The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed senior official Usha Janakiraman as Executive Director, with her new role taking effect from December 1, 2025.
Before this elevation, Janakiraman was serving as Chief General Manager-in-Charge in the Department of Regulation at the RBI’s Central Office in Mumbai. She has been associated with the central bank for more than 30 years, contributing across key functions such as regulatory oversight, external investments, banking supervision, currency management, public debt operations and other core areas.
A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Janakiraman will now head the Department of Supervision (Risk, Analytics and Vulnerability Assessment) as part of her Executive Director responsibilities.
Her appointment comes shortly after the RBI named Sonali Sen Gupta and Sanjay Kumar Hansda as Executive Directors in October 2025.
In a key administrative development, senior IAS officer Deepak Agarwal (IAS:2000:UP) has been given additional charge of Managing Director, Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has granted ex-post facto approval for the assignment.
According to the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (December 2, 2025), Agarwal will hold the additional charge with effect from August 28, 2025. He will continue in the role until a regular incumbent is appointed or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
Agarwal is currently serving as Managing Director of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Jio to introduce a telecom-driven safety alert system aimed at improving road safety and enhancing the travel experience on National Highways. The initiative will use Jio’s existing 4G and 5G network to send advance warnings to commuters approaching identified risk zones such as accident-prone stretches, fog-hit areas, stray cattle zones and emergency diversions.
Under the new system, highway users will receive alerts through SMS, WhatsApp messages and high-priority automated calls, enabling them to adjust their speed and driving behaviour before entering hazardous locations. The alerts will be integrated in phases with NHAI’s digital platforms, including the ‘Rajmargyatra’ mobile app and the national highway emergency helpline number 1033.
The solution will function automatically for all Jio subscribers travelling on or near National Highways. Since the system relies on existing telecom towers, it can be deployed quickly without the need for additional roadside equipment. Jio’s extensive digital footprint—serving over 500 million users—will allow safety messages to be delivered at a national scale.
Welcoming the initiative, NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said it represents a major step in ensuring timely and reliable information for commuters, helping them adopt safe driving practices well in advance. Reliance Jio President Jyotindra Thacker noted that the project leverages the company’s telecom reach to deliver critical alerts that can contribute to safer highway mobility.
The pilot phase will begin under selected NHAI regional offices to fine-tune risk-zone identification and alert mechanisms. The system will operate in compliance with regulatory norms and data-protection requirements.
NHAI has clarified that similar collaborations will also be explored with other telecom operators. With the help of real-time communication and strong digital infrastructure, the initiative is expected to boost commuter awareness and reduce preventable road accidents, supporting the authority’s broader vision of safer and smarter National Highways across India.
In a major symbolic shift, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will soon be renamed Seva Teerth as part of the government’s ongoing effort to promote a citizen-first approach to governance.
The new building complex—earlier known as the Executive Enclave under the Central Vista Redevelopment project—is in its final stages of completion. It will house the PMO along with the offices of the Cabinet Secretariat, National Security Council Secretariat, and India House, which will serve as a venue for high-level diplomatic meetings.
The name Seva Teerth has been chosen to reflect a workplace rooted in the spirit of public service and national duty.
Similarly, Raj Bhavans, the official residences of Governors, are being renamed Lok Bhavan.
This renaming follows a series of changes introduced over recent years to underline themes of responsibility, welfare and transparency. In 2016, the Prime Minister’s residence was renamed Lok Kalyan Marg to highlight the focus on public welfare.
Similarly, the Central Secretariat was renamed Kartavya Bhavan, and Rajpath became Kartavya Path, emphasising that public office represents duty rather than privilege.
These changes signal a broader shift in governance spaces, reflecting values of seva (service) and kartavya (duty) at the centre of government functioning.
In a significant administrative development, Punjab-cadre IAS officer Ajoy Sharma (IAS:1999:PB) has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary or equivalent posts in the Government of India. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Tuesday (December 2, 2025) approved his empanelment.
Sharma is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour & Employment, a position he has held since November 2024 for a five-year tenure.
Meenaxi Rawat (IES:1993), who is currently serving as the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in Mumbai, has been assigned additional charge as CVO of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the competent authority has approved the proposal for entrustment of additional charge of the post to Rawat for a period of six months from date of assumption of charge of the post or till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Ramesh Kumar Verma (ITradeS:2013), presently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has been prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (December 2, 2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal of DPIIT to repatriate Verma to his parent cadre on personnel grounds with provision of extended cooling off.
Verma was initially appointed to the post through an order dated July 19, 2023, for a tenure up to March 31, 2025. His tenure was later extended to be co-terminus with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP) or until further orders. The latest repatriation order brings an early end to his central deputation.
Vaibhav Chandrakant Ghalme (ICAS:2011), presently serving as Director in the Department of Health & Family Welfare, has been prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (December 2, 2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal of Department of Health & Family Welfare to repatriate Ghalme to his parent cadre on personnel grounds with provision of extended cooling off.
Ghalme had assumed charge in April 2025 following his appointment order issued by the DoPT on March 25, 2025, for a tenure of five years. His repatriation brings an early close to his central deputation assignment.
The post held by Atul Prakash Mishra (IDAS:2009) as Financial Advisor, Delhi Police, New Delhi, has been upgraded from the Deputy Secretary level to the Director level.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (December 1, 2025), the competent authority has cleared the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposal to re-designate Mishra’s post as Financial Advisor at the Director level.
This upgradation has been approved as a measure personal to the officer and will take effect from the date he assumes charge following the issuance of the order. Mishra will hold the post on central deputation for a total tenure of five years, up to March 10, 2027.
REC Limited on Monday (December 1, 2025) announced the appointment of Dinesh Garg as the company’s new Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, effective December 1, 2025. His appointment comes following the superannuation of JS Amitabh, who held the position until December 1.
According to the regulatory filing submitted to the National Stock Exchange and BSE, Garg brings over two decades of professional experience across public and private sector organisations. A Commerce and Law graduate from Delhi University, he is also a Fellow Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He holds Master’s degrees in Law and Business Administration (Finance).
REC stated that Garg has played a key role in areas such as corporate governance, board administration, regulatory and statutory compliance, public issues, and stakeholder management throughout his career.
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