Senior IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Anamika Singh (IAS:2004:UP), has applied for voluntary retirement citing personal reasons. She is currently serving as the Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies in the state government.
According to reports, Anamika Singh was keen on going on central deputation but was reportedly upset after she did not receive the required No Objection Certificate (NOC). Though there is no official confirmation linking the two developments, the timing of her decision has triggered discussions in administrative circles.
She is known in official circles as an active and efficient officer with a strong professional reputation.
A new twist has surfaced in the appointment process of the new police chief for Haryana, with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) returning the state government’s proposal to prepare a panel of three IPS officers for appointment of the new DGP. The UPSC has stated that no vacancy as such exists at this point, as the existing DGP Shatrujeet Kapur (IPS:1990:HY) is only on leave and could resume his duty at any time.
It should be noted here that Kapur had been asked to proceed on leave on October 14 amid the growing clamour for his ouster following the suicide of a fellow IPS officer, Y Puran Kumar (IPS:2001:HY).
The Haryana government had recently sent a proposal containing the names of five IPS officers to the UPSC for shortlisting three names.
The commission has stated in its communication that the state government is required to send its proposal only if there is an anticipation of the vacancy. But, since Shatrujeet Kapur is merely on leave and can join back as DGP anytime, there would be no vacancy after the retirement of officiating DGP, OP Singh (IPS:1992:HR). Singh was only given the additional charge of the state DGP during the leave period of Kapur. He is scheduled to retire on December 31
The five names sent to the UPSC for shortlisting by the state govt were:
The name of officiating DGP O P Singh was not included in the list as he is retiring on December 31 and as per the Supreme Court’s guidelines, an officer must have at least six months of service remaining to be eligible for the post.
Now, if the Haryana government is disinclined to retain Satrujeet Kapur as DGP after he returns from leave, the state govt will have to send a fresh proposal to the commission explaining the key element—occurrence of vacancy.
As the three-year tenure of B Srinivasan (IAS:2011:PB), General Manager of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) Punjab Region, ends on December 31, 2025, uncertainty looms over whether the long-standing convention of appointing a Punjab cadre IAS officer will continue or a departure from long-standing tradition is on the cards.
By convention, the FCI Punjab GM post, headquartered in Chandigarh, has always been held by a Punjab cadre IAS officer since the inception of the corporation. However, sources indicate that this time an AGMUT cadre IAS officer may be appointed after Srinivasan’s tenure concludes. This information has been doing the rounds in the power corridors of Delhi and Chandigarh since mid-October 2025.
Amid these developments, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on November 6, wrote to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, cautioning that the appointment of an AGMUT cadre officer could create disharmony and raise doubts among farmers, arhtiyas, labourers and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has already sent two panels of officers to the Centre for approval. According to sources, the first panel included Shena Aggarwal (IAS:2012:PB), Sanyam Aggarwal (IAS:2012:PB) and Amrit Singh (IAS:2014:PB). This panel was returned by the Centre citing certain objections. The state government then sent a second panel, which again, as per sources, included Shena Aggarwal and Sanyam Aggarwal along with a new name, Deepti Utpal (IAS:2011:PB).
However, no decision has yet been taken by the Central government on either of the panels. With the tenure-end deadline approaching fast, all eyes remain on whether tradition will prevail or a precedent-setting change will take place. (By-Rajeev Singh)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) based applications will play a decisive role in building intelligent, consumer-centric and self-optimizing power distribution networks, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal said while addressing the two-day National Conference on AI/ML in Power Distribution at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today.
The conference was organised under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to promote large-scale adoption of digital technologies across India’s power distribution utilities. Senior officials from the Centre and states, DISCOMs, technology providers, industry leaders, innovators and academia participated in the event.
Highlighting the impact of emerging technologies, the Power Minister said that smart meter analytics, digital twins, predictive maintenance, theft-detection intelligence, appliance-level consumer insights, automated outage prediction and GenAI-based decision support systems have the potential to completely transform consumer experience as well as operational efficiency of DISCOMs.
Manohar Lal appreciated the active participation of Distribution Companies (DISCOMs), Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISPs), Technology Solution Providers (TSPs) and Home Automation Solution Providers (HASPs). He said the solutions presented at the conference reflected the growing maturity of India’s power sector in adopting advanced digital tools.
The Minister urged DISCOMs to work closely with all ecosystem stakeholders to move towards smart, reliable and consumer-focused distribution systems. He stressed the importance of consumer engagement and said misinformation surrounding new technologies must be addressed to ensure public trust and smooth adoption of digital solutions.
