The reorganisation of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) into three separate municipal corporations has come to run into a legal tangle after a petition was filed in the Telangana High Court seeking an interim stay on it. The three distinct municipal corporations formed after GHMC’s restructuring are Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC-restructured), Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC), and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC).
While hearing the petition filed by one Daram Guruva Reddy, a resident of Uppal in Hyderabad, the High Court on Thursday directed the state government and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to file counter-affidavits by March 25. The direction was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Ghouse Meera Mohiuddin.
The petitioner wants an interim stay on the operation of G.O.Ms. No. 55, dated 11 February 2026, issued by the Telangana government, through which the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation was trifurcated into three different municipal corporations.
The petition also seeks restoration of the GHMC’s jurisdictional boundaries as they existed on 31 December 2025.
The bench directed Advocate General A. Sudershan Reddy, on behalf of the Telangana Government, and the Additional Solicitor General of India, representing the Union Home Ministry, to obtain instructions in the matter.
The court adjourned the matter for further hearing to 25 March 2026.
When Shashi Prakash Goyal IAS took charge as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh on August 1, 2025, it was not just another routine administrative appointment. It was the crowning moment of a career that spans more than three decades of quiet, consistent and result-driven service to the people of Uttar Pradesh. Known across state circles simply as SPG, Goyal became the 56th Chief Secretary of India’s most populous state, and his journey to the top is one worth knowing in full detail.
Shashi Prakash Goyal IAS: Who Is He
Shashi Prakash Goyal belongs to the 1989 batch of the Indian Administrative Service and is a proud son of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. What makes his story even more impressive is the fact that he topped the Civil Services Examination in 1989, clearing it in his very first attempt with exceptional merit. He was formally appointed to the IAS on August 21, 1989.
He is a local lad from Lucknow, which makes his rise to the top position in UP’s bureaucracy feel especially meaningful for those who know him personally.
SP Goyal IAS Posting Details
Shashi Prakash Goyal (IAS:1989:UP) is currently serving as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, the senior-most bureaucratic position in the state. He assumed charge on August 1, 2025, following the retirement of Manoj Kumar Singh (IAS:1988:UP).
He is regarded as one of the most trusted lieutenants of Yogi Adityanath, having worked closely with the Chief Minister for nearly eight years in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Shashi Prakash Education
Shashi Prakash Goyal is a graduate in Mathematics and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Applications from IGNOU, New Delhi. His academic background in mathematics and technology has complemented his administrative approach, particularly in governance reforms and digital administration.
SP Goyal Career and District Administration
He began his administrative journey as Assistant Magistrate, Etawah, in August 1990. Over the years, he gained extensive district-level experience and served as District Magistrate & Collector in Deoria, Mathura, Etawah, Allahabad and Aligarh.
These assignments provided him with deep exposure to revenue administration, law and order management, and developmental governance.
IAS SP Goyal with Yogi Adityanath
IAS SP Goyal Central Deputation
From October 2014 to May 2017, he served on central deputation as Joint Secretary in the Department of Higher Education under the then Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education). He returned to Uttar Pradesh in May 2017, coinciding with Yogi Adityanath’s first swearing-in as Chief Minister.
Key Role in Chief Minister’s Office
Immediately after his return from central deputation, he was appointed Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Since then, he remained in the Chief Minister’s Office, handling key portfolios and assignments involving direct oversight from the Chief Minister.
He was subsequently elevated to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary in the CMO, further consolidating his role in high-level policy coordination and implementation.
Appointment as Chief Secretary
On August 1, 2025, he took charge as Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. Known for his high integrity, performance-oriented approach, and team leadership, he is often referred to as “SPG” within the cadre. Officers working under him describe him as a protective and decisive leader, reflecting his reputation as a strong team man.
Except for about two and a half years on central deputation, he has spent his entire career in the Uttar Pradesh cadre, giving him extensive grassroots and secretariat-level experience across departments a factor widely seen as contributing to the current government’s strong confidence in him.
