Uttar Pradesh's bureaucracy is under severe stress after a heated face-off with Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. On January 18, 2026, police halted his chariot procession for a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, sparking scuffles, detentions, and charges of humiliation from the seer, who launched a dharna and hunger strike. The Mela authority's notice questioning his title—amid a Supreme Court dispute—has fueled protests, opposition attacks from Akhilesh Yadav, and a human rights complaint. Top IAS officers are discreetly weighing de-escalation options like inquiries or conciliatory gestures to defuse tensions, protect the Yogi Adityanath government from religious backlash, and maintain administrative immunity ahead of political scrutiny, even as Deputy CM Keshav Maurya signals internal divisions by advocating saintly respect.

I S Chahal who is retiring on January 31  has been named as chairman of the Mumbai police Housing Township Project with MoS rank. He is 1989 batch IAS officer.

Ms. Sudha Ramachandran, CIT, Mumbai, has resigned from the Indian Revenue Service of Income Tax.

Chief Justice in the Kolkata High Court has been appointed. The post of Chief Justice in Rajasthan High Court is still lying vacant.

Pankaj Joshi, former Chief Secretary of Gujarat has taken over as the Chairperson of the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC). He is former 1989 batch IAS officer.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) gears up for major announcements at India Energy Week 2026 in Goa, starting January 27. Key deals include a MoU between Oil India Limited (OIL), Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), and TotalEnergies to evaluate opportunities in the LNG market, boosting India's gas infrastructure.Another pivotal MoU links NRL and TotalEnergies for a 200 KTPA Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) project at Paradip, Odisha, advancing net-zero aviation goals. ONGC will ink two shipbuilding contracts with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines for Very Large Ethane Carriers, enhancing petrochemical feedstock supply via specialized vessels. These MoUs and contracts underscore MoPNG's push for energy security, green fuels, and global partnerships during the four-day event.

The inter cadre deputation tenure of Askshay Labroo from Tripura to AGMUT cadre in Jammu & Kashmir segment has been extended for a period of one year beyond February 17, 2026. He is a 2018 batch IAS officer of Tripura cadre.

As many as 12 IPS officers of AGMUT cadre have been shifted to different segments in the cadre. Accordingly, Mangesh Kashyap has been shifted to Arunachal Pradesh, while Rajiv Ranjan Singh was posted to Chandigarh and Prashant Priya Gautam is shifted to Jammu & Kashmir segment. Similarly, Sandhya Swamy, Achin Garg have been transferred to Arunahchal Pradesh; Deependera Kumar Singh, Suma Madda, Sunil, Rahul Vikram and Neeraj Tokas to A&NI and Ptel Nirav Kumar and Ishan Bhardwaj were shifted to Lakshadweep.

DPIIT-recognized startups reached 200,000 plus by December 2025, with projections for more launches in 2026. Focus on health, wellness, food, pet care, fashion. Combined valuation of unicorns: $350B plus.

Sony Pictures Networks India (India-based) restructured leadership team after strategic review, including new roles for Phaneesh Murthy (Advisor), Harmeet Bhatia (Chief Revenue Officer), Opal Perry (Independent Director).

Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has advertised the post of Legal Consultant on contractual basis. Applications must reach latest by January 31, 2026.

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

Last date to apply for the post of Chief Administrative Officer in Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM), Faridabad has been extended. The revised date is February 16, 2026.

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.

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has invited applications for the post of Executive Member in National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). Applications must reach latest by March 9, 2026.

Akhil Kumar Shukla has been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. He is a 1986 batch IPS officer and at the time of retirement served as Director General of Police, Tripura.

Akhilesh Kumar has been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. He is a 1981 batch CES officer and retired as Special Director General, CPWD.

Akhilesh Kumar has been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. He is a 1981 batch CES officer and retired as Special Director General, CPWD.

Arvind Gupta and Sunil Kumar Gupta have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Balmer Lawrie & Co Ltd.

Madan Lal Meena and Srinivasan Rangarajan have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Bangiya Gramin Vikash Bank (BGV Bank).

Chandrasekhar Venupillai, presently Head of Delhi Zone, CBI, has been awarded the President's Police Medal for distinguished service. He is a 2002 batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre.

