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)
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