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 UP govt considering to create post of Special DG once again

By
LO Bureau
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The Uttar Pradesh government is reported to be flirting with the idea of creating the post of Special Director General (Special DG) once again in the state with the purpose of accommodating senior IPS officers waiting for promotion to the rank of Director General (DG).

There are at least 11 IPS officers in the state who are eligible for promotion to the DG rank but it has not been possible due to the limited number of sanctioned posts. To make matters worse, seven more officers will be eligible for promotion to the DG rank on January 1, 2026 swelling the number of eligible officers to 18.

It has caused a precarious situation with questions being asked about cadre management. It is against this background that the government is reported to be considering the creation of Special DG posts in the state.

At present, the state has seven cadre posts and an equal number of ex-cadre posts for DG rank, making it possible for only 14 officers to hold the DG rank at any given time, and hence there is no vacancy as such currently.

Similarly, there are 21 cadre posts for the Additional Director General (ADG) rank, of which up to 25 percent can be ex-cadre posts. As a result, the total number of ADG-level officers can range between 25 and 26. There are currently 33 officers in the ADG rank, which exceeds the sanctioned strength.

So, if the Special DG post is created again, all 18 officers would benefit.

The post of Special DG was first created during the Mayawati government in 2011. It was done to accommodate Brijlal, a 1977-batch IPS officer, who was serving as ADG (Law and Order) because there were no vacant DG posts available. To facilitate his promotion and that of other officers from his batch, the government created the post of Special DG. The rank was revived again on March 30, 2023. At that time, several officers of the 1990 batch, including Prashant Kumar, were promoted to the rank of Special DG.

Speculation around the revival of the Special DG post has intensified because the 1996 batch officers will become eligible for promotion on January 1, and among them is current ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash (IPS:1996:UP), considered one of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s most trusted officers.

Sajeesh Kumar N gets six-month extension as CMPFO Commissioner

By
LO Bureau
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Sajeesh Kumar N IRTS

Sajeesh Kumar N (IRTS:2002), Coal Controller in the Coal Controller Organisation under the Ministry of Coal, has been given a six-month extension to hold the additional charge of Commissioner (Joint Secretary level) in the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO).

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (December 22, 2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal of the Ministry of Coal to entrust the additional charge to Sajeesh Kumar N for a further period of six months with effect from November 1, 2025, or until a regular incumbent is appointed or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Sajeesh Kumar N was first given charge of the CMPFO post on May 1, 2025, for six months. Since no regular appointment has been made yet, the government has extended the arrangement.

Varanasi Range DIG Vaibhav Krishna develops digital crime reporting system for citizens—‘Police Satark Mitra’

By
LO Bureau
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IPS Vaibhav Krishna

With an aim to empower citizens to report illegal activities without fear of identity disclosure, Varanasi Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Vaibhav Krishna (IPS:2010:UP), has developed a unique digital reporting system called the Police Satark Mitra. It is a WhatsApp-based system for citizens to report criminal activities in all three districts of the Varanasi Range—Jaunpur, Ghazipur, and Chandauli.  


It is virtually a digital interface that allows citizens to remain anonymous while sharing information about organized crime and social offences, including cow smuggling and slaughter, liquor and drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, gambling, prostitution, human and child trafficking, illegal spas, forced religious conversions, illegal mining, overloading of vehicles, extortion, and even police corruption.

The main objective behind this initiative is to remove the element of fear of identity disclosure that often prevents citizens from sharing crucial information. Neither the mobile number nor any personal details of the informant will be visible to police officers at any stage.

It is simple to operate. All a citizen needs to do is to send a WhatsApp message—even a single word such as “Hi”—to 7839860411 or scan the QR code, after which the bot automatically guides the user through language selection and category-based prompts to collect detailed inputs.

The system accepts text, audio messages, photographs, and videos, making it particularly useful for sharing CCTV footage or visuals related to serious crimes such as murder, robbery, or chain snatching. All information received through the bot is routed directly to the offices of the respective district Superintendents of Police (SP) and the DIG, Varanasi Range.