SP Goyal Family Details
Category
Details
Full Name
Shashi Prakash Goyal
Service
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Batch
1989 Batch
Cadre
Uttar Pradesh
Father’s Name
Not Publicly Disclosed
Mother’s Name
Not Publicly Disclosed
Spouse
Not Publicly Disclosed
Children
Not Publicly Disclosed
Family Background
Comes from Uttar Pradesh; detailed personal family information is kept private
Public Image
Known more for administrative roles than personal life details
Shashi Prakash Goyal IAS Contact Number
It is important to clarify here that the personal or direct contact number of Shashi Prakash Goyal IAS is not publicly available, nor is it appropriate to publish the private contact details of a serving constitutional authority. Anyone wishing to connect with the Office of the Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, can reach out through the official government portal of the UP government at up.gov.in or through the official Chief Secretary’s office in Lucknow.
A day after a Look Out Circular (LOC) was filed against him by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), retired Rajasthan IAS officer Subodh Agarwal (IAS:1988:RJ) moved the High Court on Thursday, seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him. The FIR relates to an alleged Rs 900-crore scam in Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) tenders. The petition says that the FIR was lodged without a detailed preliminary inquiry and ignored crucial facts.
The petition says that the preliminary inquiry was not conducted before lodging the FIR, which is a must. Agarwal’s counsel, Deepak Chauhan, argues that the alleged irregularities relating to JJM tenders occurred prior to Agarwal’s tenure in the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) that began on April 18, 2022.
It has been claimed in the petition that two firms—Ganpati Tubewell and Shyam Tubewell—secured tenders worth hundreds of crores by submitting forged certificates purportedly issued by IRCON International, even before Agarwal assumed charge.
According to the petition, the tenders linked to the Rs 900-crore scam mentioned in the FIR, approvals during Agarwal’s tenure accounted for less than 10% of the total value, and not a single payment was released to Ganpati Tubewell or Shyam Tubewell under the tenders approved by the Finance Committee chaired by Agarwal.
Agarwal has claimed in the petition that before the financial bids of both the accused firms were placed before him, bids worth approximately Rs 605 crores had already been approved by the Finance Commission headed by Sudhansh Pant (ACS, PHED from Jan 15, 2021 to April 18, 2022).
The petition alleges mala fides of the investigation agency by exonerating Pant or the officers under him from the scope of investigation.
The petition claims that Agarwal promptly constituted a high-level committee after receiving an email from IRCON International raising concerns about forged documents. As claimed in the petition, following the report, all tenders awarded to the 2 firms were cancelled, they were blacklisted as per rules, and their earnest money deposits were forfeited.
In a landmark development toward transparency and accountability in judicial administration, the Uttarakhand High Court has disclosed that 258 complaints were filed against judges and judicial officers of the state between January 2020 and April 2025. The data was obtained through an RTI filed by none other than a whistleblower, Magsaysay Award-winning Indian Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi (IFoS:2002:HY).
The High Court’s vigilance cell released the information after directions from the State Information Commission.
Under the Right to Information Act, the Public Information Officer of the High Court said that formal action has been initiated against four judicial officers out of these 258 complaints.
The disclosure is being interpreted as a rare instance of a High Court sharing information about complaints related to judicial misconduct because this is an area that is usually kept confidential.
Chaturvedi’s first RTI application was filed in May 2023, seeking details about which authorities handle corruption complaints and how many such complaints were received. The request was initially rejected by the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the High Court, who cited “confidentiality” and “third-party information” as reasons. Even after a first appeal, the information was not provided.
But it was the intervention by State Chief Information Commissioner Radha Raturi that changed the scenario, and the matter moved forward. During a hearing, the High Court’s PIO said specific details could not be shared but agreed that overall figures could be disclosed with approval from the Chief Justice.
It was in January this year that the Commission directed the PIO to obtain clearance and provide the data, ruling that the “aggregate number” of complaints should be made public to maintain a balance between privacy and the public’s right to know.
