IPS Swarn Prabhat is a 2017 Batch Officer of the Bihar cadre and is currently posted as Superintendent of Police in Motihari District, East Champaran,Bihar. His mission for the district focuses on creating a safe and empowered society through strict enforcement, smart policing, and community engagement.

To achieve this, there has been a strong crackdown on absconding criminals, efforts to ensure women’s safety through awareness, implementation of smart tech-driven policing, and the dismantling of drug and liquor networks.

First on the list is Mahakurkī Abhiyan, a grand seizure campaign. Under this, a large-scale property seizure drive was conducted in three phases targeting criminals:

·       Phase I (17 December): 210 properties seized

·       Phase II (21 March): 149 properties seized

·       Phase III (22 March): 42 properties seized

“In total, 401 properties linked to criminals were seized during this campaign”Prabhat stated.

Additionally, rewards were announced for wanted criminals absconding in heinous cases such as murder, robbery, liquor smuggling etc.“In the first phase, rewards worth ₹32.65 lakh were announced, and rewards worth ₹14.30 lakh were declared in the second phase”he added. A total of ₹46.95 lakh was announced for 329 criminals.

To safeguard women and raise awareness,a focused campaign was launched addressing issues such as sexual offences (POCSO), rape and domestic violence. Under this:

·       Awareness sessions were conducted in villages and panchayats

·       Jeevika women’s groups were trained and involved in outreach

·       Sessions were held at panchayat buildings at the ward level to sensitize women and girls

·       A special unit called Kesariya Shakti Bal was formed to visit colleges and institutions, raising awareness among students

·       Women working in orchestras were also educated about their rights and protection mechanisms

Apart from this, to dismantle drug and liquor networks,intensive operations were launched in key hotspots. Prabhat’s efforts has also been recognised with the prestigious Chief Minister’s Prohibition Medal — awarded twice for exemplary performance.“A comprehensive list of 10,000 liquor mafia members prepared  including absconders, those on bail, and active offenders”he explained 

To incorporate tech-enabled policing, the district also launched a dedicated police website, mobile app, and a ‘Naka Alert’ application for real-time monitoring.

Prabhat’s multifaceted approach to policing is setting a new standard for law  enforcement.

Amrit Lal Meena, Chief Secretary of Bihar, is scheduled to retire on the last day of August but he is likely to get an extension. A 1989-batch IAS officer, Meena was appointed as the Chief Secretary in Bihar’s Nitish Kumar government on September 1, 2024. Then, Meena was serving on deputation with the central government where he held the position of Coal Secretary. However, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called him back from deputation and entrusted him with the command of Bihar’s bureaucracy. He is scheduled to retire in August 2025, however, informed sources suggest that with only a few months remaining for the Bihar Assembly elections, CM Nitish may opt to retain his trusted officer by granting him an extension instead of appointing a new Chief Secretary at such a crucial time.

13 IG level posts, out of sanctioned 69, and 24 DIG rank posts, out of sanctioned 117, are lying vacant in BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB and ITBP as on June 23.

Rajiv Kumar Arora could be the next Financial Advisor, Defence Services in the Ministry of Defence. He is a 1989 batch IDAS officer and presently posted as Special CGDA at the HQ.

It seems the Government is in a mood to appoint 4-6 Information Commissioners (ICs). It is said that a process in this direction is at the initial stage.  Presently, the Commission has CIC and two ICs against the 10 posts, which could be reduced.

The tenure of Matam Venkata Rao, Managing Director & CEO of Central Bank of India, is coming to an end on July 31, 2025.

Kalyan Kumar will be succeeding Matam Venkata Rao as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of Central Bank of India.

Niranjan Bhalerao, ED (Fin), Indian Oil Corporation Limited, has been selected for the post of Director (Finance), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on July 5, 2025. As many as nine persons were interviewed for the same.

Rajesh Singh, ED, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), is in the race for the post of Director (Marketing), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

Mrs Reshma Hemrajani, GGM, NHPC is in the race for the post of Director (Finance), NHPC Limited.

Guru Dutt, GM, NHPC Limited is in the race for the post of Director (Finance), NHPC Limited.

In Andhra Pradesh, senior-most IAS officer Yerra Srilakshmi, (1988 batch), has been waiting for a posting for over a year since the Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government came to power. She was the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Special Chief Secretary under the previous administration. The other officer is Muralidhar Reddy, a 2006 batch officer who served as the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Medical Services & Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC), and Chief Executive Officer of the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), before being shunted out. Both are awaiting a posting since 20 June last year. Sources said that there is no probe -vigilance, departmental or otherwise - against these officials, for the government to justify keeping them attached to the GAD. Srilakshmi has been a prominent figure in Andhra Pradesh’s bureaucratic and political circles during the previous government.

