Three-year tenure of Ms Soma Mondal as Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) is coming to an end on April 30, 2026. Indication is that she may get one year extension.

The government has notified Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2026 which will come into force from May 1. Under the rules, an Online Gaming Authority of India has been established as a unified, digital-first regulator for the sector. The authority will comprise 6 members in which Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will be Chairperson and Other 5 members will be Joint Secretaries from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, Department of Financial Services, and Department of Legal Affairs.

Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is scheduled to retire on May 31.

Sources said that Amrit Pratyay, CS and Vinay Kumar, DGP are likely to continue in the new government. Sources said that both top officers are said to be adjustable in the government set up.

Sources did not rule out the possibility of the increase in certain taxes and that could lead to rise in inflation. If this happens because of the ongoing West Asia crisis.

Ashish Kumar Mishra has been appointed as Commandant (G D) in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on deputation basis. He is a 2013 batch IPSofficer of AGMUT cadre.

The tenure of Love Kumar on upgraded posting as IG, SPG has been extended for a period of one year beyond April 7, 2026. He is a 2004 batch IPS officer of UP cadre.

Chitranjan Kumar, General Manager Area General Manager at Magadh Sanghamitra area, CCL, Central Coalfields Limited has been selected for the post of Director (Technical), Eastern Coalfields Limited at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on April 22, 2026. As many as 12 persons were interviewed for the same. 

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) did not find a suitable candidate for the post of Chairman & Managing Director, India Optel Limited at the selection meeting held on April 22, 2026. As many as ten persons were interviewed for the same. 

Shankar Narayan, GM, BHEL, who was selected for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Central Electronics Limited (CEL), by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on October 29, 2025, is still awaiting for the appointment orders.  Presently, Chetan Prakash Jain, an Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) of 1994 batch officer, is holding an additional charge of this post. 

Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has secured orders worth Rs. 569 Crore, commencing the order acquisition for the current financial year 2026-27.

Major orders received include avionics, EW system, high energy laser, communication equipment, tank sub systems, laser based fuzes, test equipment, upgrades, spares, services, etc.

In a minor reshuffle, the Andhra Pradesh government appointed three new Additional Commissioners to the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). Nandyal Joint Collector Kollabathula Karthik shifted as Additional Commissioner, CRDA, Transco Joint Managing Director G. Suryasai Praveen Chand were given additional charge, and Ratan Tata Innovation Hub CEO Dhatri Reddy was also given additional charge. The move supported Amaravati capital works and Phase-2 land pooling. 

Lt Gen CJ Jayachandran assumed charge as Chief of Staff, Central Command (also known as Surya Command). He paid homage at the Smritika War Memorial on the occasion. Described as a highly accomplished officer with extensive operational and administrative experience.

Nashik has shown strong progress under Mission NIPUN Maharashtra.Led by IAS officer Omkar Pawar, CEO of Zilla Parishad Nashik, the district recorded significant gains from February to March. The number of Super NIPUN Schools increased from 233 to 1,113, while NIPUN Schools rose from 353 to 1,471.The number of NIPUN Students also grew from 83,711 to 139,701 adding 55,990 students. Additionally 97 out of 131 targeted schools (74%) successfully achieved NIPUN status,showing clear improvement in learning outcomes.

Speaking about the key driver behind this success, he quoted  “The key was identifying non-NIPUN students and providing them focused, daily support through dedicated workshop.Furthermore supported by a four-layer strategy that was implemented”

The initiative was driven by a simple four-layered strategy:

1. Targeted Remediation: Delivered SCERT learning handbooks directly to 5,625 students across 131 low-performing schools. With daily scheduled time for 1 hour each for Language and Math

2. Reading Push: Aggressive, ground-level execution of the “100-Days Reading Campaign”, delivering daily 2 digital  stories through ZP official Reading Campaign WhatsApp channel.

3. Rigorous Review: Conducted dedicated ZP-level accountability meetings with BEOs, Kendra Pramukhs, and EOs.

4. Direct Engagement: The EO and CEO held virtual interactions with 5 schools daily in the most challenging blocks to boost morale and gather ground feedback.