Gitanjali Gupta gets two-year extension as Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog

By
LO Bureau
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Gitanjali Gupta IAS

The central deputation tenure of Gitanjali Gupta (IAS:1996:AGMUT), serving as Additional Secretary in the NITI Aayog, has been extended by two years.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday, December 22, 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal to extend her deputation tenure for two years beyond February 3, 2026, that is, up to February 3, 2028, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Gupta has been serving as Additional Secretary in the NITI Aayog since November 2023. Prior to this assignment, she was Managing Director of the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.

Earlier, she also served as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. under the Ministry of Railways.

N Saravana Kumar given additional charge as Member Secretary, NCRPB

By
LO Bureau
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N Saravana Kumar Vice Chairman DDA

Senior IAS officer N Saravana Kumar (IAS:2000:BH), currently serving as Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority, has been given additional charge as Member Secretary of the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (December 23, 2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved assignment of additional charge of the post to Kumar till appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

The post of Member Secretary, NCRPB, became vacant after senior IAS officer Archana Agrawal (IAS:1990:UP) repatriated to her parent cadre Uttar Pradesh on October 16, 2025. She had been holding the post since April 2019.

Since the position remained vacant after her repatriation, the Centre has made this temporary arrangement by assigning the charge to Kumar.

Also Read: Senior IAS officer Archana Agrawal repatriated to Uttar Pradesh cadre

Ex-Punjab IPS falls victim to digital thuggery, attempts suicide after losing crores

By
LO Bureau
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Punjab Police

Fraudsters follow a simple theory—feed on human greed—without bothering about who the possible target is. The overconfidence of the police background blinded this former Punjab IPS officer, Amar Singh Chahal (IPS:1990:PB), to this stark reality and drove him into their trap. It proved catastrophic and drove him to attempt suicide by shooting himself with the rifle of his security guard at Patiala on Monday.

Chahal, who retired as an Inspector-General (IG), has been suffering from bone cancer for the last two years. He narrated his trauma in a detailed 12-page note pointing to a massive cyber fraud and his own sense of collapse in its aftermath.

Chahal’s life was saved as the bullet struck his chest and lodged in his lungs, yet his condition is extremely critical due to massive blood loss, the doctor attending to him said. In a 12-page note addressed to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, Chahal has alleged that he had been cheated of Rs 8.10 crore by cyber fraudsters posing as wealth management advisors.

The retired IPS officer wrote at length about his emotional state, expressing distress over financial ruin and shame.

He urged authorities to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or hand over the case to the CBI to trace the money trail.

According to the note, the fraudsters operated through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, allegedly luring investors by promising unusually high returns through stock trading, IPO allotments, OTC trades, and so-called “quantitative funds.”

The Punjab police said they are investigating both the firing incident and the alleged fraud.

 

RTI wakes up Union Govt to ask states for Civil Services Board formation

By
LO Bureau
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360-degree empanelment process

An RTI by a whistleblower wakes up the Union Government from a decade-long slumber to ask for an urgent status report from all states on the formation of Civil Services Boards (CSBs). The Department of personnel and training (DoPT) wrote to the states on Dec 16, asking them if CSBs were constituted in line with the Supreme Court’s order.

The Supreme Court, in its verdict on Oct 31, 2013, had called for the formation of the CSB in every state to ensure stability in the posting of civil servants, fixing a minimum tenure of two years for All India Service (AIS) officers. The verdict was followed by a DoPT’s notification to this effect, in 2014.

Both, the apex court verdict of 2013 and the subsequent DoPT’s notification in 2014, made it mandatory that postings to cadre posts be based on CSB recommendations with a minimum two-year tenure for AIS officers.

According to the rules, states are required to submit quarterly reports to the Centre explaining transfers made before completion of the minimum tenure.

Thus, it is virtually a follow up action of the DoPT’s own notification issued more than a decade ago, in 2014. Interestingly, even this follow up action was taken only after an RTI was filed by whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi (IFS:2002:UK), an Indian Forest Service officer of Uttarakhand cadre on Dec 3.