Sonam Yangdol, Additional Director General in the Directorate General of Defence Estates at Delhi Cantt, 1994 batch IDES officer, has been appointed as Principal Director, Defence Estates, Northern Command, Jammu.

Ms Aastha Lakshmi has been appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) for an initial period of three years. She is a 2008 batch IRS (IT) officer.

Shashi Shankar, DIGF, Regional Office, Ranchi, MoEF&CC, is assigned the additional work of DIGF, Regional Office, Bhubaneswar, in addition to his existing assignments. He is a 2009 batch IFoS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

Amutha Pandiyarajan has been appointed to the Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) and posted as Controller of Accounts, Ministry of Mines, Kolkata upon her promotion. She is a 2008 batch ICAS officer.

Rajarshi Dwivedy has been appointed as Chief Commissioner, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Surat. Rajarshi is an Indian Revenue Service (IT) officer.

Manisha Chandra has been appointed as Chief Commissioner, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Udaipur. Manisha is an Indian Revenue Service (IT) officer.

Anand Kumar Kedia has been appointed as Chief Commissioner, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), (TDS), Delhi. He is an Indian Revenue Service (IT) officer.

Nine IAS officers in MP have been assigned new responsibilities in MP. Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajoura has been posted as ACS, Narmada Valley Development Department and assigned additional charge of Vice Chairman, Narmada Valley Development Authority & MD, Narmada Basin Project Company Limited & OSD-cum-Member (Rehabilitation), Narmada Valley Development Authority, Bhopal and ACS, Water Resources Department, while Sanjay Dubey is now ACS, Urban Development and Housing Department and ACS, Science and Technology Department (Additional Charge). Similarly, Neeraj Mandloi will be posted as ACS, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh with addl charge of ACS, Energy Department and ACS, Public Service Management Department; Sanjay Kumar Shukla as ACS, General Administration Department with addl charge of ACS (Coordination), CS Office and ACS, Planning, Economic and Statistics Dept and ACS, Aviation  and Chairman, Employees Selection Board; D P Ahuja as PS, Cooperatives with addl charge of PS, Fisheries Welfare and Fisheries Development and PS, Ayush; M Selvendran as Secretary, Personnel, GAD; Nishant warwade as Secretary, Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development; Prabal Sipaha as Commissioner, Higher Education and Mrs Rakhi Sahay was posted as Secretary, MP Public Service Commission.

Three vacancies for the post of Senior Scientific Assistant (Aeronautical) in Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence have been advertised. Application must reach latest by July 17, 2025.

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) has advertised for Programme Officer, Gadchiroli. Applications must reach on or before August 1, 2025.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is seeking Public Speaking/ Fundraiser for Chennai and Hyderabad, India.

Two vacancies for the post of Senior Scientific Assistant (Chemical) in Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence have been advertised. Application must reach latest by  July 17, 2025.

Nominations have been invited for UNESCO Prize 2025 for Global Citizenship Education. Applications must reach latest by August 18, 2025.

Six posts out of nine Non-Official Independent Directors (NODs) in Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have been lying vacant. Three more vacancies are likely to arise by June 2026.

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has advertised for the appointment to four posts of Assistant Technical Examiner (4 posts) and one post each for Technical Examiner (Civil) and Assistant Technical Examiner (Horticulture) on deputation basis.

CAPF (ACs) Examination will be held on August 3, 2025. The General Ability and Intelligence (Objective)  subject examination will be held from 10 am to 12 noon followed by General Studies, Essay & Comprehension (Conventional)  exam from 2 pm onwards.

Prahlad Singh Dangwal has been appointed Director in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on regular basis. Prior to this, he was posted as Deputy Secretary.

Mrs. Rajni Mahajan has been reappointed as Managing Director of Amanaya Ventures Limited.

Manan Mahajan has been reappointed as Whole-Time Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Amanaya Ventures Limited.

Anandbhai Jadala has been appointed as Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent) of Bisil Plast Limited.

K Shashi Chandra has been reappointed as Independent Director of SSPDL Limited with effect from August 12, 2025.

P Muralikrishna has been reappointed as Independent Director of SSPDL Limited with effect from September 9, 2025.

Mukesh Kumar Jain has been appointed as Additional Director (Independent) of MBL Infrastructure Limited.

Nainar Authinathan has been appointed as Non-Executive Independent Director of Galada Finance Limited.

Ms. Shobha Bharti has resigned from the position of Independent Director of Anita Cotton Limited.

Ms. Shobha Bharti has resigned from the position of Independent Director of Yuranus Infrastructure Limited.

