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Cabinet Secy TV Somanathan asks Union Secretaries and CS to document best practices of innovative governance

By
LO Bureau
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Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan IAS

India’s Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan (IAS:1987:TN) has come out with a directive asking all Union Secretaries and Chief Secretaries to document best practices of ‘innovative governance’ in order toinstitutionalize administrative excellence.

Somanathan, in his letter to Secretaries of Union Govt and Chief Secretaries of states and Union Territories, has emphasized that the “immense experience” of bureaucrats in this country holds significant value for the nation and hence it is desirable that good practices or learnings of wider applicability are documented and made available to other officers. This will encourage cross-learning and improve governance,” the letter says.

The study to be conducted under the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) aims to transform individual success stories as models for public administration across the country.

The officers belonging to All India as well as State services have been asked to submit their entries by May 31, 2026. To ensure inclusivity and ease of expression, the govt has introduced several criteria: officers can submit notes in any language- English, Hindi, or regional; the notes must be typed and limited to a maximum of seven pages. Entries can cover any area of public administration, ranging from simple workflow tweaks to massive digital transformations.

Direct entries are to be emailed to ⁠goodpractices.ncgg@gov.in⁠.

The govt has outlined a rigorous multi-tier vetting process under which the NCGG will first examine the notes for relevance and significance. It will be followed by independent verification of claims made in the submissionn. A high-level panel of senior officers in the Cabinet Secretariat will conduct the final review and selected practices will then be uploaded to the official portals of the Cabinet Secretariat and the NCGG as a reference guide for peers.

CJI on panel to appoint CEC a legislative choice, not a constitutional imperative: Centre

By
LO Bureau
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Exclusion of CJI from CEC panel

In an important development, the Centre has justified the government’s decision to drop the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the panel to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners (ECs) in its affidavit filed to the Supreme Court.

The Centre has told the top court that the Constitution does not mandate judicial representation on the Appointment Committee of the Election Commission. It further clarified that inclusion of a member representing the judiciary is a legislative choice, not a constitutional imperative.

It needs to be mentioned here that a five-judge SC bench had provided for a stopgap measure in 2023 by ruling that appointments to the ECI should be made by a panel comprising the PM, the CJI and the Leader of Opposition (LoP) until a law was framed. After this ruling the Parliament enacted the CEC and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, under which the appointment committee comprises the PM, a cabinet minister and the LoP.

Now, the validity of this law has been challenged in the SC in which the petitioner’s argument that the EC’s independence would be compromised by replacing the CJI with a cabinet minister.

The govt has countered this contention in its affidavit, saying there was no flaw in the law passed by Parliament and that “free and fair elections had never been casualties” even when appointments were made solely by the executive, as had been the practice for over seven decades.

The govt cited the fact that all previous CECs and ECs had been appointed by the executive  suggesting that the nexus between exclusive executive authority in appointments and lack of institutional independence was hypothetical.

The govt further said it would be “inappropriate, legally unsustainable and premised on a fundamental fallacy” to allege, without basis, that independence of a constitutional authority can be ensured only when the selection panel follows a particular formulation.

The govt’s contention is clear: “It is well settled that no law duly made by the competent legislature can be challenged on the ground that it was made with an ulterior motive.”.

The affidavit also said the presence of senior govt functionaries in the selection committee, along with the LoP, cannot by itself be grounds to presume bias, as constitutional functionaries must be presumed to act fairly and in good faith in public interest.

Referring to the 2023 law, the govt said it provides a “more democratic, collaborative and inclusive” process for appointing election commissioners, in line with the spirit of Article 324(2) of the Constitution.

PESB invites applications for CMD post in Mahanadi Coalfields

By
LO Bureau
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Mahanadi Coalfields Limited

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).

The vacancy notification was issued on May 15, 2026, and the last date for submission of online applications through the PESB portal is 3 PM on June 4, 2026.

Applications of government and PSU officers are required to be forwarded by the concerned cadre controlling authority or administrative department to PESB by 5 PM on June 15, 2026.

The post will fall vacant on February 1, 2027 following the retirement of incumbent Uday A Kaole on January 31, 2027. He has been serving in the position since December 19, 2023.

PESB invites applications for Director (Finance) post in NTCL

By
LO Bureau
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National Textiles Corporation Limited

PESB invites applications for Director (Finance) post in National Textile Corporation Limited. Last date to apply is June 3, 2026. The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Director (Finance) of National Textile Corporation Limited (NTCL).

The vacancy notification was issued on May 14, 2026, and the last date for submission of online applications through the PESB portal is 3 PM on June 3, 2026.

Applications of government and PSU officers are required to be forwarded by the concerned cadre controlling authority or administrative department to PESB by 5 PM on June 12, 2026.

According to the advertisement, the post fell vacant on May 14, 2026. Rajeev Ranjan Kumar was holding charge of the post of Director (Finance).

PESB recommends Ambrish Tripathi as Director (HR) of Bharat Electronics

By
LO Bureau
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The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Ambrish Tripathi for appointment as Director (Human Resources) of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The recommendation was made following interviews conducted on May 14, 2026.

Tripathi is currently serving as General Manager and Unit Head of the Kotdwara Unit of Bharat Electronics Limited. His name will now be forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval, subject to vigilance clearance and other prescribed formalities.

