Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (born October 1964) retires in October 2027, providing the Air Force with relatively greater continuity. Who will succeed him?

· Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of Air Staff since May 2025 and a highly experienced test pilot, is the leading contender.

· Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, AOC-in-C Central Air Command, remains a strong challenger in what is expected to be a competitive selection process.

If sources are to be believed , the Centre may consider to frame a new posting policy for the DGPs. Sources said in some states the Police Chiefs are not posted for a fixed two-year term despite the Apex Court directives. And this has necessitated the government to frame a new policy.

Anand Swaroop has been appointed Special Secretary (Internal Security) .He is 1992 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Anupama Nilekar Chandra Special Director General SSB has been appointed Director General (Investigation) in the National Human Rights Commission. Anupama is 1994 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre.

Planning for 2026-27 includes two new ‘Ratna’ categories for CPSEs to enhance competitiveness, as per government review (speculative for budget implementation).

The SCSC has recommended the name of Anurag Kapil for the post of Director (Finance) NMDC. Presently he is ED in Railway Board.

In a major crackdown on spam calls and messages, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has slapped penalties totaling ₹150 crore on telecom operators for failing to curb unsolicited commercial communication. The fines cover a three-year period from 2020 onwards and stem from two key violations — wrongful closure of customer complaints about spam and failure to act against numbers and resources used by spammers. TRAI clarified that the penalties were not for spam passing through networks, but for non-compliance with mandated preventive actions. Under existing rules, TRAI can impose up to ₹50 lakh per month per service area. Several telecom operators have contested the action, challenging the regulator’s decision.

Long awaited India- Africa Summit is likely to be held in October. It is said that over 50 Nations are expected to take part in the proposed summit.

As many as 20 officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of various batches are retiring in Maharashtra cadre.

Russia's Foreign Ministry has urged the US to adhere to international shipping laws following the Coast Guard's seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic, despite prior notifications of its civilian status. Geopolitics observers hail this as a pivotal escalation in US-Russia tensions, potentially disrupting global energy trade routes with broader repercussions for India, which relies heavily on discounted Russian crude oil imports. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) must urgently prioritize the safety of Indian crew members aboard such vessels, pushing for diplomatic channels to secure their release and repatriation amid rising maritime frictions. With US sanctions under President Trump already curbing shadow fleet deliveries—accounting for over 35% of India's Russian oil—MEA should prepare for steeper secondary tariffs, supply disruptions, and surging energy costs by diversifying sources, bolstering bilateral US talks on energy security, and fortifying resilient import chains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a roundtable with leading Indian AI start-ups, underscoring the government’s serious commitment to building a robust artificial intelligence ecosystem. Twelve start-ups that qualified for the “AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge” at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 showcased innovations spanning healthcare, multilingual large language models, materials research, data analytics, and engineering simulations.The Prime Minister said AI entrepreneurs and start-ups are the co-architects of India’s future, emphasising the need for indigenous and regionally inclusive AI models that promote local content and languages. He reiterated that India’s AI journey must remain ethical, unbiased, transparent, and privacy-centric. Commending the pace of innovation, the start-ups expressed confidence in the sector’s vast potential. The Prime Minister assured full government support to ensure the global success of Indian AI models, reaffirming India’s resolve to shape the AI revolution responsibly and inclusively.

PSU banks led Q3 credit growth at 14% (vs. 11% deposits), with improving asset quality and MSME/home loan gains; analysts predict Budget 2026 boost via capex.

PSU stocks like HAL, BEL, and NBCC spotlighted for January 2026 due to defence policy support and order books.

Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas has directed power discoms to fast-track PM-KUSUM scheme implementation, targeting 3,000 MW solar projects by March 2026. The review meeting emphasized Rajasthan's lead in Components A and C, with 2,700 MW+ already developed, benefiting 1.75 lakh farmers through daytime power and ₹40,000 crore investments. Discoms like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam face heightened bureaucratic pressure to meet 10,634 MW power purchase agreements, secure central aid, and install projects swiftly. Under CM Bhajan Lal Sharma's vision, this positions Rajasthan as India's decentralized solar hub, reducing diesel reliance and boosting farmer incomes.