5. Field visits and follow up by KPs, Extension officers and BEOs

Pankaj Kumar has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade. He is a 2016 batch ISS officer.

Ms Preeti Yadav has been appointed as General Manager (Regions), Food Corporation of India, Panchkula on deputation basis. She is a 2014 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre.

Abhijit Vijay Chaudhary has been appointed as Deputy Financial Advisor, Border Security Force (BSF), Chandigarh on deputation basis. He is a 2012 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre. 

The Rajasthan Government has announced CM Excels Awards-2026 for IAS officers for their outstanding works. Mrs Gayatri A Rathore, PS, Medical and Health, has been awarded for Mission MadhuNetrAI-AI Powered Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Solution. Similarly, Ms Arti Dogra, Secretary, Energy, bags Agriculture Feeder Solarization Under PM-Kusum Scheme; Siddhartha Mahajan, Commissioner, Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) was awarded for Digital Transformation of Citizen Services and Property Management at JDA; Dr Kushal Yadav, Collector, Hanumangarh for Outstanding Work in Jal Jeevan Mission in Hanumangarh; Rohitashva Singh Tomar, Collector, Sirohi for Outstanding Work in Lakhpati Didi Scheme in Baran and Krishna Kunal, Secretary, Rural Development, has been awarded for E Work 2.0: Integrated Digital Platform for Development Works in Rural Development Department.  

Justice Lisa Gill, Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, has been appointed as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court with effect from April 25, 2026, consequent upon the retirement of incumbent Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur on April 24, 2026.  

In a sharp escalation of executive-legislature friction in Madhya Pradesh, BJP MLA Pritam Singh Lodhi from Pichhore has come under fire for allegedly threatening Karera SDOP, Dr Ayush Jakhar. Viral videos show Lodhi questioning the officer’s authority (“Karera does not belong to your daddy”), vowing to mobilise 10,000 supporters, and threatening to fill his residence with cow dung over a probe into his son’s road accident case.

The Madhya Pradesh IPS Officers’ Association responded with a strongly worded press note on the Civil Services Day, terming the remarks “derogatory, indecent and unbecoming”. President Chanchal Shekhar condemned the attack on the officer and his family, demanding strict action to protect institutional dignity.

The controversy has triggered widespread outrage and formal protests by the Madhya Pradesh IPS Officers’ Association, which also received support from the All-India IPS fraternity. Meanwhile, BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal issued a show-cause notice to Lodhi, seeking a reply within three days and warning of disciplinary action for violating party discipline.

This episode underscores a dangerous trend: elected representatives using muscle-flexing rhetoric to intimidate impartial officers. It erodes public trust in democratic institutions, demoralises the civil services, and raises questions about political accountability. In a democracy, the line between criticism and intimidation must never blur—otherwise, the rule of law itself stands threatened.

The RBI has approved the appointment of Debasish Panda, former Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and a retired IAS officer, as the Part-Time Chairman of Bandhan Bank. His tenure will span three years, subject to regulatory conditions.

Panda brings extensive experience in financial sector governance and public administration, having previously served as Secretary in the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance. During his tenure, he played a key role in banking reforms, insurance sector expansion, and policy formulation.

His appointment comes at a time when Bandhan Bank is navigating asset quality pressures and working to strengthen its governance framework. The move is expected to enhance board oversight and regulatory alignment, given Panda’s deep understanding of financial regulation.

The RBI’s approval underscores confidence in his ability to guide the bank through its next phase of consolidation and growth.

In a significant policy shift for farmers in the national capital, the Centre has approved the resumption of wheat procurement in Delhi through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), ending a four-year hiatus and restoring direct access to Minimum Support Price (MSP).

The move is being positioned as a key outcome of the “double-engine government” framework, with the BJP-led Centre and the newly aligned administration in Delhi working in tandem to reverse earlier decisions under the AAP government. Between 2020 and 2024, wheat procurement in Delhi had effectively stalled, forcing farmers to depend on neighboring states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to sell their produce at MSP.

