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Sanjeev Khirwar appointed Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Delhi

By
LO Bureau
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IAS Sanjeev Khirwar

In a significant administrative appointment, senior IAS officer Sanjeev Khirwar (IAS:1994:AGMUT) has been appointed as Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

According to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday (January 21, 2026), the competent authority has approved his appointment to the post with immediate effect and until further orders.

Notably, Khirwar was recently transferred from the Union Territory of Ladakh to the national capital Delhi late on the night of December 4, 2025. At the time of his transfer, he was serving as Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Medical Education, Ladakh. His appointment comes at a crucial time, with the MCD preparing for its budget presentation later this month and facing key administrative and financial challenges.

He succeeds Ashwani Kumar (IAS:1992:AGMUT), who has been transferred to Jammu and Kashmir. Ashwani Kumar served as MCD Commissioner from June 2024 to January 2026. Earlier, he played a key role as Special Officer during the unification of Delhi’s three municipal corporations into a single MCD and has also served as Principal Secretary (Home) in the Delhi government.

Also Read: Controversial IAS Khirwar, ousted from Delhi for walking dog in stadium, is back again

Punjab govt transfers 20 IAS and 6 PCS officers in major administrative reshuffle

By
LO Bureau
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Map Of Punjab

The Punjab government on Wednesday (January 21, 2026) issued a major administrative reshuffle, transferring and posting 20 IAS officers and 6 PCS officers with immediate effect. The changes span key departments including Finance, Home, Health, Revenue, Urban Development, Power, Rural Development, and district administration.

Here is the detailed list of officers transferred and posted:

  1. Vijay Namdeorao Zade (IAS:2002:PB), Secretary, Expenditure (Department of Finance), has been given additional charge of Administrative Secretary, NRI Affairs.
  2. Ajit Balaji Joshi (IAS:2003:PB), Administrative Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayats with additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Taxation, has been given additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Cooperation Department and Administrative Secretary, Elections (Local Bodies Elections Wing).
  3. Abhinav Trikha (IAS:2006:PB), Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Cultural Affairs, has been transferred and posted as Secretary, Finance.
  4. Kanwal Preet Brar (IAS:2007:PB), who was available for posting, has been appointed Secretary, Health & Family Welfare with additional charge of Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration.
  5. Kumar Amit (IAS:2010:PB), Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister with additional charge of Managing Director, MARKFED, has been given additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Cultural Affairs.
  6. Vimal Kumar Setia (IAS:2010:PB), who was available for posting, has been appointed Secretary, Home Affairs.
  7. Puneet Goyal (IAS:2010:PB), who was available for posting, has been appointed Special Secretary, Medical Education & Research, relieving Rahul Gupta, IAS of the additional charge.
  8. Syed Sehrish Asgar (IAS:2013:PB), who was available for posting, has been appointed Special Secretary, Power with additional charge of posts of Special Secretary, New & Renewable Energy Sources and Water Supply & Sanitation Departments, besides serving as HOD, Water Supply & Sanitation Department.
  9. Sakshi Sawhney (IAS:2014:PB), Chief Administrator, GMADA, has been given additional charge of Chief Administrator, Punjab Urban Planning & Development Authority and additional charge of Director, Town & Country Planning.
  10. Preeti Yadav (IAS:2014:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, has been placed at the disposal of the Department of Cooperation for posting as Managing Director, MARKFED.
  11. Paramvir Singh (IAS:2015:PB), who was available for posting, has been appointed Special Secretary, Revenue & Rehabilitation with additional charge of Director, Land Records, Settlement, Consolidation & Land Acquisition, Jalandhar.
  12. Amandeep Kaur (IAS:2015:PB), Special Secretary, Home Affairs & Justice, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary, NRI Affairs.
  13. Gulpreet Singh Aulakh (IAS:2015:PB), Special Secretary, Revenue & Rehabilitation with additional charge of Director, Land Records, Settlement, Consolidation & Land Acquisition, Jalandhar, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.
  14. Aditya Dachalwal (IAS:2016:PB), Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Roopnagar.
  15. Neeru Katyal Gupta (IAS:2016:PB), Chief Administrator, PUDA with additional charge of Director, Town & Country Planning, has been placed at the disposal of the Department of Local Government for posting as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana.
  16. Varjeet Walia (IAS:2018:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Roopnagar with additional charge of Additional Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayats, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Patiala.
  17. Ankurjeet Singh (IAS:2018:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, has been posted as Additional Secretary, Home Affairs.
  18. T Benith (IAS:2018:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Barnala with additional charge of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Barnala, has been posted as Additional Secretary, Revenue & Rehabilitation.
  19. Harpreet Singh (IAS:2019:PB), Additional Secretary, Water Supply & Sanitation with additional charge of HOD, Water Supply & Sanitation and additional charge of Power and New & Renewable Energy Sources, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Barnala with additional charge of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Barnala.
  20. Aparna M B (IAS:2021:PB), who was available for posting, has been placed at the disposal of the Department of Housing & Urban Development for posting as Chief Administrator, Patiala Development Authority.

