Ias Officer

Delhi court jails 13, including ex-IAS officer, in ₹4,000-cr housing scam

A Delhi court sentenced 13 people, including a former IAS officer, to jail in the ₹4,000-crore Safdarjung housing scam, calling corruption a 'cancer' that must be dealt with firmly

Rajesh Agrawal takes charge as commerce secretary from October 1

Rajesh Agrawal, a 1994-batch IAS officer from the Manipur cadre, takes over as commerce secretary from October 1, succeeding Sunil Barthwal as India advances major trade negotiations

IAS officer, builders misused power in high-value fraud case, says ED

Former Vasai-Virar civic chief Anil Pawar and three others, held in a money laundering case, demonstrated a "deliberate" misuse of administrative powers and financial system to perpetrate a high-value fraud, the Enforcement Directorate told a Mumbai court on Wednesday. "Hawala and angadia" channels were used to launder the proceeds of crime, not just within Maharashtra, but across other states too, the ED told the special court, which later sent the quartet, including two real estate developers, to jail a week after their arrest. The hawala system refers to an informal channel for transferring funds from one location to another. Hawala operations are deemed illegal cash transactions in India. Angadias are traditional couriers who offer their services to transfer cash, diamonds and jewellery for a fee. Besides IAS officer Pawar, Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) town planner Y Shiva Reddy and two builders -- Sitaram Gupta and Arun Gupta -- are the other accused in the ..

Centre extends Home Secretary Govind Mohan's tenure until August 22, 2026

The Centre on Friday extended the tenure of Home Secretary Govind Mohan till August 22 next year, according to an official order. Mohan, a 1989 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Sikkim cadre, was named as the Home Secretary in August 2024. He took over the charge from Ajay Kumar Bhalla on completion of his tenure on August 22 last year. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Mohan's extension in services as Home Secretary beyond the date of his superannuation on September 30 up to August 22, 2026 or until further orders, in terms of the provisions of FR 56 (d) and Rule 16 (1A) of the all India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, said the order issued by the Ministry of Personnel. The rules have provisions to extend the services of such officers.

Delhi government reshuffles 23 IAS officers across key departments

The Delhi government has effected a bureaucratic reshuffle in the national capital, transferring or assigning charges to 23 IAS officers. Dilraj Kaur, a 2000 batch officer, has been posted as Principal Secretary of the General Administration department along with additional charges of Social Welfare and SC/ST/OBC Welfare. Nandini Paliwal, a 2003 batch officer, currently holding the charge of Secretary, Higher Education, will now be Commissioner (Trade and Taxes). Pandurang K Pole will be replacing her in the Education department. Neeraj Semwal, who is currently the Divisional Commissioner, will also be holding the additional charge of Secretary (Land and Building). Transport Commissioner Niharika Rai has been assigned the additional charge of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) chairman. Prince Dhawan, a 2012 batch officer, will hold the charge of Managing Director of DTC along with an Additional charge of Special Commissioner in the Transport department. Rashmi Singh has been post

Odisha govt suspends IAS officer Dhiman Chakma accused of taking bribe

The Odisha government on Tuesday placed IAS officer Dhiman Chakma under suspension, a day after he was sent to jail for allegedly taking bribe from a businessman, officials said. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered suspension of Shri Dhiman Chakma, Sub Collector, Dharamgarh with immediate effect, an official release said. Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer, was on Sunday caught by sleuths of the vigilance department while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from the businessman at Dharmagarah in Kalahandi district. It is further ordered that during the period of suspension, the headquarters of Shri Chakma is fixed at the GA&PG Department, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, and he shall not leave the said headquarters without prior permission, a notification issued by the General Administration Department said. He was arrested on Monday, and produced before a court, which rejected his bail petition. Chakma was sent to jail at Dharmagarh, but later shifted to a hospital .

Odisha IAS officer caught accepting ₹10 lakh bribe in Kalahandi district

Odisha Vigilance caught IAS officer Dhiman Chakma red-handed accepting ₹10 lakh bribe in Kalahandi; ₹47 lakh unaccounted cash recovered from his official residence

President appoints former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar as chairman of UPSC

A retired IAS officer of the 1985 Kerala cadre, Ajay Kumar is an IIT Kanpur alumnus who played a key role in major defence reforms and helped build India's digital & electronics manufacturing sectors

SC directs ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar to appear before Police on May 2

The Supreme Court on Monday directed former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination, to appear before Delhi Police on May 2. A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma also said no coercive steps will be taken against Khedkar till May 21, the next date of hearing. The top court noted that no concrete investigation into the matter had taken place and directed Delhi Police to conclude the probe expeditiously. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for Delhi Police, submitted that Khedkar's custodial interrogation was required. The apex court, however, granted her interim protection. Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the 2022 UPSC civil services examination for availing reservation benefits. She has refuted all the allegations against her. While dismissing her anticipatory bail plea, the