He observed that AI and ML-based systems can help restore trust in the electricity sector by empowering households to manage their consumption better, predicting outages before they occur, protecting honest consumers from theft-related losses and enabling DISCOMs to reduce financial losses, optimise power purchase costs and reinvest in stronger infrastructure. He said these efforts position India as a global leader in digital electricity reform and future-ready grid governance.
Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal, in his address, reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening digitalisation across DISCOMs. He said the focus is on adopting AI and ML solutions that deliver measurable operational and financial improvements. He also highlighted the need for large-scale capacity building, secure data-sharing frameworks and strong interoperability standards to ensure that successful innovations can be implemented nationwide.
As part of the national call for innovation, a total of 195 applications were received from DISCOMs, AMISPs, technology solution providers and home automation companies. After detailed screening, 51 solutions were shortlisted for jury evaluation on the first day of the conference held on December 6, 2025.
Following the final evaluation, Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) and MP East Discom were declared winners in the DISCOM category. Tata Power and Apraava Energy won in the AMISP category, Pravah and Flock Energy were selected in the solution provider category, while Tata Power won in the home automation solutions category.
The winning organisations made detailed presentations highlighting data-driven innovations. TNPDCL showcased advanced smart-meter analytics for revenue protection, while MP East demonstrated accurate consumer indexing systems to reduce distribution losses. AMISPs such as TP Power Plus and Apraava Energy presented behavioural demand response tools and AI-based operational automation. Technology providers Pravah and Flock Energy showcased unified real-time grid intelligence and consumer appliance analytics, while Tata Power presented a futuristic and user-friendly solution for monitoring and controlling household energy consumption.
The winners were felicitated by the Power Minister, who encouraged them to scale up these solutions across states for wider national impact.
During the event, Union Power Minister also launched the STELLAR (Strategic Expansion for Long-Term Load Adequacy and Resilience) platform developed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The platform will enable DISCOMs to carry out detailed resource adequacy studies and prepare long-term power adequacy plans.
In addition, the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) launched a comprehensive handbook on AI, ML, AR/VR and Robotics solutions for electric utilities. The handbook outlines 174 practical use cases, including 45 from Indian utilities, providing a clear roadmap for digital transformation of the power distribution sector.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has pulled up the Punjab government for not giving a clear reply on IAS officers holding top posts in both Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab Transmission Corporation Limited (Transco).
Justice Harpreet Singh Brar said he was not satisfied with the “evasive and perfunctory” affidavit filed by the Principal Secretary, Power. He also noted that the state had already been given two chances. The court said there was no reason to seek more time, but still granted one last chance and fixed December 15 as the next date of hearing.
The court pointed out that PSPCL and Transco are autonomous bodies and are supposed to work independently, yet both are being headed by the same IAS officer, Ajoy Kumar Sinha, who is also Principal Secretary (Power). The court had earlier asked the Chief Secretary to file a personal affidavit explaining this arrangement.
The matter comes from petitions filed against PSPCL and others through senior advocate Amit Jhanji and counsels Manu K. Bhandari and H.C. Arora. The petitioners said that after the bifurcation of the Punjab State Electricity Board, the state notified the Power Sector Reforms Transfer Scheme on April 16, 2010, under a tripartite agreement to transfer functions, assets, liabilities and personnel between PSPCL and Transco.
However, the petitioners argued that the state did not fully follow the scheme because it did not set up the required committee to oversee the transfer and absorption of staff. The High Court will now examine the issue of control and functioning of both power companies at the next hearing.
Senior IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Kamini Ratan Chouhan (IAS:1997:UP), has finally been posted as Principal Secretary in the Sales Tax Department by the Yogi Adityanath government in the state. An official order to this effect was issued on December 6. She was awaiting posting after returning to her parent cadre from central deputation recently.
Chouhan has replaced M M Devraj (IAS:1996:UP), who was holding the post in an additional charge since August 16, 2024.
Chouhan served as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Petroleum Ministry during her deputation stint at the Centre. She had moved to the Ministry on November 22, 2022, and returned to UP last month after completing her deputation tenure at the Centre.
During her previous tenure of central deputation that began in December 2019, Chouhan served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Higher Education. She continued in that role until she was empanelled for Additional Secretary–level posts in October 2022.
A renowned former bureaucrat and currently the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, P K Mishra, described India as a global innovation powerhouse with over 100 unicorns and more than two lakh startups, making it the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world.
Mishra said this while addressing the Centenary Foundation Week of the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, on Dec 3.
