Know the personalities behind the historic India-EU FTA—the "Mother of All Deals" concluded Jan 27, 2026! After 18+ years, these diplomats & bureaucrats made it possible.

Indian Side

- Piyush Goyal (Commerce Minister): Political driver, Brussels talks & final push.

- Rajesh Agrawal (Commerce Secretary): Confirmed conclusion; led technical negotiations.

EU Side

- Ursula von der Leyen (EC President): Summit co-chair, hailed 2B-person free trade zone. 

- Maroš Šefčovič (Trade Commissioner): Key meetings w/ Goyal on tariffs & sectors. 

- Christophe Kiener (EU Chief Negotiator): Handled rounds, resolved sticking points.

Bonus Mentions

- Sabine Weyand (DG Trade): High-level inputs on agri, autos, SMEs.  Legal scrub underway—signing soon! Boosts trade to $200B+.

As many as 20 IAS officers of various cadres and batches are retiring in January, 2026. The officers are: Ritu Raj Bora and Indreswar Kalita of Assam-Meghalaya cadre; Dinesh Kumar Rai, Minendra Kumar, Satyendra Kumar Singh of Bihar; Rakhil Kahlon and Vinod Kumar of Himachal Pradesh; Iqbal Singh Chahal of Maharashtra; Tarep Imchen of Nagaland; G Mathivathanan of Odisha; Ajoy Kumar Singh and Dilraj Singh of Punjab; Shubhra Singh, Rajendra Vijay and Arun Kumar Purohit of Rajasthan; Md Moslem Uddin Ahmed of Tripura; Shailendra Kumar Singh, Amar Nath Upadhayay, Ram Singh Verma of UP cadre and Satyajit Sen of West Bengal cadre.

Rohit Rishi, ED, Bank of Maharashtra, has been appointed as Managing Director (MD), India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) for a period of three years.

The Centre government on January 13 this month notified the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. But this has created uneasiness in a section of society. A PCS officer Alankar Agnihotri on Monday quit the UP government service against this notification. On Tuesday  A plea was filed in the Supreme Court challenging a recently notified University Grants Commission (UGC) regulation, alleging that it has adopted a non-inclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination and excludes certain categories from institutional protection. According to sources the government has reportedly approached the AG for the legal advice and one should not be surprised if the government  modify certain provisions of the regulation. It is said that the government is now in damage control mode. In the plea is has been mentioned that regulation 3(c) of the Regulations, 2026 is "non-inclusionary" and fails to protect students and faculty who do not belong to reserved

High-level diplomatic engagement between India and Canada is gathering momentum as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to visit New Delhi in early March, aiming to seal a landmark uranium supply pact and broader energy agreements. The proposed 10-year uranium deal, estimated at about C$2.8 billion, is expected to underpin expanded civil nuclear cooperation and bolster India’s energy security. Carney’s visit will also coincide with the formal launch of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations, turning this trip into a political signal of reset and a precursor to an ambitious full-spectrum trade pact between the two countries.

India has firmly resisted EU pressures to open its dairy sector during recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, safeguarding millions of small farmers and rural livelihoods. Despite Brussels pushing for market access amid geopolitical tensions, New Delhi drew clear red lines, echoing Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's 2024 stance: no dairy concessions or no deal. The January 2026 India-EU FTA announcement confirms this, protecting sensitive agriculture like dairy, cereals, and poultry while slashing tariffs on machinery, chemicals, and Indian exports such as textiles. This balances export gains with food security, prioritizing domestic cooperatives like Amul over cheap imports

At present there is only one vacancy of Judge in the Supreme Court of India. Second vacancy will arise in April only.

The Government of India has started searching for a candidate for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). The extended tenure of incumbent Madhu Nair is coming to an end on January 31, 2026.

After the selection of Krishna Kumar Thakur, Director (Human Resources), BHEL as Director (Personnel), NMDC, a vacancy of Director (Human Resources), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is arising in 2026. 