Uttar Pradesh government has rolled out lucrative incentives targeting Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and semiconductor manufacturing units investing ₹3,000 crore or more. The cabinet, chaired by CM Yogi Adityanath, approved case-by-case benefits including interest subsidies, 10-year net SGST exemptions, power tariffs capped at ₹2/unit, 100% EPF reimbursement up to ₹2,000/month for local hires, and concessional water rates. This aligns with the UP Semiconductor Policy 2024 and India Semiconductor Mission, building on projects like the HCL-Foxconn fab near Jewar Airport . Heavy bureaucratic push from the CMO signals intent to position UP as India's semiconductor hub, with ₹32,000 crore proposals under review from firms like Tarq Semiconductors.

Government sources have clarified that reports claiming the Finance Ministry is planning to lift restrictions on Chinese companies participating in government contracts are premature and inaccurate. They said no such decision has been taken so far. According to officials, inter-ministerial consultations are yet to take place on any related proposal, and the matter remains under internal discussion. The current restrictions, imposed on grounds of national security and reciprocity, continue to remain in force. Any change in policy, sources said, would require extensive review and inputs from concerned ministries, including commerce, external affairs, and home affairs, before being considered. Hence, speculation about a policy reversal is unfounded at this stage.

Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, Judge of the Allahabad High Court, has been appointed as Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court consequent upon the superannuation of incumbent Justice Guhanathan Narendar on January 9, 2026.

Ram Prakash Pandey has been appointed as Director (System) in the Directorate of Income Tax (Systems), DGIT Systems, Delhi.

The post of Nikhil Dhongri has been upgraded as Director in the National Health Authority-Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. He is a 2012 batch IRPS officer.

Coal India (Maharatna) allowed foreign buyers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal in e-auctions from January 1, boosting transparency and exports.

Finance Minister’s announcement for procedural overhaul, including amnesty scheme for pending disputes (payable reduced sums) in Budget 2026-27. Aims for transparency and faster clearances.

The Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) issued transfers/postings for Group ‘A’ Officers of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) below Senior Administrative Grade (SAG), affecting defence-related public sector administration.

MEA to aggressively repair ties (e.g., Canada, Maldives) and forge new ones (e.g., Syria, Afghanistan) via envoys. Whispers of “strategic layering” to counter isolationist powers.

Ongoing Godavari-Krishna water row with Telangana, with Supreme Court hearings predicted for January 2026, could lead to bureaucratic deputations for resolution.

Speculations from defence analysts suggest potential leadership changes in the Navy’s SSBN (nuclear submarine) programme, with INS Aridhaman (third Arihant-class SSBN) set for commissioning in late 2026, potentially involving senior naval postings.

The DGDE has transferred 8 IDES officers to different places. Accordingly,  Nagesh Kumar Pandey posted as CEO, Prayagraj, Mahesh Vadde goes to DEO, Goa, Sawandkar Kiran Namdevrao transferred to CEO, Kamptee, M. Sudan Harivijay, posted as CEO, Belgavi, Kunal Rohilla goes to DEO, Siliguri,  Nitish Gupta to be CEO, Jammu, Varun Kumar, CEO, Danapur, Md Saquib Alam will join as CEO, Ajmer and Nasirabad, Ms Riddhi Pal will be the CEO, Amritsar,  Nishant Gupta, CEO, Sibathu, Harshit Raj Singh, CEO, Lansdowne, Ms Priya Purohit, Jt CEO, Pune, and Ms Tanu Jat has been posted as CEO,  Almora and Nainital.

