Tiruvallur District, one of  Tamil Nadu’s fastest-growing regions due to its proximity to Chennai is addressing housing shortages, groundwater depletion and persistent social issues in a unique and sustainable ways.At the helm of these initiatives is IAS M. Prathap, a 2017 batch Officer of Tamil nadu cadre,currently posted as District Collector of Tiruvallur.

Housing for Tribal Community

Recognising the bad housing and unhygienic living conditions in which tribal communities were living. A significant portion of the tribal population in the district resides on government land near water bodies, often in unhygienic and unsafe conditions.

To address this, the administration has planned and developed integrated tribal colonies. Over the past year, around 3,000 houses have been sanctioned and are being constructed in clusters ranging from 50 to 150 houses, depending on land availability

The uniqueness of this initiative is its facilities, unlike conventional housing projects, these colonies are designed in a holistic manner with internal roads, Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs), Anganwadi, health sub-centres and open spaces such as playgrounds and parks. This project is not just providing house but also improving the standard of living of citizens.

Under Prathap leadership 15 such colonies have been planned so far, with two already inaugurated and the rest under various stages of completion.

Additionally to support livelihood, women-led brick-making units have been introduced under ‘Project Vidiyal’ meaning sunshine.

Water Conservation and Groundwater Recharge

Water conservation is the another major focus area. Under the Amrit Sarovar initiative, the district has created nearly 2,000 new ponds, while older water bodies are being renovated through other schemes.

In a significant innovation, around 1,200 abandoned borewells were converted into rainwater harvesting structures before the monsoon. “Instead of abandoning dry borewells, we decided to use them to recharge groundwater” the Collector noted. “Post-monsoon studies revealed an average groundwater level rise of 5 to 7 feet,with some locations recording increases of up to 20 feet.” he shared

Tackling Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy

Upon recognising that teenage pregnancy is not merely a health issue but a serious social problem affecting a child’s overall development, the district administration identified five high-incidence blocks as a first step.Block-level task forces comprising officials from different departments were deployed to conduct awareness programmes among parents and community elders.

The second step focused on strengthening school infrastructure and promoting girls’ education to ensure they are not diverted.As a third measure, “village vigilance committees have been formed to alert authorities of potential cases” he quoted.

Upgrading Anganwadi  

Focusing on the early childhood development,in the past year 120 new Anganwadi buildings have been constructed replacing centres that were operating from rented or substandard premises. The new model of Anganwadi’s are designed as child-friendly learning spaces rather than basic service centres.

Through these initiatives, Collector M. Prathap is setting an example of inclusive governance, community empowerment and holistic development.

Peeyush Pandey has been appointed new DGP  of West Bengal. He is a 1993 batch IPS officer  of West Bengal cadre.

(We  said this on January 8 and 14, 2026 )

Manisha Patankar Mhaiskar has been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary (Home), in Maharashtra. She is a 1992 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

(We  said this on April 20,2025)

Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Panchayat Raj, has been assigned an additional charge of Secretary, Rural Development and Land Resources. He is a 1990 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre.

Pre-budget buzz predicts 8% YoY defence capex growth, emphasising AI, drones, and missiles. Whispers point out ₹93 million US deal for Javelin/Excalibur as interim, with indigenisation push.

India's Union Budget 2026-27 is likely to introduce special grants for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to address mounting urbanisation challenges like slum growth, water shortages, and waste crises. Building on the 15th Finance Commission's ₹1.21 lakh crore allocation (2021-26), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may announce an Urban Resilience Fund, targeting 500+ cities beyond metros.

Linked to reforms such as property tax digitisation and GIS mapping, these grants would likely fund smart infrastructure, sewerage networks, and green transport. Performance-based disbursals—rewarding ULBs for meeting sanitation or revenue goals—could supplant ad-hoc transfers, offsetting GST shortfalls and advancing Viksit Bharat@2047, potentially lifting ULB capacities by 30% amid 35% urban growth by 2030.

India is set to go big on semiconductors in the upcoming Budget, with the government preparing to roll out the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 by March-end. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has completed industry consultations, and inter-ministerial discussions are in the final stages. Approvals for new proposals under ISM are expected by February 2026. The next phase will broaden the mission’s scope, providing incentives for both mature and advanced process nodes, alongside separate quotas for manufacturing categories. While the incentive support could be marginally trimmed compared to ISM 1.0, the aim is to shift from confidence-building to creating a more sustainable ecosystem. Two additional proposals are likely to be cleared as part of ISM 2.0. The delay in announcing the new phase stemmed from tighter scrutiny and extended consultations, signalling a more calibrated yet ambitious semiconductor push in the upcoming fiscal.