V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, will receive the Padma Shri award for his contributions. He dedicated the honour to collective efforts toward “Viksit Bharat @ 2047.” This recognition highlights his work in areas like the Shakti processor project and national-scale deliveries, including collaborations with CDAC and NSAB (National Security Advisory Board). Speculations in discussions note his long-term role in NSAB and potential for higher national service.

Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) is seeking Senior Consultant (Yoga Therapy). The interview will be held on January 28, 2026.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is seeking Engagement Manager for Mumbai, Maharashtra. Details can be availed from  www.meity.gov.in & www.dic.gov.in, https://bhashini.gov.in/ and www.negd.gov.in.

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Limited has invited applications for the post of Joint General Manager, Area Office Ranchi, East Zone on deputation basis. Applications must reach latest by February 21, 2026.

Aloke Prasad has been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. He is a 1984 batch IPS officer and retired as Director General of Police, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) UP, Lucknow.

Amol Prabhakar Joshi has been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. He is a 1979 batch CES officer and retired as Special Director General Central Public Works Department. 

Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Bahl and Melattur Viswanathan Bhanumathi have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Bank Note Paper Mill India Private Limited (BNPM).

Umesh Kumar and Dr Sandeep Tripathi have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Bank of Baroda.   

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is seeking Support/ Onboarding Manager. Details can be availed from www.meity.gov.in & www.dic.gov.in, https://bhashini.gov.in/ and www.negd.gov.in.

Ministry of Heavy Industries is seeking Consultant (Technical) on contract basis. Details can be availed from the Ministry’s website.

Pawan Kumar Rai, presently serving as General Manager (Civil), Northern Coalfields Limited, has been appointed as Director (Project Planning), Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited, for a tenure up to his superannuation on November 30, 2028.

Vilas Sopan Wadekar, Chairman and Managing Director, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited, has been granted ex-post facto extension of additional charge of the post of Director (Technical), MRVC, for a further period of six months with effect from November 10, 2025,

Ramanand Bhagat, formerly Financial Adviser & Chief Accounts Officer, WST, East Central Railway, has been appointed on deputation to Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) as Executive Director (Finance) for a period of three years. He is an Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer.

Five IAS officers have been given new assignments in Haryana. Sudhir Rajpal has been posted as ACS, Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation and Administration of Justice Departments and will continue to hold additional charge of ACS, Environment, Forests & Wildlife Departments, while Sumita Misra will join as ACS and Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Disaster Management and Consolidation Department and ACS, Health and Family Welfare and ACS, Medical Education and ACS, Ayush Department. Similarly, Arun Kumar Gupta, PS to CM, will also hold charge of ACS, Finance & Planning and relieved of other additional charges; Saket Kumar will also handle charge of Commissioner & Secretary, Urban Local Bodies and Member Secretary, Kurukshetra Development Board, in addition to his present duties and Ram Kumar Singh, Special Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management, was assigned additional charge of Additional CEO, Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority.

Vinay Kumar has been appointed as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Panchkula and given additional charge of District Municipal Commissioner, Panchkula and OSC, Haryana Staff Selection Commission. He is a 2015 batch Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer.

The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, inaugurated the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Pavilion in presence of Minister, Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education, Sampad Swain at the 25th Enterprise Odisha, being held at Rourkela from January 28 to January 30, 2026. The Chief Minister thereafter took a walkthrough of the Pavilion. OMC’s participation at the exhibition highlights its journey as India’s 3rd largest iron ore producer, steadily cruising towards record production in the current fiscal, driven by scale, operational efficiency and robust mining practices. At the Pavilion, OMC is showcasing its initiatives on sustainability, digital innovations in safety and operations, mineral exploration initiatives, value addition through its Ferrochrome Plant and Chrome Ore Beneficiation Plants. OMC operates 19 mines producing iron ore, chrome, bauxite, manganese and limestone, supporting key mineral-based industries including steel, aluminium and ferrochrome. Mandated by the State Government, OMC is also spearheading mineral exploration initiatives across Odisha to unlock new mineral potential and strengthen the State’s mineral resource base. The 25th Enterprise Odisha provides an important platform for industry stakeholders to showcase capabilities, exchange ideas and explore growth opportunities. OMC’s participation at the event reflects its strategic role in Odisha’s mineral-led industrial development and its commitment to supporting the State’s evolving industrial ecosystem while contributing significantly to  national mineral security goals.