As many as 20 IPS officers have been given new assignments in Telangana in a major rejig. Tafseer Iqbal was posted as Additional CP, Law and Order, South Range, comprising Shamshabad, Golconda, Rajendranagar and Charminar zones, while Ms N Swetha is appointed as Joint CP, Law and Order, North Range, comprising Jubilee Hills, Khairatabad and Secunderabad zones and S M Vijay Kumar takes over as Joint CP, Special Branch, Hyderabad. Similarly, Ms Rakshitha K Murthy was posted as DCP, Secunderabad Zone; Khare Kiran Prabhakar as DCP, Charminar Zone; Ms K Shilpavalli as DCP, Khairatabad Zone; S Sreenivas as DCP, Rajendranagar Zone; G Chandra Mohan as DCP, Golconda Zone; A Ramana Reddy as DCP, Jubilee Hills Zone; B Rajesh was retained as DCP, Shamshabad Zone in the newly created zone in Hyderabad City; N Koti Reddy as DCP, Qutubullapur Zone, Cyberabad Commissionerate; Ms Ritiraj as DCP, Kukatpally Zone, Cyberabad Commissionerate; Srinivas as DCP, Serilingampally Zone, Cyberabad Commissionerate; K Narayana Reddy as DCP, Maheshwaram Zone, Future City Commissionerate; Yogesh Goutam as DCP, Chevella Zone, Future City Commissionerate; Ms Sirisha as DCP, Shadnagar Zone, Future City Commissionerate; K Suresh Kumar as DCP, Uppal Zone, Malkajgiri Commissionerate; Dr B Anuradha as DCP, LB Nagar Zone, Malkajgiri Commissionerate; Sridhar as DCP, Malkajgiri Zone and Sadhana Rashmi Perumal will join as CP, Siddipet.

Two vacancies of Deputy Director General (DDG) in Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), under Ministry of Home Affairs has been advertised. Details can be availed from the Ministry’s website.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has invited applications for engagement of professionals as Consultant (Technical) (from open market) on contract basis for National Project Management Unit (NPMU). Applications must reach latest by January 25, 2026. Details can be availed from Ministry's website.

RITES Limited is seeking to fill the post of Group General Manager (Electrical) on deputation basis. Applications can be emailed at bishnunanda@rites.com /kapil.soni3@rites.com.

Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) has invited applications for the post of Member Secretary on deputation basis. Details can be availed from https://www.education.gov.in/.

Post of Dean for Sports Authority of India on deputation basis has been advertised by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports . Details can be availed from the ministry’s website.

Dr Raman Garg has been appointed as Commissioner of Income Tax-Officer on Special Duty (CIT-OSD) in the Office of Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, West Bengal and Sikkim Region, Kolkata. He is an IRS-IT officer.

World Bank is seeking WBG Director, Market and Counterparty Risk for Washington, DC, United States. Applications must reach latest by January 20, 2026.

Ms. Shelly Srivastava, who is presently serving in Railway Board, has been appointed on deputation as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Delhi, for a period of seven years. She is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.

Vijay Malviya, who is presently serving as Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer (Project-III), North Central Railway (NCR), has been selected for deputation as Chief Project Manager (Signal & Telecommunications) at Surat in the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for a period of five years. He is an Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE) officer.

Ms. Manisha Chatterjee, who is presently serving as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), Northern Railway (NR), has been appointed on deputation as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles for a tenure of five years. She is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.

Ms. Rekha Yadav, who is presently serving in Railway Board, has been selected for deputation as General Manager (CC) in the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), New Delhi, for a period of five years or till the date of her superannuation. She is an Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer.

The tenure of Sagar Mehra as Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries has been extended upto June 30, 2026. He is a CSS officer.

Deen Bandhu Singh, Development Commissioner, FALTA, Special Economic Zone, has been assigned an additional charge of Development Commissioner till May 8, 2026. He is a CSS officer.

Unde Yogesh Pandurang has been appointed as Senior Manager at Deputy Secretary level, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), at Ahmedabad, Gujrat region. He is a 2014 batch IRS-C&IT officer.

Harvinder Pal Singh has been appointed as Senior Manager at Deputy Secretary level, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), at Delhi. He is a 2015 batch IRS-C&IT officer.

Ms Zainab Sayeed has been appointed as Senior Manager at Deputy Secretary level, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), at Kolkata, West Bengal region. She is a 2015 batch IRS-C&IT officer.

Raj Kumar has been appointed as Deputy General Manager at Director level, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Ranchi, Bihar-Jharkhand region on deputation basis. He is a 2012 batch IOFS officer.