Suvasish Das has been empaneled for holding Joint Secretary and Joint Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 2005 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

V S Senthil Kumar has been empaneled for holding Joint Secretary and Joint Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 2005 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Pankaj Gupta, CVO, Directorate of Ordnance, Kanpur, has been given premature repatriation to his parent cadre. He is a 1995 batch ITS officer.

Additional charge of CEO, Coconut Development Board (CDB) to Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, has been extended till the appointment of a regular incumbent.

The central deputation tenure of Ms Noorin Bux working as Director in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been extended for a period of two years till April 22, 2028. She is a 2010 batch IOFS officer.

Ms Nitika Pawar has been appointed as General Manager, Regional office, Chandigarh, FCI. He is a 2012 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Ms M Anitha has been appointed as Director in the office of Defence. She is a 2007 batch IRS-IT officer.

Sandeep Sudhakar Paranjape, GM, SECL, has taken over the charge as Director (Technical), Western Coalfields Limited.

A vacancy of Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) is arising on February 1, 2026 with the expiring term of incumbent Jai Prakash Dwivedi. The Government of India is yet to find his successor. Meanwhile, the Government of India has assigned an additional charge of CMD, WCL to Harish Duhan, CMD, SECL.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted its no-objection certificate (NOC) to the National Stock Exchange (NSE) for pursuing its long-awaited public listing. This marks a major regulatory milestone in NSE’s plan to go public, nearly two decades after it became India’s largest stock exchange. With SEBI’s NOC in place, NSE can now proceed to file a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the market regulator for its initial public offering (IPO). The exchange aims to list its shares to provide liquidity to existing shareholders, enhance transparency, and strengthen corporate governance. The nod also signals regulatory confidence in NSE’s compliance and operational systems after years of delays following governance-related probes.

Ms Bhawna Gulati has been appointed as Additional CIT(OSD) in the office of Pr.CCIT, Delhi region, Delhi on return from deputation.

The DoT has accepted the VRS of two ITS officer, They are- Kerundkar V,CGM,ITPC, Pune. he is a 1990 batch officer. Simultaneously, Sangeeta Asrani, GM Bengaluru LSA has also taken VRS. she is a 1999 batch officer.

 India officially surpassed China as the world’s largest rice producer, per an IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) study. This shift, announced in media, reflects developments in agricultural research, potentially involving ICAR collaborations. Predictions include lower rice prices by 2026 due to increased production.

 IIT Delhi has issued a statement addressing concerns over the “Critical Philosophy of Caste and Race” conference (held January 16-18, 2026). Issues included speaker choices and content, prompting an explanation from faculty and a fact-finding committee with independent members. Actions will follow institutional protocols. Whispers suggest funding scrutiny for humanities research/projects in IITs, with calls to investigate sources across IIT Delhi and others.

 Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor assumed the role of Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS). Air Marshal Tejinder Singh took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the South Western Air Command. Air Marshal S Shrinivas was appointed as AOC-in-C of the Training Command. These changes reflect ongoing leadership transitions to enhance operational readiness.

Hari Shankar Verma, who is presently serving as Director General (Safety), Railway Board, has been appointed as Member (Operations and Business Development), Railway Board and Ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India.

Hitendra Malhotra, who is presently serving as Member (Operations and Business Development), Railway Board, has been appointed as Director General (Safety), Railway Board.

Vivek Kumar Gupta, who is presently serving as General Manager, Western Railway, has been appointed as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board and Ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India.

Ms. Manjusha Jain, who is presently serving as Additional Member (Budget), Railway Board, has been appointed as Member (Finance), Railway Board and Ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India.

Ms. Aruna Nayar, who is presently serving as Secretary, Railway Board, has been appointed as Director General (Human Resources), Railway Board.

Sanjay Mishra, who is presently serving as Principal Executive Director (Safety), Railway Board, has been promoted to Level-16 and appointed as Additional Member (Tourism & Catering), Railway Board with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post on or after February 1, 2026. He is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.

Vikram Yadav has been selected for deputation to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) as Group General Manager (Procurement & Tendering) at Corporate Office, New Delhi, for a period of three years. He is an Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Bajrang Goyal has been selected for deputation to Delhi Development Authority (DDA) as Chief Engineer (Civil) for a period of three years. He is an Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSE) officer.

P. Ananth, who is presently serving as Additional General Manager (AGM), South Western Railway (SWR), has been delegated the administrative and financial powers of the post of General Manager, South Western Railway (SWR), till the posting of a regular incumbent or until further orders. He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

Saharsh Bajpai, who is presently serving in Central Railway (CR), has been transferred to Western Railway (WR) and posted as Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO) (CHOD). He is an Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer.

Prateek Goswami, who is presently serving as Additional General Manager (AGM), Central Railway (CR), has been delegated the Administrative and Financial powers of the post of General Manager, Central Railway (CR), till posting of a regular incumbent. He is an Indian Railway Service of Stores (IRSS) officer.

