In a major administrative shake-up, the Uttar Pradesh government late on Monday night (April 21, 2025) issued transfer and posting orders for 33 IAS officers, including the District Magistrates of 11 districts.
The reshuffle affected DMs of Varanasi, Hapur, Azamgarh, Bareilly, Ambedkarnagar, Ghazipur, Jhansi, Mahoba, Kushinagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, and Bhadohi.
Among other significant changes, Information Director Shishir Singh has been transferred, and Vishal Singh will take over the role. Kaushal Raj Sharma, Commissioner of Varanasi, has been appointed as Secretary to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), will continue to hold the additional charge of the post of Director (Finance) of NPCIL. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (21.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Department of Atomic Energy for extension of entrustment of additional charge of the post of Director (Finance) to Mr Pathak for a period of six months with effect from 17.02.2025 or until the post is filled on regular basis or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Sanjay Pandey (ICAS:1994), who is working as Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), has been given in-situ upgradation in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (21.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the temporary upgradation of the post held by Mr. Pandey as a measure personal to him.
In a significant development, senior Indian Information Service officer Ashish Goyal (IIS:1996), presently working as Additional DG, National Museum under Ministry of Culture, has been appointed as Director General (Media) (JS level), Election Commission of India.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (21.04.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr. Goyal to the post for an overall tenure of 5 years upto 30.04.2028 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The appointment has been made by upgrading a vacant post of Director in the Commission to the Joint Secretary level, initially for a period of two years from the date he assumes charge.
The Punjab government on Monday (21.04.2025) issued transfer and posting orders affecting three IAS officers and nine PCS officers. All three IAS officers have been assigned additional charges.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follow;
Sanyam Aggarwal (IAS:2012:PB), Director in the Higher Education, has been given additional charge of Special Secretary, Health & Family Welfare.
Palavi (IAS:2015:PB), Special Secretary, Water Supply & Sanitation with additional charge of HOD, Water Supply & Sanitation, has been given additional charges of Special Secretary Power and New and Renewable Energy Sources.
Sukhjeet Pal Singh (IAS:2018:PB), Additional Secretary, Health & Family Welfare with additional charge of the posts of Additional Secretary, New & Renewable Energy Sources and Member Secretary, Punjab State Scheduled Caste Commission, has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary, Health & Family Welfare with additional charge of Additional Secretary, Housing & Urban Development.
In a significant development, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Friday (18.04.2025) approved the extension of tenure for two Special Directors of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), both from the Karnataka cadre of the Indian Police Service (IPS).
The officers whose tenures have been extended are:
Sonia Narang (IPS:2002:KN)
Abhishek Goyal (IPS:2005:KN)
Sonia Narang’s tenure has been extended by one year beyond April 6, 2025, in relaxation of the IPS Tenure Policy. Earlier this month, she was relieved from her post, and no official reason was cited for her transfer back to her parent cadre in Karnataka. Narang was initially appointed as Additional Director in the ED in November 2020, and was later promoted as Special Director in December 2022. She oversaw the central region and headed the Special Task Force (STF) of the ED.
Abhishek Goyal’s tenure has also been extended by one year beyond March 18, 2025, similarly under relaxation of the IPS Tenure Policy. He has been serving as Special Director in the ED since January 2024 and is currently handling the Headquarters Investigation Unit (HIU).
With the appointment of the next Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) chief expected soon, speculation is rife in bureaucratic and financial circles. The list of potential candidates is narrowing, with Finance Secretary Ajay Seth (IAS:1987:KN) and former Defence Secretary Aramane Giridhar(Retd. IAS:1988:AP) emerging as the top contenders.
Among the two, Ajay Seth appears to be the leading choice, according to senior officials. www.legendofficers.com had first reported on March 12 that both Seth and Aramane were being considered for the top regulatory post.
An April 10 follow-up report by the portal included additional names in the fray — including senior bureaucrats and private sector executives. These included Petroleum Secretary Pankaj Jain (IAS:1990:AM); Sriram Taranikanti (IAS:1992:TR), Director of LBSNAA; Thomas Devasia, former Member (Non-Life), IRDAI; and RM Vishakha, former MD & CEO of IndiaFirst Life.
However, with the announcement expected soon, the focus appears to be shifting back to the initial frontrunners.
