Ias

CCPA fines Drishti IAS ₹5 lakh for misleading claims on UPSC results

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt Ltd) for publishing misleading advertisements regarding the results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022. Drishti IAS, in its advertisement, prominently claimed "216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022" along with names and photographs of successful candidates. However, upon examination, CCPA found that the claim was misleading and concealed crucial information regarding the type and duration of courses opted for by these candidates, the Consumer Affairs Ministry said in a statement. The investigation revealed that out of the 216 candidates claimed by Drishti IAS, as many as 162 candidates (75 per cent) had only taken the free Interview Guidance Programme (IGP) of the institute, after independently clearing the Preliminary and Mains stages of UPSC CSE. Only 54 students were enrolled in IGP and other courses. This deliberate concealment of important informati

Driver of Puja Khedkar's father arrested in Navi Mumbai road rage case

The Navi Mumbai police have arrested the driver of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar's father in connection with the road rage incident in which a truck driver was abducted last week, a senior official said on Saturday. Puja Khedkar's father, Dilip Khedkar, who is also wanted in the case, is still absconding, police said. According to the police, the incident occurred on September 13 on the Mulund-Airoli Road in Navi Mumbai after a concrete mixer truck driven by Prahlad Kumar (22) brushed against a Land Cruiser car, leading to an argument between him and two occupants of the four-wheeler. The investigation revealed that Dilip Khedkar and his driver, Praful Salunkhe, bundled Kumar into the SUV and took him to the Khedkar bungalow in Pune. Police tracked the SUV to Pune based on technical analysis and rescued the truck driver from the bungalow even as Puja Khedkar's mother, Manorama, obstructed their entry. "We have arrested Khedkar's driver Praful Salunkhe, who was involved in th

Extension to bureaucrats post retirement in exceptional circumstances: Govt

The government on Wednesday said service extension to IAS, IPS and other officers after retirement is given in exceptional circumstances and in public interest. The assertion came in response to a query seeking the details of the number of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers who have been given an extension after their retirement during the last five years. "Extension of service after retirement is given in exceptional circumstances, in public interest to officers belonging to All India Services in accordance with provisions contained in All India Service (Death Cum Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1958/relevant rule," Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The reply, however, did not specify the number of extensions granted in the last five years.

Haryana govt transfers 31 IAS, 5 HCS officers in key bureaucratic shakeup

In a major administrative reshuffle, the Haryana government on Thursday issued transfer and posting orders of 31 IAS and five HCS officers with immediate effect. The IAS officers include Raja Sekhar Vundru, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department, who has been transferred and posted as ACS, Fisheries Department. Vineet Garg, ACS, Higher Education Department and Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board, has been posted as ACS, School Education Department, in addition to his present duties. D Suresh, Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi and Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, has been posted as Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi and Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. Rajeev Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Labour Department, will now serve as Principal Secretary, Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Department, in addition to his present duties, according

UPSC CSE prelims 2025 question paper review: What students, teachers said?

UPSC CSE prelims 2025 question paper left aspirants stunned with a tough CSAT and tricky GS paper. Here's what students and mentors said about the exam's difficulty, surprises, and expected cut-off

Telangana transfers IAS officer who reshared Hyderabad land row AI image

IAS officer Smita Sabharwal was summoned by Gachibowli police for questioning concerning a Studio Ghibli-style image related to the Kancha Gachibowli land dispute

Can't avail UPSC attempts as able, disabled candidate: SC to Puja Khedkar

The Supreme Court on Tuesday told former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar -- who's accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination -- that she cannot avail separate attempts to clear the test as an "able candidate" and an "disabled candidate". A bench of justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma posted the plea of Khedkar for further hearing on April 15 after her counsel sought time to file response to an affidavit of Delhi government. The top court also extended the protection from arrest granted to Khedkar on January 15 till April 15. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju, appearing for the Delhi government, said they need custodial interrogation of Khedkar to ascertain the identity of the middlemen involved in the alleged scam of preparing fake disability certificates for UPSC aspirants. Advocate Bina Madhavan, appearing for Khedkar, said they have written to the probe agency about her willingness to cooperat

UPSC coaching deaths: Court reserves order on bail plea of CEO of RAU's IAS

Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna reserved the order after hearing submissions from the counsel for the accused, CBI and counsel for the complainant

RAU's IAS case: HC sets aside financial condition for interim bail of CEO

This case is linked to the death of three UPSC aspirants in the basement of RAU's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajender Nagar in July 2024

UPSC IAS 2025: Notification for civil services prelims exam released

UPSC announced the official notification of the Civil Services Prelims Exam 2025 today, January 22. Eligible candidates can view the notification on the official website at upsc.gov.in

Delhi HC refuses anticipatory bail to Puja Khedkar in UPSC cheating case

Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in the criminal case lodged against her for alleged cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination. "Anticipatory bail plea is dismissed. Interim protection from arrest is vacated," Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said while ruling on the plea. Justice Singh said a strong prima facie case was made out against Khedkar and investigation was required to unearth the conspiracy. It was a classic case of fraud committed on a constitutional body as well as society, the judge said. Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022, to get reservation benefits. The counsel for the Delhi Police as well as the complainant, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), opposed the plea for pre-arrest bail. The UPSC was represented by senior advocate Naresh Kaushik and lawyer Vardhm