PCS officers transferred:

  1. Shikha Bhagat (PCS:2012), Additional Deputy Commissioner, Phagwara, has been appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner, Phagwara with additional charge of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Phagwara.
  2. Karandeep Singh (PCS:2017), who was available for posting, has been appointed Deputy Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
  3. Khushpreet Singh (PCS:2025), Sub Divisional Magistrate, Lopoke, has been transferred and posted as SDM, Lopoke with additional charge of Estate Officer, Amritsar Development Authority.
  4. Rajbir Singh (PCS:2025), Extra Assistant Commissioner (Under Training), Ferozepur, has been posted as Chief Minister’s Field Officer, Ferozepur.
  5. Arvind Kumar (PCS:2025), Extra Assistant Commissioner (Under Training), Fazilka, has been posted as Chief Minister’s Field Officer, Sri Muktsar Sahib.
  6. Kuldip Chand (PCS:2025), Extra Assistant Commissioner (Under Training), Gurdaspur, has been posted as Chief Minister’s Field Officer, relieving Gurmander Singh Manes, PCS of the additional charge.

Process to demolish Krishi Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan begins; tender issued for new buildings

By
LO Bureau
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Krishi Bhawan demolition

In a landmark move, the central government has decided to demolish Delhi’s famous Krishi Bhawan and Shastri Bhawan and construct Common Central Secretariat (CCS) Buildings 4 and 5 at that site as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project with the estimated cost of more than ₹3,006 crore.

The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) began the process of demolition on Monday by floating tenders for the new project.

The tender specifies a construction timeline of two years, while the project contract will also include operation and maintenance for five years after construction.

These two buildings—Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan—had been built way back in the 1950s and 60s during the expansion phase of the Central Secretariat with a purpose to accommodate the growing administrative machinery of the Union government beyond the original North and South blocks.

But they will soon be things of the past, as, according to tender documents, the seven-story Krishi Bhawan and Shastri Bhawan’s wings A to G will be completely demolished. These buildings currently house several central ministries, which are being relocated to the recently inaugurated Common Secretariat Buildings 1, 2, and 3, called “Kartavya Bhawans.”

The new CCS Buildings 4 and 5 will each be eight stories tall and will be constructed as PEB (pre-engineered building) steel structures, consisting of a basement, ground floor, seven upper floors, and terraces.

Currently several ministries like Agriculture, Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj are functioning in Krishi Bhawan, while many departments, including Information and Broadcasting, Education, and Culture, are headquartered in Shastri Bhawan.

Several ministries operating from Shastri Bhawan are being relocated to the new Common Central Secretariat Building, Kartavya Bhawan-2. The offices of the Ministry of Defence and the CBI, located in the South and North Blocks, will also be relocated to the new building at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road-Man Singh Road intersection. According to officials, representatives of the ministries have inspected their new offices, and the relocation is expected to be completed by mid-February, during the budget session recess.