Kaushal Dharmeshbhai Patel has resigned from the position of Non-Executive Independent Director of Bisil Plast Limited.

“The Emergency: Never ever, the draconian period should return”

Let us pause and ponder about the Emergency, illegally clamped in 1975 without the consent of competent authority. Post emergency, the recorded statements of individuals revealed that even the union cabinet was not taken into confidence before declaring the  emergency. It was autocracy all the way.

Put honestly, as a fledgling civil servant, I would shudder to recall and re-live the horrors of that draconian phase. The civil servants must be held accountable for the atrocities committed during the period. The gutless bureaucrats, when asked to bend, chose to prostrate before the political class to demonstrate their proximity to the power that be. They were largely responsible for misleading the political supremo surrounded by the coterie of  power-seeking,extra-constitutional authorities. The emergency gaslighted the civil servants with impunity. The bureaucrats behaved like excellent subordinates but bad advisors. There was no freedom of press with authoritarianism galore. People talked in hushed tones fearing detentions or arrests.

The fundamental rights were suspended without approval of the competent authority.Hundreds of people including the government employees, private persons, journalists and politicians and so on, started disappearing suddenly. They either went underground  or were taken into custody on slightest suspicions with no clue about their well being.

Fortunately,the self-assumed power of the political Executive for unilaterally imposing internal emergency,was subsequently withdrawn by the newly elected successor dispensation by carrying out appropriate,deterrent legislative measures.

A K Saxena ( Former civil servant)

Verification of BPL status of RTI applicant

The appellant sought data on customer satisfaction ratings for SBI services from its inception to the current date and asked for the categorization of ratings by type of service and other related information. The PIO provided certain information and clarified before the CIC that data sought on certain points of the RTI application was not available in the desired format. The CIC upheld the order of the CIC. The CIC brought it to the notice of the respondent that in a series of matters filed by the same appellant against a different public authority i.e IDPL (File nos. CIC/IDPCL/A/2024/612395 and CIC/IDPCL/A/2024/604666) an order was passed to veracity of the appellant’s BPL status. The CIC advised the respondent to exercise due caution with respect to the future RTI application received from the appellant relying on his BPL status.

Comments

There is no specific section of the RTI Act, 2005 or rule which prescribes whether the verification of the BPL status should be done, if the PIO has doubts regarding the same. If there are any suspicions, the PIO could ask for the BPL certificate to verify the status of the RTI applicant.

Citation: Rachhpal Singh Saini v. State Bank of India, CIC/SBIND/A/2024/602064; Date of Decision: 22.05.2025

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

Dr. Suresh Mehrotra

Editor-in-Chief
mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com
suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com

Rakesh Srivastava IAS (Retd.)

Group Editor & Country Head

Sapna Mehrotra (Magazine)

Chief Executive Officer 
mehrotra.sapna@gmail.com

Yogesh Joshi

Editor (Magazine)
a.editor.whispers@gmail.com

(Cell) : +91-9718708267

Sunil Salve

Editor (Digital)
sswhispers18@gmail.com
(Cell) : +91-9893512559

Prakash Shrivastava

News Editor (Digital)
prakashshrivastava1000@gmail.com

Harsha Bhatnagar

Associate Editor
harshabhatnagar@gmail.com

Rajendra Gupta

Business Head
rajendragupta.witc@gmail.com

(Cell) +919893033311

Barkha soni
General Manager (Marketing)
adsalewhispers@gmail.com
(Cell) +91-9171566711

Manish Kohli
News and Marketing Coordinator
manishwhispers@gmail.com
(Cell) +91-9131149117

whispersinthecorridors.com

A Unit of Arushi News Network
Corporate Office: E-19, 45 Bungalows T.T Nagar, 
Bhopal (M.P) India.
Phone & Tele Fax: +91-755-4221719

Dear surfers looking to an increased demand for latest news on your favourite website i.e. (https://www.whispersinthecorridors.com) we are nowadays updating it as and when the developments take place. Keep reading & wish you a happy browsing.

Share your information with suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com & mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com.

Breaking news of bureaucrats in India at Whispers in the Corridors

Stay updated with the latest Indian government news and exclusive insights into the world of bureaucracy at Whispers in the Corridors. Get real-time IAS news updates and IPS news updates, covering key transfers, promotions, and policy decisions that shape the nation. Our platform delivers credible and timely information on government affairs, administrative changes, and political developments, ensuring you never miss an important update. Whether you are a civil services aspirant, government official, or policy enthusiast, Whispers in the Corridors is your go-to source for accurate and up-to-date government news.

Shipping and Delivery  |   Privacy Policy   |  Cancellation and Refund