Chaturvedi’s RTI has sought certified copies of file notings, documents and correspondence identifying states that have constituted CSBs, along with details of premature transfers of All India Service officers — IAS, IPS and IFS — in violation of tenure norms since the 2014 notification.

ACC approves repatriation of NIA chief Sadanand Date to Maharashtra

By
LO Bureau
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IPS Sadanand Date

In a significant development, senior Maharashtra cadre IPS officer and incumbent Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sadanand Vasant Date (IPS:1990:MH), has been repatriated to his parent cadre. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Monday (December 22, 2025) approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for his premature repatriation with immediate effect.

The premature repatriation comes amid strong indications that Date is likely to be appointed the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, with incumbent DGP Rashmi Shukla set to retire on December 31. The Maharashtra government had earlier forwarded a list of seven senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for shortlisting, with Date being the senior-most officer among them. As reported earlier by LegendOfficers.com, the state government had also requested the Centre to repatriate him to facilitate the appointment process.

Date took charge as Director General of the NIA in April 2024, succeeding Dinkar Gupta (IPS:1987:PB), who superannuated on March 31, 2024. Prior to his central deputation, Date served as chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and held several key positions in the state police, including Police Commissioner of Mira Bhayandar–Vasai Virar, Joint Commissioner of Law and Order, and Joint Commissioner of the Crime Branch in Mumbai.

He has also served two stints in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as Deputy Inspector General and as Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

A highly decorated officer, Date was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry for his role in countering the terrorists during the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks. He has also received the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2007 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2014. (By- Rajeev Singh)

Also Read: Maharashtra misses NIA chief Date, urges Centre for his repatriation (December 3, 2025)

Also Read: Selection of next Maharashtra DGP enters final stage; seven names sent to UPSC (November 4, 2025)

PESB invites applications for Director (Finance) at Power Grid

By
LO Bureau
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Power Grid Corporation of India

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Director (Finance) at Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL). The vacancy notification was issued on Monday (December 22, 2025) with January 12, 2026, fixed as the last date for submission of applications through the PESB portal.

The post will fall vacant on July 1, 2026, following the superannuation of the incumbent, G Ravi Shankar, on June 30, 2026. He has been serving as Director (Finance) at Power Grid since September 2022.

Eligible candidates from both public and private sector organisations have been invited to apply for the position.

Also Read: G Ravi Shankar appointed Director(Finance), PGCIL

Sharandeep Kaur Brar takes interim charge of FCI Punjab Region

By
LO Bureau
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Sharandeep Kaur Brar IAS

Haryana cadre IAS officer Sharandeep Kaur Brar (IAS:2009:HY), General Manager of the Food Corporation of India’s Haryana Region, has been given additional charge of General Manager, FCI Punjab Region, following the completion of B Srinivasan’s (IAS:2011:PB) deputation tenure.

According to an official order issued by the Food Corporation of India on December 22, 2025, B Srinivasan completed his tenure as General Manager, FCI Punjab Region, on December 29, 2025. With his relieving, the competent authority has entrusted Brar with the additional charge of the Punjab region. She will hold the charge until further orders or until a regular incumbent is appointed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), whichever is earlier.

The interim arrangement comes amid uncertainty over whether the Centre will continue the long-standing practice of appointing a Punjab cadre IAS officer as FCI Punjab General Manager. Traditionally, the post has been held by officers from the Punjab cadre.

Earlier reports suggesting that an AGMUT cadre officer could be considered for the post had triggered concern within the Punjab government. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had written to Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi on November 6, cautioning that any deviation from convention could create apprehensions among farmers, arhtiyas and other stakeholders.

The Punjab government had initially sent a panel of Punjab cadre IAS officers to the Centre, which was returned after certain objections were raised. Following this, the state government forwarded a revised second panel, which is currently under consideration, though no final decision has yet been taken on the regular appointment.

Also Read: FCI Punjab GM Post: Will Tradition Hold or Centre Break Convention?

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