Bihar cadre IAS Pathak made additional secy; Bhuvnesh Kumar to head UIDAI

Senior IAS officer of Bihar cadre Keshav Kumar Pathak has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat as part of a major senior-level key bureaucratic changes announced by the Centre on Friday. Pathak, a 1990 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, is presently the chairman of Bihar Revenue Board. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment as Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, by temporarily upgrading a vacant post of Joint Secretary, a Personnel Ministry order said. His cadre mate N Saravana Kumar, a 2000 batch IAS officer, has been appointed as Vice Chairman, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), it said. Senior bureaucrat Bhuvnesh Kumar has been named as Chief Executive Officer, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the order said. A 1995 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, Kumar is Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeiTY). Amitesh Kumar Sinha, a 1997 batc

Rajesh Agarwal named next commerce secretary, to take charge in October

The government on Friday appointed 1994-batch IAS officer Rajesh Agarwal, additional secretary in the department of commerce, as the next commerce secretary. Agarwal, from Manipur cadre, has been named Special Secretary in the department. He will take over as the secretary after the retirement of Sunil Barthwal on September 30. "The officer will take over as Secretary, Department of Commerce... vice Shri Sunil Barthwal, IAS (BH:89) upon his superannuation on September 30, 2025," a government order said. Agarwal, the chief negotiator for the proposed bilateral trade agreement with the US, will be taking charge of the department at a time when global trade is facing a number of challenges due to the imposition of high tariffs by America and ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The imposition of these tariffs, particularly against China, has triggered a trade war between Beijing and Washington. Both are major trading countries of the world. While the US is India's largest tra

Ajay Seth, 1987-batch IAS officer, designated as new finance secretary

A 1987-batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the Karnataka cadre, Seth is also known for his role as the officer in charge of the finance track of the Group of 20 under India's presidency

Centre extends tenure of NITI Aayog CEO Subrahmanyam by one year

The Centre has extended the tenure of NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) B V R Subrahmanyam by one year, according to a Personnel Ministry order. Subrahmanyam, a 1987-batch retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, was in February 2023 appointed to the post for a period of two years. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in Subrahmanyam's tenure as NITI Aayog CEO for a period of one year beyond February 24, 2025, the order said.

UPSC cheating case: SC extends protection to Puja Khedkar till March 17

The Supreme Court on Friday extended till March 17 protection from arrest to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma directed Khedkar to cooperate in the investigation. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju sought rime to file reply in the matter. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Khedkar, submitted that police were not calling her for investigation and she was willing to come. The top court directed the ASG to file reply within three weeks. The apex court on January 15 had issued notice to the Delhi government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Khedkar's plea seeking anticipatory bail. Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the UPSC civil services examination, 2022, for availing reservation benefits. She refuted all the allegations

1995-batch IAS officer Bhuvnesh Kumar assumes charge as CEO of UIDAI

Bhuvnesh Kumar has assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), an official release said on Wednesday. Kumar also continues to be an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). He takes over from Amit Agrawal who has been appointed as the new pharma secretary. "Bhuvnesh Kumar assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Wednesday," an official release said. Kumar is an IAS officer of the 1995 batch from the Uttar Pradesh cadre. "A graduate and gold medalist from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, he held several important positions both at the Centre and in his cadre state," the release said. Earlier, he also served as the Joint Secretary in MeitY. In Uttar Pradesh, he served as the Principal Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries. Previously, he was the Sec

1992-batch IAS officer Arunish Chawla takes charge as revenue secretary

Senior bureaucrat Arunish Chawla on Thursday took charge as the Secretary, Department of Revenue. A 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre, Chawla served as the Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers since November 1, 2023. On Wednesday, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appointed Chawla as the Revenue Secretary. A doctorate in Economics from the London School of Economics, Chawla served as the Managing Director of the Metro Rail Project Patna; and on Foreign Assignment through Department of Economic Affairs as the Senior Economist, International Monetary Fund; Minister (Economic), Embassy of India in Washington DC; and also as Joint Secretary in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, the finance ministry statement said.

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

IAS officer removed by EC before polls reinstated as Ranchi dy commissioner

The Hemant Soren government has reinstated Manjunath Bhajantri as the Ranchi district deputy commissioner (DC), from which he was removed by the EC before the Assembly elections following a complaint by the BJP, according to a notification. The decision to bring Bhajantri back to the post was taken hours after JMM leader Hemant Soren took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The 2011 batch IAS officer was appointed as Ranchi DC by the Hemant Soren government on September 30 ahead of the polls which took place in two phases - November 20 and 23. He was removed on October 15 following a complaint by the BJP legal cell to the Chief Electoral Officer and shifted to Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society as its CEO. "Chief Executive Officer of Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) Manjunath Bhajantri has been transferred and appointed as Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, till further orders," a notification from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms .

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

Religious Whatsapp group: IAS officer's phone reset, says Kerala police

The Kerala police on Saturday said that the phone of the IAS officer, whose WhatsApp account was used to create a religious group, was completely reset and therefore, forensics could not ascertain whether it was hacked as claimed by him. Amidst reports quoting police suggesting that the IAS officer's phone was not hacked, Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner Sparjan Kumar said that it remains unclear whether the device was compromised, as it had been "reset". He also said that he had given a report regarding the matter to the State Police Chief, DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb. The DGP's office said that the report was confidential and would be forwarded to the state government. The police investigated the matter following a complaint by the IAS officer alleging that his personal WhatsApp number was hacked and used to create a religious group. In the controversial WhatsApp group, officers from various communities were added, and the group was labelled as a Hindu community group. U