He called on IIT Dhanbad to drive Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047 byunderscoring its pivotal role in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation. It was the occasion of the celebrations of the institute’s 100-year legacy.
Mishra urged the institute to reflect on its role, as the goal of India is to achieve the status of a developed country while balancing nature and culture and leading globally in science and technology. He emphasized that India will be atmanirbhar (self-dependent) across all sectors, women will lead the development story, the economy will be inclusive and innovative, and corruption, casteism, and communalism will have no place in national life.
Mishra elaborated on the immense contributions of the institution to mining, energy, earth sciences, and applied engineering. While describing IIT Dhanbad as a pioneer in mining education in Asia, Mishra said it has consistently provided expertise to national institutions such as Coal India, ONGC, GSI, CMPDI, and NTPC. Its research outcomes have shaped national standards in mine safety, coal exploration, oil and gas, and mineral beneficiation, Mishra added.
IPS officer Rajesh Verma seems to be heading for a mid-career crisis, as in an action seldom seen in Himachal Pradesh, the state government has placed him under suspension with immediate effect and barred him from leaving the police headquarters without the prior permission of the DGP.
Verma, currently posted as Superintendent of Police (SP), Communication & Technical Services in Shimla, is already facing disciplinary proceedings against him.
His suspension order was issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta on December 3 late in the evening. The suspension was made under Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.
It has been clarified in the order that departmental action is pending against Verma and he has been suspended under this process. According to the Home Department, copies of the suspension order have also been sent to the Director General of Police (DGP), the Controller of Finance and Accounts, and the relevant personnel files.
Verma is facing the serious allegations of not following government rules, procedures, and guidelines, for which a departmental enquiry against him is already underway. That was the reason why the Sukhu government has taken such a big action against him.
It is a big action, as suspending an IPS officer is a rare incident in the state. It has witnessed only a few such actions in recent years. There are two such examples: Kullu SP Gaurav Singh had been suspended following a slap incident in the Kotkhal Gudia death case, and Zahoor Zaidi, an Inspector General (IG) rank officer, was suspended after his arrest.
In a significant step towards strengthening the asset monetisation programme of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted in-principle approval for the registration of ‘Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust’ (RIIT) as an Infrastructure Investment Trust under the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.
The proposed InvIT aims to unlock the monetisation potential of National Highway assets while creating a long-term investment instrument primarily targeted at retail and domestic investors.
As part of the process for securing final registration, Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust will be required to fulfil certain conditions over the next six months. These include the appointment of directors, submission of the required financial statements and compliance with other regulatory requirements.
Last month, NHAI incorporated Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers Private Limited (RIIMPL) as the Investment Manager for RIIT. The company has been established as a collaborative venture with equity participation from several leading banks and financial institutions, including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, NaBFID, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv Ventures Limited, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank.
In recent years, NHAI has successfully monetised assets worth ₹48,995 crore through the Toll-Operate-Transfer model and raised about ₹43,638 crore through four rounds of private InvITs, attracting both domestic and global investors.
Aligned with SEBI’s InvIT regulations, the public InvIT framework will ensure transparency, strong investor protection, and high standards of reporting and compliance. These measures are expected to significantly enhance public participation in the development of world-class National Highway infrastructure across the country.
A two-day National Conference on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the power distribution sector under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on December 6 and 7.
Organised by the Ministry of Power, the theme of the conference is “Harnessing AI/ML for Smart, Efficient and Sustainable Power Distribution”. The event will showcase advanced use cases of smart meter data analytics, integrated IT and operational technology systems, and smart home automation solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing consumer satisfaction across distribution companies in the country.
During the conference, several AI and ML-driven data analytics applications and practical use cases leveraging smart meter technology and integrated IT/OT systems will be demonstrated. The event also seeks to promote the adoption of emerging technologies such as Blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and home automation to strengthen power distribution management, grid reliability and sustainability.
A total of 195 applications were received for presenting technology solutions at the conference, out of which 51 have been shortlisted. These include presentations by distribution companies, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers, Technology Solution Providers and Home Automation Solution Providers. The shortlisted solutions will highlight real-world implementation of AI and ML for demand forecasting, revenue protection, cost optimisation and digital system integration.
The technology solutions showcased during the conference will be evaluated by expert juries from the power and technology sectors. The top-performing solutions will be awarded by Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal on December 7, 2025.
The conference will be attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, along with senior officials of the ministry, representatives of DISCOMs, technology providers, policymakers and academic experts. (Source-PIB)
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