Legal experts say the decision could set an important example. They say this step is a significant milestone, as several other High Courts, including those in Delhi, Chennai, and Chhattisgarh, have previously refused to share similar data.
The ramification of the disclosure apart, the development marks another successful effort by Chaturvedi, who has been working to bring in transparency and fight corruption in public institutions.
REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has been honoured with the Global CSR Excellence & Leadership Awards under the “Best CSR Projects in PSUs” category. The recognition has been conferred for its flagship rural healthcare initiative, Doctor Aapke Dwar, which focuses on improving access to primary healthcare services in remote and underserved regions.
The award was received on behalf of REC by Alok Singh, Chief Program Manager at the Regional Office Mumbai, and Vishal Sudesh, Chief Manager (CSR), during the 15th edition of the awards organised by World CSR Day on February 18, 2026, at Taj Lands End.
This honour further reinforces REC’s role as a key contributor to inclusive and impactful social development.
During the current financial year, REC’s CSR initiatives have received several other recognitions, including the CSR & Sustainability Award from ASSOCHAM, a CSR Award of Appreciation from the Indian Red Cross Society, and recognition at the FICCI India Sports Awards for Best Corporate Promoting Sports in the public sector category.
Together, these honours underline REC’s continued commitment to strengthening social infrastructure and improving quality of life in underserved communities across the country.
Sometimes, reality contradicts relevance. At least it holds true for the 1992-batch IPS officer, Harpreet Singh Sidhu. The man, who headed the first anti-drug Special Task Force (STF) in Punjab, has been waiting for a posting for the last five months under the government that boasts of fighting a relentless war against drugs.
It was in Sept last year when he was repatriated to his home cadre from the central deputation, where he served as Additional Director General (ADG) with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Sidhu’s contribution to tackling the drug menace is not limited to the role he played as an STF chief; rather, he played an instrumental role in introducing key measures to combat the disease in the state.
He had been appointed as Special DGP by the former Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, to head the anti-drug STF under the Congress-led govt in March 2017. Captain especially assigned him this task by securing his premature repatriation from his central deputation.
He worked meticulously with US-based drug therapist and consultant Dr Kanwar Ajit Singh Sidhu to introduce the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics to provide free OPD-based treatment to drug addicts. The therapy marked a shift from sole “abstinence” to a substitution strategy, where addicts are put on alternate medicine to wean them off drugs and substances like heroin.
While heading the anti-drug STF, Sidhu also came up with a comprehensive action against drug abuse (CADA) strategy, focusing on a 3-pronged strategy of enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention (EDP). He introduced community initiatives like drug abuse prevention officers (DAPOs) and the ‘buddy’ programme in educational institutes to prevent drug abuse among youth through peer pressure.
But unfortunately, Sidhu was removed from his post amid differences with the then DGP, Suresh Arora, and posted as Special Principal Secretary to the CM. He was, however, brought back as STF chief in July 2019. Later, he also held charge as ADGP (Prisons) before going on central deputation with the ITBP in 2022 for 4 years.
While his central deputation was to end in October 2026, Sidhu was prematurely repatriated to the parent cadre at his request in September last year, after his junior from the West Bengal cadre, Praveen Kumar (IPS:1993:WB), was appointed as Director General (DG) of the ITBP.
But Sidhu is not alone in remaining without posting in Punjab. There are several others. A 1997-batch IPS officer with ADGP rank, Naunihal Singh, remained without posting for about 10 months before he got posted in Sept 2024. Another officer, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, the 2004-batch IPS officer who is currently serving as Amritsar Police Commissioner, remained without a posting for nearly two months before being posted as IG (Provisioning) on Aug 2, 2024.
In a strategic move, Tata Sons has appointed former Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola as a senior advisor to the airline. It is part of a broader leadership reshuffle that also saw its Global Head of Corporate Communications being reassigned.