Pradeep Kumar, who is presently serving as Additional General Manager (AGM), Western Railway (WR), has been delegated the Administrative and Financial powers of the post of General Manager, Western Railway (WR), till posting of a regular incumbent or until further orders. He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), New Delhi is seeking Senior Consultant (Vaccine & Logistics) RCH Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Applications must reach latest by February 3, 2026. Details are available at http://nhsrcindia.org

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is seeking to fill the post of two Inspector (Enemy Property) in the Office of the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), Branch Office, Kolkata on deputation basis.  Applications must reach latest by February 8, 2026.

Anil Kumar Sharma has been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. He is a 1981 batch IRSME officer and retired as CME M/o Railway.

Animesh Chauhan has been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. He retired as MD & CEO, Oriental Bank of Commerce.

Bimal Julka and Shyam Nandan Prasad have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

Sanjaya Singh and Ravindra Singh Rawal have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL).

National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is seeking three Assistant Manager (Human Resource) on immediate absorption basis. Applications must reach latest by February 2, 2026.

Braithwaite and Company Limited has advertised one each post of General Managers/ Assistant General Managers for Raipur, Vishakhapatnam and Kolkata on deputation basis. Details can be availed from www.braithwaiteindia.com.

Ministry of External Affairs is seeking to engage Young Professionals for Regional Passport Office, Hyderabad on contract basis. Applications can be emailed at rpo.hyderabad@cpo.gov.in. 

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Limited has invited applications for the posts of Group General Manager/ General Manager (Finance), Corporate Office, New Delhi on deputation basis. Applications must reach latest by February 26, 2026.

World Bank is seeking to fill the Paralegal post in Washington, DC, United States. Applications must reach latest by February 11, 2026.

As many as six IPS officers have been given new assignments in West Bengal. Accordingly, Manoj Kumar Verma has been appointed as Director, Security, while Supratim Sarkar was made Commissioner, Kolkata and Vineet Kumar Goyal is now ADG, Law and Order with additional charge of ACB. Similarly, Jawed Shamim has been appointed as ADG, STAF with charge of ADG, IB; Ajey Mukund Ranade as ADG, Telecommunications and Vishal Garg was made ADG, Cyber Cell.

Three IAS officers have been given new responsibilities in Haryana. Dr Raja Shekhar Vundru has been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department and will continue to hold his charge as ACS, Transport Department, while D Suresh, Resident Commissioner. Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi, has been assigned additional charge as Principal Secretary, Fisheries Department and relieved of the responsibility of PS, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. Additionally, Shashwat Sangwan is posted as Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).

Three members of Non-State Civil Service (Non-SCS) of Maharashtra: Satyajit Devidas Bade, Sunil Shivram Bhokre and Rahul Vijay Kulkarni have been promoted as IAS against the Select List of 2024 and allocated Maharashtra cadre. 

Chirag C. Doshi has been re-appointed as Managing Director & CEO of Walchandnagar Industries Limited with effect from April 1, 2026.

Mrs. Prathima Madineni has been was appointed as an Additional Director (Executive) ane Managing Director of UVS Hospitality And Services Limited

Parth Seth has been appointed as Whole-time Director designated as Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of Orbit Exports Limited.

Aditya Jain has been appointed as an Independent Director of Orbit Exports Limited.

Vijay Aggarwal has been re-appointed as Managing Director of Him Teknoforge Limited.

Mathew Jose has been re-appointed as Managing Director of Odigma Consultancy Solutions Limited.

Ms. Jagennath Jayanthi has been re-appointed as an Independent Director of LIC Housing Finance Limited with effect from February 5, 2026.

Harish Chander Khurana has been appointed as an Additional Independent Director of iStreet Network Limited.

Shreyaan Manish Gupta has been appointed as an Additional Director designated as Whole-time Director of Gujarat Ambuja Exports Limited.

Raj Bipin Gandhi has been appointed as an Additional Non-Executive Director of Aadi Industries Limited.

Sriganesh Padmanabhan has been appointed as an Independent Director of Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited.

Anand Kumar has been re-appointed as an Independent Director of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited.

Venkatraman Vekitachalam has been appointed as a Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of Avasara Finance Limited.

Bureaucrats as Information Commissioners

Would a person who has been a part of bureaucracy all through his / her life change colours overnight? As a class who is more interested in hiding information during their entire service career, how can these individuals who become the torch bearers of transparency play any significant role in transparency? They are status - quoist, more concerned about their own perks and comforts. They may be competent, but you cannot expect them to bring a revolution, or even a huge change. With a fossilised mind, the orders are going to be nothing less than a caricature of what a decent order should be. LONG LIVE INDIA

Sushmita

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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