At least 120 rooms have been allocated to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 45 to the Ministry of Culture, 110 to the Ministry of Law and Justice, 30 to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, 12 to the Ministry of Agriculture, and over 50 to the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Defence has been allocated approximately 225 rooms, while 12 rooms on the ground and first floors are reserved for the CBI.

PESB recommends Rajneesh Narain as Director (Finance) of IRCTC

By
LO Bureau
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The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Rajneesh Narain for appointment as Director (Finance) of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC). The recommendation was made after interviews conducted by the PESB on January 21, 2026.

He is currently serving as Director (Finance), Northern Coalfields Limited. His name will now be forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval, subject to vigilance clearance and completion of other procedural requirements.

A total of 8 candidates were interviewed by the PESB for the post. The candidates included:

  1. Satish Kumar Sinha, Executive Director Finance & Accounts, Gail (India) Limited
  2. Rajneesh Narain, Director (Finance), Northern Coalfields Limited
  3. Prabhat Himatsingka, Chief General Manager (Finance & Treasury), Corporate Office, Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  4. Dr Ranjay Choudhary, Chief General Manager, Power Finance Corporation Limited
  5. Sunil Kumar Goel, Executive Director (F), Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited
  6. Himanshu Sekhar Panda, Chief General Manager, National Aluminium Company Limited
  7. Surendra Narayan Jena, Deputy General Manager (Finance), NMDC Limited
  8. Amarjit Gautam, Principal Financial Advisor, North Eastern Railway

FinMin to review post-amalgamation performance of PSBs & RRBs on January 30

By
LO Bureau
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Finance Ministry's review meeting

In order to assess the post-amalgamation performance of the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), the Union Finance Ministry is going to hold a meeting with their heads on January 30.

This is going to be the first high-level meeting after the fourth round of consolidation of RRBs, which reduced their number from 43 to 28.

According to sources, the proposed meeting will be chaired by M Nagaraju, the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services. The meeting is likely to be attended by the NABARD Chairman, the SIDBI CMD, and the Executive Director concerned of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The agenda of the meeting is to review the financial performance of RRBs after their merger. The review will focus on the progress of priority sector lending and various financial schemes undertaken by RRBs.

It should be recalled that one state-owned RRB became a reality on May 1 following the consolidation of 15 RRBs across 11 states. The consolidation had been effected with a view to achieve better operational efficiency and cost rationalisation.

The number of RRBs was reduced from 196 to 82 in the first phase that took place between FY 2006 and FY 2010. It was further brought down to 56 in the second phase (FY 2013 – FY 2015), and in phase 3, it was further reduced to 43.

As per the available data, the gross NPA ratio of RRBs declined to 5.4 percent in March 2025 from a peak of 10.8 percent in March 2019.

At the same time, resilience increased, with the provision coverage ratio (PCR) of RRBs rising to 65.1 percent from 40 percent in March 2019.

Similarly, RRBs’ capital adequacy improved with a Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 14.4 percent as of March 2025.

These banks had been established under the RRB Act, 1976, with the objective of providing credit and other facilities to small farmers, agricultural labourers and artisans in rural areas.

In order to permit these banks to raise capital from sources other than the Centre, states, and sponsor banks, the Act was amended in 2015, according to which the shareholding of the Centre and the sponsor public sector banks together cannot fall below 51 percent.

The Centre currently holds a 50 percent stake in RRBs, while 35 percent and 15 percent are with the concerned sponsor banks and state governments, respectively.



K’taka CS writes to Centre for permission to set up UPSC’s regional office in Bengaluru

By
LO Bureau
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Karnataka CS Shalini Rajneesh
Karnataka: Dr. Shalini Rajneesh appointed Chief Secretary

Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh (IAS:1989:KN) has written a letter to the Central Government seeking permission to set up a regional office of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in Bengaluru. The letter was addressed to the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Rachana Shah (IAS:1991:KL), requesting the Centre to initiate action for a regional office in Bengaluru at the earliest.

The letter emphasizes the need for it, arguing that it will help Karnataka and southern states to gain equitable access to UPSC services and opportunities and facilitate administrative efficiency in conducting exams and other processes. 