These moves are basically designed to lift the reputation of the Air India from the lowest ebb following the AI 171 plane crash in Ahmedabad in June 2025 and to supplement the airline’s renewed focus on governance, regulatory compliance, and crisis management.
There is no doubt that Air India is currently passing through its most difficult phase since its privatization in 2022 following the Ahmedabad plane crash that claimed about 260 lives, and to add insult to injury, its CEO Campbell Wilson reportedly used a condolence message that was allegedly plagiarized from a statement by American Airlines.
To cap it, the airline bore regulatory penalties of Rs. 1 crore from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for operating an Airbus A320 eight times without a valid airworthiness review certificate, resulting in the DGCA citing “eroded public trust” and holding senior leadership accountable.
Further complications might be in store for Air India, as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is to release its final report on the AI 171 disastrous crash soon. The report could trigger further legal and regulatory liabilities for the airline. Besides, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran is reportedly searching for a potential successor to Wilson ahead of his 2027 term end.
If viewed from this background, Kharola’s induction on its board appears to be a fool-proof strategy as he knows the intricacies of running Air India first as its CMD and later as Aviation Secretary overseeing its privatisation in 2022. In this way Kharola brings unmatched experience in both regulatory and operational aspects of the aviation sector.
Industry experts believe that Kharola might be seen leading sensitive negotiations with the government and regulatory authorities, including the DGCA, as Air India desperately needs to restore its compliance credibility and public trust.
Similarly, its CEO Campbell Wilson’s condolence message fiasco that brought ignominy to the airline prompted the Tata Sons to replace its veteran executive Partha Ghosh, who looked after communication, as part of this strategic overhaul.
Kharola has a distinguished career as an administrator, who was currently posted as the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), appointed to restore the sagging public trust in the national examination system after irregularities in exams sullied its image.
An M.Tech. from IIT Delhi, Kharola, a 1985 batch IAS of the Karnataka cadre, brings with him vast experience gained after holding several key positions in his career. Besides having served as CMD of Air India and Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, he was also the Director General of NTA, CMD of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), MD of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), and MD of BMTC, apart from the senior roles he played in Karnataka’s state administration.
Thus, Kharola’s induction underscores Tata Sons’ desperate move to navigate the airline through one of its toughest times by reposing faith in a tested leadership with sound regulatory experience.
REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, today showcased the first live demonstration of India’s Peer‑to‑Peer (P2P) energy trading pilot program under the India Energy Stack at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam. The demonstration was presented during a strategic session titled “India Energy Stack (IES) and the AI‑Ready Power Sector: Trust, Interoperability, and Scale,” marking a significant milestone in India’s transition towards a decentralized, consumer‑centric digital power ecosystem.
The highlight of the session was a first‑of‑its‑kind live demonstration of a P2P decentralized energy transaction conducted under the India Energy Stack framework. Arun Singh, a farmer from Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), used a secure, blockchain‑enabled platform to sell surplus solar‑generated electricity directly to Lakshmi, a garment shop owner in Delhi. Arun sold 6 units of solar power and earned Rs. 30. This historic transaction demonstrated the real‑world application of the India Energy Stack (IES), a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) designed to empower citizens as active ‘energy agents’ rather than passive recipients of electricity.
The live P2P energy trading demonstration represents the most visible and tangible application of the India Energy Stack to date. The pilot enables prosumers—households, businesses, and farmers who generate renewable energy—to directly trade their surplus power with other consumers through trusted digital protocols, laying the foundation for a more participative and decentralized power market.
The live demonstration took place in the presence of Dr. Ram Sewak Sharma, Chair, India Energy Stack; Jitendra Srivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, REC Limited; Ashish Kumar Goel, Chairman, UPPCL; Alok Kumar, Director General, AIDA; Reji Pillai, President, ISGF; Shashank Misra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power; Prince Dhawan, Executive Director, REC; and Swetha Ravi Kumar, Executive Director, FSR Global.