As many as 22 IAS officers have been given new responsibilities in Bihar. Sameer Saurabh has been posted as Managing Director, Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation Ltd (COMFED), Patna, while Deepak Kumar Mishra will join as Joint Secretary, Chief Minister's Secretariat, Patna and will hold the additional charge of Additional Director, Office of the Mission Director, Bihar Development Mission, Patna. Similarly, Abhishek Palasia is appointed as Municipal Commissioner, Gaya Municipal Corporation, Gaya; Kumar Nishant Vivek as Municipal Commissioner, Bihar Sharif Municipal Corporation, Nalanda; Shrikant Kundalik Khandekar as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, Patna; Shubham Kumar as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, Nalanda; Shivakshi Dixit as Municipal Commissioner, Bettiah Municipal Corporation, Bettiah, West Champaran; Surya Pratap Singh as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, Samastipur; Laxman Tiwari as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, Saran, Chhapra; Parth Gupta as Municipal Commissioner, Munger Municipal Corporation, Munger; Ashish Kumar as Municipal Commissioner, Motihari Municipal Corporation, Motihari; Kislay Kushwaha as Municipal Commissioner, Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation, Bhagalpur; Gaurav Kumar as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, Gopalganj; Kajale Vaibhav Nitin as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, West Champaran, Bettiah; Ms. Divya Shakti as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, Kaimur, Bhabua; Ms. Shweta Bharti as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, Khagaria; Gaurav Kumar as Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Council, Saharsa; Ruturaj Pratap Singh as Commissioner, Muzaffarpur Municipal Corporation; Ms. Garima Lohia as Sub-Divisional Officer, Barh, Patna; Anirudh Pandey as Sub-Divisional Officer, Danapur, Patna; Ms. Kritika Mishra as Sub-Divisional Officer, Patna Sadar; Ms. Akanksha Anand will take charge as Sub-Divisional Officer, Muzaffarpur (West), and Rohit Kardam will take charge as Sub-Divisional Officer, Naugachia, Bhagalpur.

Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Social Justice & Empowerment, has been assigned an additional charge of Secretary of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities till January 20, 2026. He is a 1991 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

The post of Pankaj Jain as Private Secretary to G Kishan Reddy, Minister for Coal has been upgraded to Director level. He is a 2012 batch IAS officer of MP cadre.

REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has achieved an ‘Excellent’ MoU Rating for the financial year 2024–25, signed with the Holding company (i.e. Power Finance Corporation Limited). This rating is awarded by Department of Public Enterprises (“DPE”), Ministry of Finance, as per prescribed guidelines in this regard. This feat marks REC’s third consecutive year of achieving the ‘Excellent’ rating, underscoring its sustained operational and financial leadership. The MoU framework is designed by Government of India to evaluate the performance of CPSEs s to assess their efficacy towards fulfilment of core objectives for which these have been constituted & aims to shift focus from effort-based assessments to actual economic performance, aligning with government priorities and shareholder interests. These parameters are carefully benchmarked against past performance, future projections, sectoral standards, and the vision of the administrative ministry i.e Ministry of Power. The assessment highlights REC Limited’s robust financial health and superior asset quality. The evaluation was driven by several key operational pillars, including sustained financial performance, high operational efficiency, strong market competitiveness and ethical corporate conduct. Further, DPE carries out annual exercise of Public Enterprise Survey wherein a summary of the financial performance of Central Public Sector Enterprises is captured. For FY 2024-25 report has been published by DPE and REC has achieved commendable position across various financial parameters as depicted, which reinstate our commitment for operational and financial performance. With this validation of consistent performance, REC Limited continues to consolidate its position as a premier financier in the power sector, playing a pivotal role in strengthening India’s power infrastructure and supporting sustainable economic growth.