Ajay Seth currently serves as Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs and holds the additional charge of Revenue Secretary. As the senior-most secretary in the Finance Ministry, he holds the designation of Finance Secretary. He is set to retire at the end of June. The government has already named his successors: Anuradha Thakur(IAS:1994:HP) has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and Arvind Shrivastava(IAS:1994:KN) will take over as Revenue Secretary — a move that some see as paving the way for his transition to the IRDAI role.
The IRDAI chief’s position has been vacant since March 13, following the completion of Debasish Panda’s three-year tenure. The Department of Financial Services had invited applications for the role on March 10, with April 6 as the submission deadline.
Surajit Mishra has been selected for appointment as Director in-charge (Burnpur & Durgapur Steel Plants), Steel Authority of India Limited at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on April 19, 2025. Presently, he is serving as Executive Director (Projects), IISCO Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Limited.
He will be appointed to the post of Director in-charge (Burnpur & Durgapur Steel Plants) after receiving vigilance clearances and approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The following 12 applicants were interviewed in the selection meeting:
S Subbaraj, Executive Director, Alloy Steels plant, Durgapur, Steel Authority Of India Limited
P Murugesan, Executive Director (Projects), Durgapur Steel Plant, Durgapur, Steel Authority Of India Limited
Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra, Executive Director (Works), Bokaro Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Ltd
Diptendu Ghosh, Executive Director Executive Director (Works), IISCO Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Ltd.
Prasanna Kumar Rath, Executive Director, Sail Refractory Unit, Steel Authority Of India Ltd.
Surajit Mishra, Executive Director, IISCO Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Ltd.
Debabrata Dutta, Executive Director, Steel Authority Of India Limited
Sandip Kumar Kar, Executive Director (RDCIS), E-9, Steel Authority Of India Limited
Bipin Kumar Giri, Executive Director (Mines), Steel Authority Of India Limited.
Prabir Kumar Sarkar, Executive Director, Salem Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Limited
Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra has been selected for appointment as Director in-charge (Bhillai Steel Plant), Steel Authority of India Limited at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on April 19, 2025. Presently, he is serving as Executive Director (works), Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL.
He will be appointed to the post of Director in-charge (Bhillai Steel Plant) after receiving vigilance clearances and approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The following 12 applicants were interviewed in the selection meeting:
S Subbaraj, Executive Director, Alloy Steels plant, Durgapur, Steel Authority Of India Limited
Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra, Executive Director (Works), Bokaro Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Ltd.
Dipetendu Ghosh, Executive Director Executive Director (Works), IISCO Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Ltd.
Prasanna Kumar Rath, Executive Director, Sail Refractory Unit, Steel Authority Of India Ltd.
Surajit Mishra, Executive Director, IISCO Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Ltd.
Sandip Kumar Kar, Executive Director (RDCIS), E-9, Steel Authority Of India Limited
Bipin Kumar Giri, Executive Director (Mines), Steel Authority Of India Limited.
Prabir Kumar Sarkar, Executive Director, Salem Steel Plant, Steel Authority Of India Limited
Palai Biswaranjan, Executive Director, (Works), SAIL,RSP, Steel Authority Of India Limited
Om Prakash Sinha has been selected for appointment as Director (Exploration), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on April 17, 2025. Presently, he is serving as Executive Director – Head, Institute of Reservoir Studies, Ahmedabad, ONGC.
He will be appointed to the post of Director (Exploration) after receiving vigilance clearances and approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The following 12 applicants were interviewed in the selection meeting:
Om Prakash Sinha, Executive Director – Head, Institute of Reservoir Studies, Ahmedabad, ONGC
Ajay Ratan, Director (as ONGC nominee on Pawan Hans), Pawan Hans Limited
Tarun Kumar Mathuria, Group General Manager & Basin Manager- Assam & Assam Arakan Basin, Jorhat, Assam, ONCG
Prabhakar Thakur, Chief General Manager, Head of Department, Directorate General Of Hydrocarbons ( Dgh)
Ashwani Kumar Walia, Group General Manager, Head Forward Base Silchar, ONGC
Vikas Mohan, Chief General Manager, Chief Geophysical Services, ONGC
Anupma Baveja, Chief General Manager Head Exploration & Development, ONGC Videsh Limited
K Karvannan, Chief General Manager, Basin Manager, KG-PG Basin, Rajahmundry, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
Dinesh Singh, Chief General Manager, CGM-Corporate Strategy, ONGC
Awadesh Prasad, Chief General Manager(Reservoir), ONGC
Anup Kumar, Chief General Manager (Geophysics), Oil India Limited
Dharam Singh Manral, Chief General Manager (Exploration & Development Directorate), Oil India Limited
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