police chiefs of Barabanki and Baghpat, have also been transferred, marking a significant shake-up in the state’s police administration.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Tuesday (15.04.2025) approved the empanelment of Chinmay P Gotmare (IAS: 2009: AM) for holding Joint Secretary or equivalent positions in the Government of India. Gotmare is currently serving as Director in the Department of Expenditure, a role he assumed in April 2024 following his appointment announcement on March 28, 2024.
This development follows the ACC’s empanelment of 19 officers from various services and batches on April 14 for Joint Secretary-level posts across the central government.
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