Delhi drowning deaths: HC seeks CBI reply over interim bail to Rau IAS CEO

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice to the probe agency and coaching centre's CEO Abhishek Gupta

Who is Amit Kataria? India's richest IAS officer who took Rs 1 as salary

According to several news reports, 2004-cadre Amit Kataria is India's richest IAS officer with a net worth of ₹8.90 crore

Rau's IAS case: Court grants interim bail to coaching's CEO, coordinator

A Delhi court on Monday granted till December 7 interim bail to Rau's IAS Study Circle CEO Abhishek Gupta and its coordinator Deshpal Singh in a case related to the death of three civil services aspirants in July in the centre's flooded basement. Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna granted relief to the accused persons on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each with two sureties of the like amount. The judge also directed Gupta to deposit Rs 2.5 crore till November 30 with Red Cross Society, saying that as per the lease agreement of the premises, the accused being the lessee and CEO of the institute alone, would responsible for any loss claim, and damages to any person or material. The judge noted that Gupta and Singh were CEO and coordinator of Rau's IAS Study Circle, respectively, and were in control of its affairs.

Coaching centre deaths: SC asks appointed panel to submit interim measures

The Supreme Court on Friday directed a Union government-appointed high-level committee probing the death of three IAS aspirants in a coaching centre here in July due to flooding in the building's basement to submit interim measures in four weeks to prevent such incidents. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi governments to apprise the court of policy, legislative and administrative changes made to prevent a repeat of such incidents. It said uniform initiatives should be taken in the entire National Capital Region to prevent another Old Rajendra Nagar-type incident from happening. "If the need arises, we will pass directions for pan-India to prevent Old Rajendra Nagar-type incidents," the bench observed. On July 27, three civil services aspirants drowned in the basement library of Rau's IAS Study Circle in the Old Rajendra Nagar area here after it was flooded following heavy rain. On August 5, the top court observed that coac

Coaching Centre deaths: Time for admin to wake up from slumber, says HC

It is time for the administration to wake up from "deep slumber" and take appropriate steps to address the condition of city's coaching centres, the Delhi High Court has said, while granting interim bail till November 30 to four co-owners of the basement of an Old Rajinder Nagar building that housed a coaching centre where three civil services aspirants drowned in July. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, in the order passed on September 13 on the bail applications of the accused, lamented the administration's "callous attitude", saying said such "incidents keep on happening" and innocent people lose their lives because of "mischievous people" who only want to earn money. Children from across the country come to the capital for their education and it is unfortunate that coaching centre owners have no care for such innocent lives, the judge said in the order released on the court's website. Justice Sharma urged the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to appoint a committee, preferably under a former .

Willing to get disability examined in Aiims, Puja Khedkar tells Delhi HC

Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar on Thursday told Delhi High Court she was willing to get herself medically examined in AIIMS, after the city police claimed that one of her disability certificates may be "forged" and "fabricated". Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing Other Backward Classes (OBC) and disability quota benefits, made the submission while the court was dealing with her anticipatory bail plea in the criminal case. "I am willing to get myself medically examined. First they say I changed my name. Now they say disability is questionable. I am willing to go to AIIMS," the senior counsel appearing for Khedkar said. Justice Subramonium Prasad listed the matter for further hearing on September 26, recording that the police have prayed for 10 more days for further investigation. Khedkar's interim protection of arrest granted by the high court will continue till then. The Delhi Police counsel argued that Khedkar "concealed facts" while attempting th

Odisha govt makes administrative changes, transfers 18 senior IAS officers

The Odisha government has transferred 18 senior IAS officers, a notification issued by the General Administration department said. Satyabrata Sahu was appointed Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home department while D K Singh was appointed Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management department. Sahu is also allowed to hold additional charge of ACS, Forest, Environment and Climate Change department. Singh is allowed to remain in additional charge of Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha and Managing Director, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority. The additional appointment of Satyabrata Sahu as SRC and MD of OSDMA shall stand terminated from the date Singh takes over, the notification said. Surendra Kumar, ACS, General Administration and Public Grievance department with additional charge of ACS, Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs, is appointed as ACS, Steel and Mines department. He is allowed to remain in additional charge of ACS, General Administration and Publ

Delhi HC extends interim protection of IAS Pooja Khedkar till August 29

Former trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar is accused of falsifying and misrepresenting facts in her application to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

MP transfers 9 IAS officers, makes Sukhveer Singh Chief Electoral Officer

In yet another bureaucratic reshuffle this month, the Madhya Pradesh government has transferred nine Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officers with Sukhveer Singh being appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state. The government issued the transfer order on Tuesday night. Sukhveer Singh, a 1997-batch IAS officer posted as the Principal Secretary of Horticulture and Food Processing till now, will replace Anupam Rajan. Rajan, a 1993 batch officer, has been transferred as the Principal Secretary of Higher Education Department. Amit Rathore, a 1996 batch officer, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary of the Finance Department. He was holding the charge of the Commercial Tax Department. Shriman Shukla, a 2007 batch officer, has been transferred as the Divisional Commissioner of Shahdol division. On August 10, the state government had carried out a major bureaucratic reshuffle, transferring 26 IAS officers, including eight district collectors and 21 Indian .