The CS letter follows a detailed proposal sent to the State Government by a member of the Karnataka Policy and Planning Commission, S Mohanadass Hegde, to establish a UPSC’s regional office in Bengaluru.

The argument being given for it is that it will help the southern state students to address the North-South disparity in UPSC access.

Those running IAS coaching centres are happy, as they feel it will be the first time in the history of UPSC to have a regional centre. Besides, it will also help them build awareness and culture to prepare for various exams conducted by the UPSC, including the coveted civil services.

However, it will be the responsibility of the state and the Centre to ensure quality coaching is provided to serious students; only then can a large number of students from southern states hope to clear competitive exams.

Amit Kumar Mishra appointed India’s next Ambassador to Georgia

By
LO Bureau
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Amit Kumar Mishra IFS

Amit Kumar Mishra (IFS: 2004) was on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Georgia. He is currently serving at Headquarters and is expected to assume his new role shortly.

In a statement, the MEA said, “Shri Amit Kumar Mishra (IFS: 2004), presently at Headquarters, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Georgia.”

“He is expected to take up the assignment shortly,” the ministry added.

Muanpuii Saiawi appointed India’s next High Commissioner to New Zealand

By
LO Bureau
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Muanpuii Saiawi IFS

Muanpuii Saiawi (IFS:2005) was on Monday (January 19, 2026) appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to New Zealand. He is currently serving in the Ministry of External Affairs as Joint Secretary and is expected to assume his new role shortly.

In a statement, the MEA said, “Ms. Muanpuii Saiawi (IFS: 2005), presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to New Zealand.”

“She is expected to take up the assignment shortly,” the ministry added.

Punjab govt transfers 8 IPS officers; PK Sinha appointed full time Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau

By
LO Bureau
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Punjab Police

The Punjab government on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) issued transfer and posting orders for eight Indian Police Service (IPS) officers with immediate effect, bringing changes at both senior and middle levels of the state police administration.

According to the order, Naresh Arora (IPS:1994:PB), who is serving as Special DGP, Punjab State Human Rights Commission, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Special DGP, PSHRC, Chandigarh. SS Srivastava (IPS:1994:PB) has been shifted from the post of Special DGP, Security, and posted as Special DGP, Headquarters, Punjab.

PK Sinha (IPS:1994:PB), who was serving as Special DGP, Intelligence, with additional charge of Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, has been transferred and posted as Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab. Dr Kaustubh Sharma (IPS:2001:PB) has been shifted from ADGP, Human Rights, and posted as ADGP, Security, Punjab.

Dr Sukhchain Singh (IPS:2003:PB) has been posted as Inspector General, Intelligence, SAS Nagar (Head of the Wing), replacing his earlier assignment as IG, Headquarters, Punjab. Sandeep Goel (IPS-SPS:2011) has been transferred from DIG, Border Range, Amritsar, and posted as DIG, AGTF-2, Ludhiana, while retaining additional charge of DIG, Border Range, Amritsar.

Maninder Singh (IPS:2019:RR), who was serving as SSP, Ropar, has been posted as AIG, Welfare, Punjab, with additional charge of SSP, Ropar. Kanwaldeep Singh (IPS) has been shifted from AIG, Crime, and posted as AIG, Personnel-I, Punjab.

Vishal Gupta re-designated as Director-level PS to Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

By
LO Bureau
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Vishal Gupta IAS

Vishal Gupta (IAS:2012:GJ) has been re-designated as Private Secretary at the Director level to the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in the Ministry of Culture.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (January 20, 2026), the competent authority has approved the re-designation of the post of Private Secretary (at Deputy Secretary level) presently held by Vishal Gupta as Private Secretary (Director level) to the same Minister.

The order states that the re-designated post will be effective from the date Vishal Gupta assumes charge and will remain valid up to June 5, 2030, or on a co-terminus basis with the Minister, or until he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister, or until further orders—whichever occurs earlier.

Vishal Gupta begun his central deputation on June 6, 2025.

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