Venkata Subba Reddy Chinnakondu, Head of SC Zone, New Delhi, CBI, has been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. He is a 2007 batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre

The Government of India has released a list of Army personnel awarded for their gallantry and distinguished service on the occasion of Republic Day 2026 is enclosed. Following documents are attached:

As many as five Army officers including Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM; Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan AVSM NM; Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar AVSM NM; Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin AVSM VSM and Vice Admiral Atul Anand AVSM VSM have been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

As many as five Army officers including Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM; Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan AVSM NM; Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar AVSM NM; Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin AVSM VSM and Vice Admiral Atul Anand AVSM VSM have been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

As many as eight Army officers including Vice Admiral Ay Sardesai VSM; Surg Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai SM VSM; Vice Admiral Rajat Kapoor; Vice Admiral Srinivas Kudaravalli; Vice Admiral Susheel Menon VSM; Vice Admiral Anil Jaggi; Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna VSM and Surg Rear Admiral Vivek Hande VSM.

IPS Manish Kumar is a 2021 batch officer of the Rajasthan cadre and currently posted as Superintendent of Police in Dungarpur-a predominantly tribal district.Kumar has launched a unique policing model to tackle growing and dangerous trends among local youth.

 “One of the major problems I noticed was delinquency in the youth. Tribal youngsters, especially those between 16 and 20, were getting attracted towards gangster culture” he says. Expensive superbikes, aggressive styling and social media fame through projecting themselves as local “dons” were becoming symbols of power and coolness, even among teenagers from BPL families.

To combat this, Kumar launched Operation Sanskar. “They were losing their sanskars,  their values and harming their parents, society and the general public. So we named it Operation Sanskar” he explains. The initiative was designed to work on two fronts: firm legal action and a strategic attack on the social media ecosystem that was glorifying crime.

The unique feature of the initiative is that the police force started making reels and short form videos featuring the rogue youth and shaming such behaviour. Those who flaunted knives and were acting all don-like were now seen saying sorry, reciting bhajans and themselves asking youth not to do such things “When we started, our Instagram page had only around 500 followers. We began posting reels to name and shame this behaviour to break the cycle and show that this is not cool and people will laugh at you,” he says. Many of these reels went viral and were shared throughout Rajasthan setting a new benchmark of modern policing.

On the ground, the pattern was equally alarming. “Even when their families were earning hand to mouth, they were forcing their parents to buy bikes worth ₹2-3 lakh on EMI.” These bikes soon turned into entry passes into gangs. “They would roam in large numbers, fight with people, stop girls on the road, and create fear.”

But the real fuel promoting such youngsters came from social media validation . “First they would get a bike, then get into a gang, then post gangster-type reels showing knives, stunts, loud music and say, ‘I can do anything.’ When these videos got views and comments, they became more motivated” Kumar quoted. It created a vicious cycle, where digital applause translated into real-world crimes.

Under Operation Sanskar, Dungarpur Police booked several offenders under the Arms Act, seized nearly 500 superbikes and took visible action against those flaunting weapons and threatening the public.

The impact was evident, such crimes declined and community support also poured in. “People started supporting us, sending content and the trend itself began to break” he notes. Investigation’s found “When we checked the phones of the accused in a murder case, all of them had gang-style accounts called ‘Don’ and ‘Shooter’. This showed us clearly that today’s youth is being influenced not by newspapers, but by reels. So we targeted reels” he says.

IPS Manish Kumar’s Operation Sanskar has emerged as an example of how modern policing is fighting crime in new age ways.

The CBDT has accepted the VR of three Asstt Commissioners from IRS(C&IT). They are- V. Sanjay, K. Vinod Kumar and Vijay Singh Meena. All the three officers have taken VRS before their scheduled retirement. According to information, Meena was scheduled to retire in August 2029 while Vinod Kumar; superannuation was due in July this year and Sanjay has also called it a day two years before. He was to retire on December 31, 2027.

Grapevine  has it that Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita is being appointed  Chairman, Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission.  He is expected to succeed Kumar Sanjay Krishna whose term has ended.

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas's selection committee is yet to declare a name for the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) lying vacant for a long time.  

Union Budget preparation is in full swing. All officers are busy in giving finishing touches. Among the team two senior IAS Officers are from the North Eastern states. V.Vualnam, Expenditure Secretary and Mosses Chala, DPE Secretary are also  in the team. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth budget this time. 

RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J is driving key banking sector reforms in India, advocating a shift from periodic to continuous supervision amid digital risks. In a January 2026 speech at the College of Supervisors Conference, he urged banks to prioritize year-round operational resilience, data integrity, and ecosystem oversight over quarter-end compliance, warning that traditional balance sheet checks fall short against cyber threats and AI-driven vulnerabilities. His push addresses rising digital frauds, third-party dependencies, and model risks, calling for technology-neutral, risk-based rules with clear accountability—even when outsourcing to fintechs. Recent emphases include governance ownership, fraud pattern-sharing, and granular district-level credit planning for inclusion. These reforms aim to fortify stability without stifling growth, building on ECL provisioning and LCR guidelines, positioning India's banks for Viksit Bharat resilience. 

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has sought applications till February 10 for the post of Director (Engineering, Research & Development), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Last date for receiving nominations for the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (JS level), Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, on deputation basis, has been extended till February 21.

Nominations are invited up to February 13 from officers of DS/Director level for appointment to the post of Chief Executive Officer (DS/Director Level) in Central Mental Health Authority (CMHA), New Delhi, on deputation basis under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

As many as five Army officers including Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM; Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan AVSM NM; Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar AVSM NM; Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin AVSM VSM and Vice Admiral Atul Anand AVSM VSM have been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

As many as eight Army officers including Vice Admiral Ay Sardesai VSM; Surg Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai SM VSM; Vice Admiral Rajat Kapoor; Vice Admiral Srinivas Kudaravalli; Vice Admiral Susheel Menon VSM; Vice Admiral Anil Jaggi; Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna VSM and Surg Rear Admiral Vivek Hande VSM.

Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A have been awarded Shaurya Chakra. 

As many as five Army officers including Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM; Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan AVSM NM; Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar AVSM NM; Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin AVSM VSM and Vice Admiral Atul Anand AVSM VSM have been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

The Government of India has released a list of Army personnel awarded for their gallantry and distinguished service on the occasion of Republic Day 2026 is enclosed. Following documents are attached:

Mahesh Dayani has been re-designated from Executive Director to Managing Director & CEO of SBFC Finance Limited.

Ms Nishi Brahmkhatri has been appointed as an Additional Director of Bansal Roofing Products Limited.

Mohamed Al Altaf Furniturewala has been appointed as an Additional Independent Director of India Homes Limited with effect from February 5, 2026.

Rajendra Prasad has been appointed as an Additional Non-Executive Director of Johnson Pharmacare Limited.

Subrata Bhattacharya has been appointed as an Additional Director (Independent) of Shyam Metalics and Energy Limited.

Hardik Dineshbhai Trivedi has been appointed as Executive Director of Elegant Floriculture & Agrotech India Limited.

Ms. Siya Seth has resigned from the position of Director of Bonlon Industries Limited.

Aseem Dhru has ceased to be the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD& CEO) of SBFC Finance Limited.

Monil Vora has resigned from the position of Independent Director of Elegant Floriculture & Agrotech India Limited.

B Ramesh Babu has been re-appointed as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Karur Vysya Bank Limited with effect from July 29, 2026

Suresh Katra has been appointed as an Additional Director (Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer) of Indo Borax & Chemicals Limited.
 

Retirement makes a major personnel shift 

The retirement of around 300 IAS officers in 2026 marks a major personnel shift in India’s bureaucracy. It underscores the importance of strategic succession planning, timely recruitment, and administrative preparedness to ensure governance continuity and public service delivery remain strong despite turnover at senior levels. 

Sreedhar Madanala 

Panacea for all wrong

It is being suggested as if IAS is the panacea for all wrongs. In fact ,IAS officers with their huge egos are responsible for various ills affecting growth of the country despite Modi being there. 

Rajesh

Is Srinivas the most active Chief Secretary?

Yes. Definitely, he is the most active CS ! He has always been on his toes and committed remarkable deliverables at all his postings! More power to him. 

Shikha 

Do we need highly modernised railway coaches

Recently, there was a post in which a senior railway officer said that only those who can properly use modern gadgets and maintain the facility provided in Vande Bharat coaches, should travel in it. He is absolutely correct. Majority of us, lack basic civic sense and do not know how to handle  properly , equipment fitted in coaches. So the railways should not spend money for such luxurious coaches. What we need is simple, clean, well designed  and comfortable , air conditioned coaches with clean toilets ( with water). More trains with such simple coaches should be their priority.

S. Gopal

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

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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