DEMO PRESENTED TO HON’BLE POWER MINISTER ON 18 FEB 2026
Union Minister for Power, Manohar Lal visited REC pavilion on 18 Feb 2026 where he was presented a live demonstration of a P2P decentralized energy transaction conducted under the India Energy Stack. He also met various Technology Service Providers (TSPs) at REC Pavillion where they presented different AI solutions related to Power Sector.
DEMO PRESENTED TO HON’BLE PRIME MINISTER ON 16 FEB 2026
Earlier, on 16 February 2026, a demo of peer‑to‑peer energy trading was also presented to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his visit to the MeitY Pavilion. The demonstration was conducted by Shashank Misra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power, and Prince Dhawan, Executive Director, REC Limited, along with one of the first beneficiaries of the P2P energy trading pilot.
ABOUT INDIA ENERGY STACK
The India Energy Stack (IES) is an interoperable digital framework of open standards and protocols that enables secure, low-cost data and service exchange across the power sector, similar to how UPI transformed India’s digital payments ecosystem.
REC Limited is the nodal agency for the India Energy Stack on behalf of the Ministry of Power. FSR Global serves as the knowledge partner for the initiative, with support from the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF), which has played a key role in advancing smart grid innovation and providing technical inputs for scaling digital energy solutions across India. Additionally, Networks for Humanity (NFH) is contributing to the development of a trust‑based digital transaction framework to ensure secure, verifiable, and scalable peer‑to‑peer energy networks.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the empanelment and appointment of eight senior officers as General Managers in Indian Railways for the 2025 panel year. These posts are at Level-16 of the Pay Matrix.
The approvals were given under relaxation of the Indian Railway (Selection to Senior Posts) Rules, 2025. This clears the way for new appointments in major railway zones and production units.
All eight officers belong to the 1989 batch of different railway services. With Level-16 empanelment, they become eligible to serve as General Managers or in equivalent top posts.
The officers appointed are:
Manoranjan Pradhan (IRSS:1989) – General Manager, Rail Wheel Factory, Yelahanka
Ashutosh Pant (IRSEE:1989) – General Manager, Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi
Prabhas Dansana (IRTS:1989) – Director General, RDSO
Mohit Chandra (IRSEE:1989) – General Manager, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
Rajesh Kumar Pandey (IRSSE:1989) – General Manager, Northern Railway, New Delhi
Shalabh Goel (IRSEE:1989) – General Manager, Central Railway, Mumbai
Ajay Nandan (IRSME:1989) – General Manager, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala
Several of these officers are expected to remain in service till 2028. This will provide continuity at the top level.
At the same time, 56 officers were not included in the 2025 Level-16 panel. This shows that the selection process was strict.
In a separate order, Ashok Kumar Verma (IRSS:1987), General Manager of Northern Railway since October 2024, has been appointed General Manager, Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Prayagraj. He has been moved on a lateral transfer. His posting comes as Railways continues to push for full electrification of its network.
The appointment of Rajesh Kumar Pandey as General Manager of Northern Railway is important, as it is one of the largest railway zones in the country.
With eight new General Managers posted at the same time, Indian Railways has carried out a major leadership change at the top level.
With an aim to ensure a structured approach to cadre management, the Maharashtra government has established its Civil Services Board. Its main purpose is to guide transfers and postings of IAS officers of the state cadre.
The General Administration Department (GAD) issued a Government Resolution (GR) to this effect on Monday. According to the resolution, the board has been constituted in pursuance of a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on January 28, 2014, in accordance with the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Amendment Rules, 2014.
According to the GR, the state’s Chief Secretary will be the chairman of the board, with the senior-most Additional Chief Secretary, or the Chairman of the Board of Revenue, or the Financial Commissioner, or an officer of equivalent rank and status, serving as a member.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, or Secretary (Personnel) in the General Administration Department will function as the Member Secretary of the board.
As per the resolution, the senior-most officer holding the post of Additional Chief Secretary in a ministerial administrative department in Mantralaya shall be nominated as a member of the Board.
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