The 77th Republic Day was celebrated at NLCIL in a grand manner with traditional fervour. This year, for the first time at NLCIL, 9 thematic Tableaus were displayed during the ceremonial parade.  One of the Tableaus, put up by the Vigilance Department, showcased a powerful commitment by NLCIL to ethical governance. Under the evocative theme, "Transparent India Starts with a Vigilant You!", the tableau served as a mobile call to action, urging citizens to take personal responsibility in the fight against corruption. The display masterfully bridged ancient wisdom with future aspirations. Grounding the message in Indian heritage, the tableau featured two timeless extracts from the Thirukkural: Couplet 656: A stern reminder not to do what the wise would condemn, even to save one's own mother from starvation. Couplet 33: An exhortation to be righteous in all places and at all times, emphasizing that integrity is not a part-time virtue but a way of life.  The tableau utilized striking visual metaphors to engage the public. The Split Persona: A graphic representation of the internal struggle between greed and national duty, contrasting the "darkness" of illicit wealth with the "light" of a torch-bearing citizen holding the Constitution. "Eat Healthy, Don't Eat Bribes": A clever, modern analogy equating corruption to "junk food"—a temporary indulgence that ultimately destroys the health of the nation. Corruption’s True Cost: In a poignant display, the tableau featured the message "Corruption is paid by the poor," accompanied by imagery of a working-class mother and children, highlighting that the ultimate victims of systemic dishonesty are the most vulnerable members of society. Vision 2047: A futuristic depiction of a vibrant, egalitarian, and "Green" India, emphasizing that sustainable progress and a "Vibrant NLCIL" are only possible in a corruption-free environment.  Central to the showcase was a vibrant photo gallery of the Integrity Clubs from Neyveli schools. By highlighting these students, NLCIL emphasized that ethical leadership is being nurtured today to ensure a transparent tomorrow. The "Nurturing Future Ethical Leaders" panel showcased the active participation of youth in building a foundation of honesty. The procession concluded with the symbolic "Blue Vigil Box," a reminder that vigilance requires active, daily courage. The NLCIL Vigilance Department used this platform to spark a "collective fire," encouraging everyone to move beyond simply "encountering" corruption to actively "eradicating" it. As the tableau passed the gallery, it left the audience with a singular, powerful message: The journey toward a prosperous and transparent India does not start with a system—it starts with you.

2004 batch IAS  officer of UP cadre Anamika Singh  has taken voluntary retirement after reportedly not receiving an NOC for a central government deputation.

Sameer Singh has been appointed as Managing Director of Hindustan Media Ventures Limited with effect from March 1, 2026.

Rahul Mitra has been appointed as Director and designated as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Nicco Parks & Resorts Limited

Mrs. Gayatri Narendra Sharma has been appointed as an Additional Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of Innovators Facade Systems Limited.

Kulbhushan Malhotra has been appointed as Part-time Official Director (Government Nominee) on the Board of Andrew Yule & Company Limited.

Ishan Baveja has been re-appointed as an Independent Director of Jaro Institute of Technology Management and Research Limited with effect from February 4, 2026.

B N Patel has been appointed as Executive Director of Gujarat Gas Limited.

 

Vijaykumar Gautam has been appointed as an Additional Non-Executive Independent Director of Systematix Corporate Services Limited.

Mrs. Rashmi Chandrakant Vartak has resigned from the position of Managing Director of UVS Hospitality and Services Limited.

Sampath Kumar Kangeyam Venkatakrishnan has resigned from the position of Non-Executive Independent Director of Systematix Corporate Services Limited.