With FCI now re-entering the procurement ecosystem in Delhi, local farmers are expected to benefit from reduced logistical costs, quicker payments, and assured price realization. Officials say procurement centres will be operationalised in time for the ongoing rabi marketing season.

The development is also being viewed as a broader political signal, underlining a departure from AAP-era agricultural handling and highlighting the Centre’s push to integrate Delhi more closely into national procurement systems.

Bank of Baroda, SBI, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India and other PSU lenders have staged a sharp rally in April, with the Nifty PSU Bank index up over 11% after a brutal March sell‑off. Yet the upcoming Q4 earnings may disappoint, as the sector faces a dual drag from rising government bond yields and the RBI’s ₹‑linked $100‑million cap on net open positions in the foreign‑exchange market.

Higher 10‑year bond yields around 7.1% in March are compressing treasury income through mark‑to‑market losses on government securities, which are particularly painful for PSU banks with large bond books. At the same time, the RBI’s $100‑million rupee‑position cap curbs banks’ ability to profit from FX volatility, limiting trading gains and forcing them to book forex‑related losses. Together, these factors are likely to weigh on net profit growth even as the share‑price rebound has already priced in a relatively benign Q4. 

The biannual  Army Commanders’ Conference (ACC) culminated in New Delhi. Chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), it was attended by apex military leadership and addressed by the Cabinet Secretary, CDS, Defence Secretary, Chairman NSAB, and Chief of the Naval Staff.

Two IFoS officers of AGMUT cadre in J&K: Sandeep Kujur of 1995 batch and Chaturbhuj Behera of 1996 batch have been promoted to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) rank.

Ashwani Kumar has been empanelled for appointment as IEM. He is from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Rashmi Verma and Om Prakash Dadhich have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (M/o I&B).

Ranjan Kumar Ghose  has been empanelled for appointment as IEM. He is a 1982 batch IA&AS officer and retired as Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General of India. 

Ranjanesh Sahai  has been empanelled for appointment as IEM. He is a 1987 batch IRAS officer and retired as Principal Financial Advisor, COFMOW M/o Railway.

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited has advertised the posts of General Manager (Finance) for Corporate Office on deputation basis. Applications must reach latest by May 19, 2026. Details can be availed from Railway Ministry’s website. 

National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited is seeking to fill the post of Director (Works), New Delhi on deputation/absorption basis. Applications must reach latest by May 20, 2026. 

Four IFS officers have been given new postings at Arunachal Pradesh segment. These officers include Aduk Paron, Bijoy Pradhan, Poosam Thangha and Millo Tamang. All officers belong to 2012 and 2013 batch of AGMUT cadre respectively.

Scientist Posts for Ministry ofNew and Renewable Energy on deputation/short-term contract basis have been advertised. Details can be availed from MNRE website.

World Bank is seeking to fill the post of Social Policy Specialist for Manila, Philippines. Applications must reach latest by May 6, 2026. 

World Bank is seeking to fill the post of  External Affairs Associate for Geneva, Switzerland. Applications must reach latest by May 5, 2026. 

Sourav Kumar Modi, formerly posted as Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer (Dy. CME), Dahod (DHD), Western Railway (WR), has been selected for deputation to Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) as Joint General Manager (Corporate Co-ordination) [JGM (Corporate Co-ordination)] at Corporate Office for a period of three years. He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

Sunil Kumar Suman, who is presently serving as Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), Bhusaval (BSL), Central Railway (CR), has been relieved from the post, transferred to Western Railway (WR) and posted as Chief Electric Locomotive Engineer (CELE). He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna PSU under Ministry of Power commemorated the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar across its establishments spread throughout the country. On this occasion, Dr. Yatindra Dwivedi, Director (Personnel) chaired a session which was attended by  K G Verma, former Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DoP&T), senior officials from POWERGRID and their families.

