Alka Nangia Arora (IDAS:1991), Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, has been prematurely repatriated to her parent cadre. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (11.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal to repatriate Ms Arora to her parent cadre on personal grounds.
KB Vandana gets extension as IG in NIA
The central deputation tenure of KB Vandana (IPS:2004:RJ) as Inspector General (IG) in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been extended for one year. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (11.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Home Affairs extend the deputation tenure of Ms Vandana for a period of one year beyond April 13, 2025.
Alok Mishra continues as Director General, DGFASLI
Alok Mishra (IIS:1998), Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, will continue to hold additional charge of the post of Director General, Directorate General of Factory Advice Service and Labour Institute (DGFASLI), for further six months. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (11.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment to extend the assignment of additional charge of the post to Mr Mishra for a period of six months w.e.f February 6, 2025 or till the appointment of a regular incumbent, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Chief PS to Kerala CM to face CBI investigation
Chief Principal Secretary (CPS) to Kerala Chief Minister, KM Abraham (Retd.IAS:1982:KL), is in for a big trouble as a CBI investigation has been ordered against him for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. The Kerala High Court has directed the Kochi unit of the CBI to take up the investigation.
The order was passed by a single bench headed by Justice K Babu.
Abraham was the Chief Secretary of the state and is currently serving as the Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and the CEO of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
The court ordered a CBI investigation after hearing a petition, filed by social activist Jomon Puthenpurackal, seeking a CBI probe. According to the petition, Abraham allegedly acquired assets beyond his known income when he served as Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department in 2015.
The petitioner raised the question as to how Abraham repaid loans with amounts exceeding his monthly salary. Besides, he allegedly acquired properties worth crores in various locations.
Interestingly, the state Vigilance Department had also investigated the complaint but dismissed the allegation.
Union Govt to expedite process of DIPAM-DPE merger
The Union government is said to be in the process of expediting the merger of two crucial departments, the Department of Investment & Public Asset Management (DIPAM) and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), into one under the Ministry of Finance.
The idea of merger was conceived to bring synergy between the two departments as 80 per cent of the works undertaken by them are similar in nature or related to each other. So, the need to eliminate duplication and streamline operation necessitated merger.
Both these departments deal with matters related to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) and play a pivotal role in equity management, including investment and disinvestment. It should be understood that, apart from the management and regulation of CPSEs, DIPAM initiates the process of disinvestment while DPE settles the closure of business entities and hence merger of the two departments is believed to greatly enhance the performance of the CPSUs.
The basic idea behind this proposed merger is to streamline operation of the CPSUs so that the larger goal of economic reforms could be achieved by facilitating investments and job creation.
The merger plan is not new. It has been high on the agenda of the Narendra Modi government and even figured in the list of “hundred days programme” prepared by the BJP government at the Centre in the anticipation of victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
CAT restores Telangana cadre to IAS officer Ronald Rose
Senior IAS officer D Ronald Rose (IAS:2006) finally succeeded in getting his cadre allocation to Telangana. The interim relief was provided by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
This development bears significance as there has been a prolonged administrative tussle over cadre allocation ever since Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated and a separate Telangana state was created.
The cadre allocation process for All India Services (AIS) officers was undertaken on the basis of the recommendations made by the Pratyush
Sinha Committee.
Interestingly, Ronald Rose originally belonged to Telangana cadre, but was later placed in AP cadre after the bifurcation. He appealed against this and submitted a representation to the Telangana government for his retention in the state. The state government forwarded his request to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), but it was turned down.
Though Rose reported to Andhra Pradesh, he moved the CAT seeking relief and reconsideration of his cadre allocation. The CAT granted interim relief by allowing him to continue his service in Telangana until further orders.
The tribunal also noted that the DoPT has been failing to comply with its directive and expressed its dismay over it. The DoPT failed to comply with its directives in case of another IAS officer Siva Sankar Lotheti as well. It seems to have led the CAT to warn the DoPT that its failure to comply with its directives would invite contempt proceedings against the secretary of the DoPT.
Is Kerala IAS officer N Prasanth in grip of controversy generating syndrome?
Kerala IAS officer N Prasanth (IAS:2007:KL) seems to be slipping into a vicious grip of controversy generating syndrome. His irresistible attraction for social media is surely causing consternation in the state bureaucracy.
Despite the state government’s unprecedented move to accommodate his request for live streaming of personal hearing as part of disciplinary proceedings against him, Prasanth refuses to resist his temptation for giving vent to his emotional outburst by making public his defence statements and letters written to the Chief Secretary through social media post.
An unrelenting Prasanth has now uploaded his detailed statements containing damagingly serious allegations of forgery and fabrication of records against IAS officers K Gopalakrishnan (IAS:2013:KL) and his senior A Jayathilak (IAS:1991:KL).
He goes on to allege that both Jayathilak and Gopalakrishnan made deliberate move to manipulate official records, fabricate evidence, and circulate false information to the government and media. He is peeved that despite his detailed complaint no action was taken against them.
This is happening despite the Chief Secretary accepting Prasanth’s wish for personal hearing and acknowledging it through a letter on April 4. The hearing is scheduled on April 16 at 4.30 pm. Prasanth had communicated to the Chief Secretary demanding disciplinary proceedings against him to be digitally recorded and streamed, which was accepted.
Prasanth even charged the Chief Secretary with openly exhibiting bias and manipulation of records at the behest of Jayathilak and Gopalakrishnan. Despite all this, his wishes were honoured, yet he refuses to relent as an unprovoked aggressor.
(By Dinesh Kumar, Senior Journalist)
Odisha govt issues posting orders for 28 newly inducted IAS officers
The Odisha government on Thursday (10.04.2025) issued posting orders for 28 officers of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) who were recently promoted to the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Speculation continues over new IRDAI Chairman
The Indian insurance industry is agog with speculation as to who will head the Hyderabad based insurance regulator, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). The post fell vacant after Debasish Panda’s three-year tenure expired on Mar 13.
The deadline for applying for the post ended on April 6 itself, but there is no clarity yet as to who will don the hat.
A few names are doing the rounds for the post of IRDAI Chairman. These include Ajay Seth (IAS:1987:KN), the newly-appointed Finance Secretary; Giridhar Aramane (Retd. IAS:1988:AP), former Defence Secretary; and Pankaj Jain (IAS:1990:AM), the current Petroleum Secretary. Seth is unlikely to be shifted from the Finance Secretary’s post.
In addition, Sriram Taranikanti (IAS:1992:TR), current Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) at Mussoorie is another entrant to the race for IRDAI’s Chairmanship. What goes in his favour is the fact that this Tripura cadre IAS officer, had served as an Executive Director of IRDAI for five years between 2011- 2016.
Few names from the private sector being hotly debated are Thomas Devasia, former member, Non-Life, IRDAI and RM Vishakha, former MD & CEO , India First Life.
The government can ill-afford delaying the appointment of a new IRDAI chairman as the Insurance Amendment Bill 2025, that contains several reforms in insurance sector including the one allowing 100 per cent FDI, may be tabled during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.
CMPFO Commissioner VK Mishra repatriated to parent organization
Vijay Kumar Mishra (CPES:1991), currently serving as Commissioner (Joint Secretary level) in the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organization (CMPFO), Ranchi, has been prematurely repatriated to his parent organization. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday (09.04.2025), the competent authority has approved the Ministry of Coal’s proposal for Mr. Mishra’s repatriation.
Join Us on WhatsApp