 

Kirti Savla has resigned from the position of Managing Director of Rose Merc Limited.

‘Age - Myth or Measure?'

It is said that the age is both a story we tell and a number we track.  If we measure the age, it is undeniable, that is, it counts time since birth.  Age has long been used as a yardstick for ability, maturity and potential. From childhood milestones to retirement thresholds, society often treats age as a defining measure of who we are and what we can achieve. But is age truly a meaningful indicator or is it merely a convenient myth?  As a myth, age becomes something else entirely.  We start attaching expectations to it, such as, too young to know, too old to change, the right age to succeed.  

On one hand, age does measure certain biological realities. Physical strength, cognitive development and health risks often correlate with the passage of time. These patterns help shape policies around education, employment and healthcare. In this sense, age provides a useful framework for understanding human growth and decline.  Yet, age becomes a myth when it is used to limit individuality. Two people of the same age can differ vastly in experience, energy, skills, and outlook.  Some reach career peaks early whereas others discover their purpose later in life.  Creativity, resilience and wisdom do not follow a strict timeline. 

After the age of 40, it hardly matters how much a person is educated or an illiterate.  Many a times, when you are standing in tea stall, it is heart-rending to observe that a tea stall person is earning more and that too tax-free.  Similarly, after the age of 50, a person may have been very handsome but after this age, wrinkles appear on the face and the person is no longer considered smart.  Thus, there is apparently hardly any value to smartness after the age of 50.  After the age of 60, you might have been working in top most position in any organization or even with your signature the city might have been administered, but now there are chances that even the security guard will not salute.  So, after the age of 60, the value of post held vanishes.  After the age of 70, the size of house hardly matters.  There is no value to the size of house, when the knee starts paining and in fact bigger the house, more is the trouble moving from one room to another or from one floor to another floor in the house.  So, seems better, comfortable and adaptable in small flat at that age.   After the age of 80, even if a person beholds huge wealth, there is hardly any value to that money as you have to eat only a few hundred money worth of tablet.  There is hardly any scope left to spend money on oneself for enjoyment at that age.  Full life spent running after earning money with so many tactics and practices all seem to go waste at that age.    

The thinking or theme that our time will come and we will enjoy the life later is all a myth.  Actually, what is happening is we are all heading towards old age and in old age we are only going to struggle with disease(s) and we are going to see that our relatives, children and even household helps are going to enjoy with our money that we have accumulated .  So, please wherever you are and whatever you have, put a stop and start learning to just enjoy with the money that the Almighty has bestowed and utilize the same properly. 

Yours truly, 

Subbiah Sridhar

Action Taken on a letter addressed to the RBI Governor

Details of actions taken by the RBI regarding Action Taken on a letter addressed to the Governor of RBI by the appellant in respect of an alleged unauthorized transaction conducted by Bank of Baroda in violation of the Banking Regulation Act. The PIO informed that the said letter as mentioned in the query was not received by the Governor's office. The appellant enclosed proof of delivery of letter in his second appeal. The CIC held that the PIO has provided an appropriate reply to the RTI Application, as per the provisions of the RTI Act. The CIC observed that the PIO is only required to supply all the information/documents within his access. The CIC referred to the Delhi High Court judgment dated 06.12.2023 in Narendra Tyagi v. Assistant Director (CPIO) [LPA 764/2023] in which it was held that whether or not such information as provided by the PIO under the RTI Act is incorrect in any manner, is not the domain of consideration or determination under the RTI proceedings.

Comments

The Information Commission is the last bastion of fact verification and it is only the law points which are discussed at the level of High Court or Supreme Court. The Information Commission must seize the opportunity to verify the correctness of data provided by the PIO, and penalize the PIO if the information provided is factually incorrect.

Citation: Surjitsinh Mangrola v. Reserve Bank of India, Second Appeal No. CIC/RBIND/A/2024/655388; Date of Decision: 08.12.2025

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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