In a major reshuffle, as many as 71 IPS officers have been given new assignments in Bihar. Preeta Verma has been appointed Director General-cum-Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Bihar Police Building Construction Corporation, while Kundan Krishnan joins as DGP STF. Similarly, Mrs R Malar Vizhi, DGP-cum-Director of the Bihar Police Academy, Rajgir, has been given the additional charge of Additional DGP, Bihar Special Armed Police; Amit Kumar Jain is posted as ADG, Prohibition and State Narcotics Control Bureau; Sunil Kumar as ADGP, Headquarters; Kamal Kishore Singh gets the additional charge of ADGP, Railways; Ranjit Kumar Mishra joins as Inspector General of Police, Cyber Crime and Security Unit; Manoj Kumar as IG, Headquarters; Sanjay Kumar as IGP, Bihar Special Armed Police; Vivekananda as IGP, Purnea Range; Pushkar Anand as Commandant, Bihar Special Armed Police 6, Begusarai with additional charge of Bihar Special Armed Police 19, Begusarai; Tauheed Parvez as DIGP, Modernization; Pramod Kumar Mandal as DIGP, SCRB; Aditya Kumar as SP, Crime Investigation Department; Ashish Bharti as DIGP, Prohibition and ANTF; Dr Swapna Gautam Meshram as DIGP, SCRB; Awkash Kumar as DIGP, Cyber Crime and Security Unit; Anand Kumar as DIG, Law and Order, Patna; Kumar Ashish as DIG, Kosi Range, Saharsa; Ravi Ranjan Kumar as DIG, Police Welfare; Deepak Ranjan as DIG, Bihar Police Academy, Rajgir; Inamul Haque Meghnu as DIG, Railways, Patna; Amir Javed as DIG, Weaker Sections and Women's Cell; Ashok Kumar Singh as DIG, Bihar Human Rights Commission; Sanjay Kumar Singh as DIG, STF, Patna; Rajiv Ranjan 1 as DIG, Provisioning, Patna; Rakesh Kumar Sinha as DIG, Vigilance Investigation Bureau; Ajay Kumar Pandey as DIG, Vigilance Investigation Bureau; Neeraj Kumar Singh as DIG, Operations, Special Task Force; Sushant Kumar Saroj as DIG, Traffic, Patna; Rajiv Ranjan 2 as DIG, Human Rights, Patna; Raman Kumar Chaudhary as DIG, Training, Patna; Manoj Kumar Tiwari as DIG, Mithila Range, Darbhanga; Shailesh Kumar Singh as DIG, Begusarai; Satyanarayan Kumar as DIG, Bihar Special Armed Police, Northern Division, Muzaffarpur; Ramashankar Rai as DIG, ERSS; Sushil Kumar as DIG, Legal Affairs and Rules, Patna; Dilnawaz Ahmed as DIG- cum Commandant, Bihar Special Armed Police 14, Patna; Santosh Kumar as SP, Kishanganj; Kanthesh Kumar Mishra as SSP, Muzaffarpur; Jitendra Kumar as SP, Araria; Vinay Tiwari as SP, Gopalganj; Hriday Kant as SP, Anti-Terrorism Squad; Patna; Sushil Kumar as SSP, Gayaji; Vidya Sagar as SP, Railway, Jamalpur; Anant Kumar Rai as SP, Railway, Patna; Pramod Kumar Yadav as SSP, Bhagalpur; Vineet Kumar as SSP, Saran; Manish Kumar as SP, Special Branch; Lalit Mohan Sharma as Commandant, Bihar Special Armed Police One, Patna; Sagar Kumar as SP, Traffic, Patna; Vaibhav Sharma as SP, Cyber Investigation and Operations; Puran Kumar Jha as SP, Siwan; Navjot Simi as SP, Arwal; Alok will as SP, Crime Investigation Department; Ajay Kumar as Commandant, Bihar Special Armed Police Five, Patna; Anjani Kumar as SP, Special Task Force, Patna; Ravish Kumar as Commandant, Bihar Special Armed Police 13, Darbhanga; Ramanand Kaushal as SP, Bagaha; Awadhesh Dixit as SP, Lakhisarai; Shubhank Mishra as SP, Shivhar; Bhojpur SP Raj has been given additional charge of Mounted Special Armed Police, Ara; Aparajit will as SP, Jehanabad; Vikram Sihag as SP, Vaishali. Muzaffarpur City; Kiran Kumar as CSP, Gaya; Mohibullah Ansari as CSP, Muzaffarpur; Shailendra Singh as CSP, Bhagalpur; Sanket Kumar as SDPO of Tarapur, Munger; Divyanjali Jaiswal as SDPO, Law and Order, Patna; Sakshi Kumari as SDPO, Gogri, Khagaria and Rajesh Kumar will now be the Commandant of SDRF, Patna.