Floral tributes were offered, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to Dr. Ambedkar’s ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity, social justice, and inclusive development. Various competitions such as speech and quiz contests were organised for the children of employees, thereby reinforcing the significance of Dr. Ambedkar’s ideals amongst the next generation. The ceremony also featured reflections on Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions to nation-building and underscored organisation’s initiatives of promoting diversity, employee welfare, and community development.

As of 31st March 2026, POWERGRID has commissioned and is operating 291 Sub-Stations and more than 1,84,960 ckm transmission lines and 6,24,016 MVA of transformation capacity. With the adoption of the latest technological tools and techniques, enhanced use of automation and digital solutions, POWERGRID has been able to maintain an average transmission system availability of more than 99.84%.

President Droupadi Murmu accepted the credentials presented by the envoys of four nations at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. President received credentials from Mrs Vithaya Xayavong, Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Mrs Emilie Ayaza Mushobekwa, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Wing Commander Alex Lunyazo Tukuhupwele (Retd.), High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia and Antonio Serifo Embalo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

Ravikumar Gaurishankar Patel has been appointed as Chairman of KDJ Holidayscapes and Resorts Limited.
 

Ms Neha Kanwar Bhati has been appointed as Additional Non-Executive Independent Director of KDJ Holidayscapes and Resorts Limited.

Alind Saxena has been re-appointed as Executive Director of L&T Technology Services Limited.


 

Rajeev Gupta has been appointed as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of L&T Technology Services Limited.

Amitabh Kant has been appointed as Independent Director of L&T Technology Services Limited.

Varun Berry has been appointed as Additional Independent Director of Havells India Limited.

Ms Namrata Kaul has been re-appointed as Independent Director of Havells India Limited.

Ashish Bharatram has been re-appointed as Independent Director of Havells India Limited.

Puneet Bhatia has been re-appointed as Non-Independent Director of Havells India Limited.

T V Mohandas Pai has been re-appointed as Non-Independent Director of Havells India Limited.

Sachin Garg has been appointed as Non-Executive Independent Director of Regency Fincorp Limited.

Sanjay Mittal has been appointed as Non-Executive Independent Director of Regency Fincorp Limited.

Piyush Kiranprakash Gupta has been appointed as Additional Director in the capacity of Non-Executive Independent Director of Prevest Denpro Limited.

Abhijeet Sadashiv Haridas has been appointed as Additional Director in the capacity of Non-Executive Independent Director of Prevest Denpro Limited.

Rahim Narsingdani has been appointed as Non-Executive Independent Director of Lime Chemicals Limited.

Ashish Kundra has been appointed as Additional Director in the category of Rotational Director on the Board of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited

Nimeshkumar Gaurishankar Patel has resigned from the position of Non-Executive Non-Independent Director and Chairman of KDJ Holidayscapes and Resorts Limited.

Pravin Raghavendra has been appointed as Additional Director in the category of Independent Director on the Board of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited.

 Rare year

It is a rare year where we see four change-of-commands. Vice Adm. Swaminathan as CNS (Navy), Lt Gen. Dhiraj Seth as COAS (Army). I don't know about the IAF but I think current VCAS Air Msgl. Nagesh Kapoor will be promoted. As for CDS, it's yet to be decisively known (but maybe Lt Gen. NS Subramani or Vice Adm. SJ Singh)

kishore_.anandan

 Welcome step

Controlled development will bring employment, prosperity and well being in the area. Welcome step indeed.

Sunil Mehta

Pay parity with Government school teachers

The appellant sought information from the Directorate of Education about the pay scale PGT teachers working with Universal Public School such as whether there is Pay parity with Government school teachers, percentage of Basic Pay paid as DA etc. During the hearing before the CIC, the Appellant restricted his arguments to the fact that the documents provided to him are not attested or certified by the PIO. The CIC directed the Directorate of Education to provide certified copies of relevant documents free of charge to the Appellant.

Comments

A citizen can seek information about a private organization from the public authority which holds the information. The certified copy of the document can be used as evidence in a court of law.

Citation: Khagesh Chandra Joshi v. Directorate of Education in File No: CIC/DIRED/A/2024/108070; Date of Decision : 25.08.2025

Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

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