Notably, the post of Director (Human Resources) fell vacant on April 1, 2026 following the superannuation of incumbent Nagarajan Vikraman on March 31, 2026.

The PESB had issued the vacancy notification and invited applications for the post on December 18, 2025.

The candidates appeared for the interview were as follows;

  1. Kappagantula Srinivas, General Manager (PDIC) and Addl Charge CTO (EWP), Bharat Electronics Limited
  2. Tribhuwan Narayan Singh, General Manager HR (Bangalore Complex), Bharat Electronics Limited
  3. Ramkumar B, General Manager Human Resources – Corporate Office, Bengaluru, Bharat Electronics Limited
  4. Ambrish Tripathi, General Manager (Unit Head of Kotdwara Unit), Bharat Electronics Limited
  5. Sameer, General Manager GM (Network Centric System), Bharat Electronics Limited
  6. Udit Jain, Executive Director (HR), Corporate Office, New Delhi, Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  7. Kasa Venkateswara Prasad, General Manager (Project Engineering – Control & Instrumentation), NTPC Limited
  8. Amit Gupta, Chief General Manager (HR Transformation), Corporate Office, New Delhi, Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  9. Bhakta Batsala Patra, Additional General Manager HEAD OF HR, NTPC Limited
  10. Syam Kumar Dagani, Additional General Manager HEAD (HR), Energy Efficiency Services Limited
  11. Chaman Bahadur Jaggi, Vice President VP(HR), Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (Jv Co. Of Cil, NTPC, IOCL, FCIL & HFCL)

Deepika Lohia Aran gets two-year extension as NIFT CVO

By
LO Bureau
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Deepika Lohia Aran

The tenure of Deepika Lohia Aran (IOFS:2002) as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi, has been extended by two years.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (May 12, 2026), the competent authority has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Textiles to extend her tenure for a period of two years beyond September 21, 2026, i.e. up to September 21, 2028, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Notably, Deepika Lohia Aran has been serving in the position since September 21, 2023. Before completion of her original tenure, she has now been granted a two-year extension.

Meetu Agarwal appointed Director in Department of Defence Production

By
LO Bureau
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Meetu Agarwal (IRS-IT:2010), who was recommended for central deputation by the Department of Revenue, has been selected for appointment as Director in the Department of Defence Production, Delhi, for a period of five years.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (May 15, 2026), the competent authority has approved her appointment to the post for a period of five years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier.

Meetu Agarwal is a 2010-batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer.

TRIFED GM PS Thuingaleng prematurely repatriated to parent cadre

By
LO Bureau
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TRIFED

PS Thuingaleng (IRS-IT:2008), currently serving as General Manager of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Guwahati (Assam-North East Region), has been prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (May 15, 2026), the competent authority has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to repatriate him prematurely in order to enable him to avail promotion benefits in his parent cadre.

Notably, Thuingaleng has been serving in the position since October 2025. His appointment was initially made for a five-year tenure. However, he is being repatriated before completion of the tenure for cadre promotion benefits.

Dr Rajesh Gokhale gets additiona charge of Science & Technology Secretary

By
LO Bureau
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Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, has been given additional charge of Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST).

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (May 15, 2026), the competent authority has approved entrustment of the additional charge to him upon relinquishment of charge by Professor Abhay Karandikar and until regular appointment to the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Notably, Professor Abhay Karandikar had been serving as Secretary, Department of Science and Technology since October 2023. He was originally scheduled to retire on June 30, 2025 after attaining the age of 60 years on June 15, 2025.

However, before his retirement, the government had extended his tenure by one year beyond July 1, 2025, or until further orders, whichever was earlier.

Court summons KTR, IAS Arvind Kumar to appear on July 31 in Formula E Race case

By
LO Bureau
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Formula E Race case

A new twist was added to Telangana’s Formula E Race case on Thursday after an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court issued summons to former minister KT Rama Rao (KTR), senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar (IAS:1991:TG) and former Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Chief Engineer BLN Reddy in the case.

The court has directed all the accused to appear before it on July 31 in connection with alleged irregularities in the transfer of around Rs 55 crore to a foreign company during the conduct of the 2023 Formula E event in Hyderabad.

The court has formally admitted the chargesheet, filed by the ACB recently, for trial proceedings.

According to sources, the chargesheet names KTR as Accused No. 1, Arvind Kumar as A2, BLN Reddy as A3, sports consultant Kiran Malleswara Rao as A4, and Formula E Operations (FEO) as A5.

The Formula E race held in Hyderabad was promoted as a prestigious international sporting event aimed at boosting the city’s global profile, but questions were later raised over expenditure, contractual agreements, and the transfer of funds to the foreign event management company.

In a real sense, the controversy erupted over the transfer of approximately Rs 55 crore from HMDA accounts to the foreign-based Formula E Operations (FEO) company for conducting the race event.

The ACB has alleged that the funds were transferred without following mandatory government approvals and financial norms. As part of the investigation, ACB officials have already questioned KTR, Arvind Kumar, BLN Reddy, and representatives of the FEO company on the basis of which the ACB submitted the chargesheet before the court.

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