Satya Prakash Vashishth, Executive Director (Admin) at Joint Secretary, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), has been given premature repatriation to his parent cadre on personal grounds. He is a 1994 batch IFoS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), operator of the world's largest Jamnagar refinery complex, has signaled interest in resuming Venezuelan crude purchases, halted since March 2025 due to a U.S. 25% tariff on importers. A company spokesperson stated: "We await clarity on access for Venezuelan oil by non-US buyers and will consider buying the oil in a compliant manner". This comes amid U.S. moves to control Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely under President Trump, potentially easing restrictions for select global refiners like Reliance, which can process discounted heavy Merey crude for optimal margins. Analysts speculate RIL could revive pre-2019 PDVSA ties if waivers materialize, diversifying supplies amid volatile geopolitics.

Varun Dua has been appointed as Additional Director (Non-Executive Non-Independent) on the Board of Federal-Mogul Goetze (India) Limited with effect from January 12, 2026.

Manoj Kanhiyalal Ramavat has resigned from the position of Managing Director of Gravity India Limited.

Hari Shankar Singh has resigned from the position of Executive Director of Rama Steel Tubes Limited.

Wrong Contender

Atul

Information about Bharathidasan Institute of Management located in BHEL campus

The appellant sought information related to the Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM) located in the campus of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Trichy such as whether BHEL was a collaborating partner, whether CMD attended the meeting, whether charge-sheet was issued to some officers for granting approval to BIM, etc. The PIO replied that information sought related to BIM which is a private institute and BHEL has no stake in the aforesaid institute. No MoU between BHEL and BIM is available on record. BHEL had allotted the building premises to BIM on lease basis for certain period and thereafter on license agreement basis. In accordance with the BHEL Shop and Allotment Policy, the license fee is collected as per the market rent from BIM and not on any discount or concessional rate. At present, a sum of Rs. 1.40 Crores per annum (excluding GST) is being collected as license fee from BIM. But the Respondent failed to establish how the market rent was arrived at in the absence of any open transparent competitive process. As regards details of tender floated by the BHEL for allotment of its building premises to BIM, the PIO submitted that no document related to the tender is available in their records. The appellant alleged before CIC that BHEL is one of the founders of BIM, and the registration fee for the society’s registration was paid by BHEL. The CIC noted that the Respondent has neither stated in their written submissions nor clarified during the hearing whether grant of its building premises to BIM for establishing the institute was done  through open transparent and competitive process through tender/auction conducted by BHEL. No details of any tender process have been provided by the PIO. The CIC observed that it is a matter of common understanding when government land or property is to be leased out particularly to a private institution, such allotment is ordinarily undertaken through an open, transparent and competitive (tender/ auction) process. In the present case, no material has been placed on record to demonstrate that BHEL followed such a procedure before granting its building to BIM on lease. The CIC pointed out that if land or a building is provided by a public authority to a private entity free of cost or at a heavily subsidized rate, such support may itself amount to “substantial financing”. In the absence of any tender or auction records, the method of determination of ‘market rent’ remains unclear. The CIC held that the Appellant too has not been able to substantiate his assertions or demonstrate how the body from which information is sought is owned, controlled, or substantially financed, directly or indirectly, either by BHEL or by the appropriate Government. The CIC noted that on the website of BIM it is mentioned that the institute was established in collaboration with BHEL. Holding that both sides are unable to come clear on the requirement of the RTI Act and/or public funding, the CIC directed the PIO to submit an appropriate affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper to establish the whether BIM is a public authority.

Comments

The burden to show that a body is owned, controlled or substantially financed or that a non-government organization is substantially financed directly or indirectly by the funds provided by the appropriate Government is on the applicant who seeks information which he failed to discharge in this case. For seeking information related to BIM, it has to be established that it is owned, controlled or substantially financed by BHEL.

Citation: Senthil Manian Vellaichamy v. Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd, File No: CIC/BHELD/A/2024/627929 + /657539; Date of Decision: 11.12.2025

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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