Baba Balak Nath Temple in Himachal Pradesh, that hosts millions of devotees every year gets a modern revamp. Leading this transformation is IAS Gandharva Rathore, a 2016 batch officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre and currently posted as Deputy Commissioner of Hamirpur. The series of initiatives focuses on holistic development of the temple by enhancing the experience of devotees, promoting transparency in administration, empowering local communities and ensuring environmentally sustainable development in and around the site.

Temple services, now online

At the heart of this initiative is the complete upgradation of the temple's official website into a one-stop digital platform. Devotees can now access live darshan, book all temple facilities including lodging and community halls online and check information on rituals, festivals and temple timings and even receive blessed prasad at their doorstep. Responding to a long-standing demand, the live darshan facility also enables elderly devotees, persons with disabilities and those unable to travel to remain connected with the temple virtually.

Designed with an improved user interface and mobile friendly access, the platform has made temple services more accessible to devotees across India and abroad.

A transparent temple system

The reforms extend beyond digitisation to strengthen governance and accountability. Online booking of all nine temple sarais and community halls has replaced manual processes, ensuring transparent and fair allotment while improving revenue generation. Strengthening financial accountability, a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for donation management has also been introduced for counting, recording and deposit of temple offerings. Furthermore, precious metals like gold and silver can no longer be stored on the premises and must be moved to bank lockers within 7 days and deposited into government Gold Schemes. Bank representatives must also be physically present in the counting hall to verify the cash simultaneously, ensuring all verified money is safely deposited on the very same day.

The expanded CCTV surveillance network further enhances security, crowd management and on ground transparency. 

Creating livelihoods, empowering communities

The initiative extends beyond temple management to create meaningful livelihood opportunities. In collaboration with India Post, temple prasad is now prepared and packaged by local Self Help Groups (SHGs) before being delivered to devotees across the country.A dedicated HIMIRA outlet within the temple premises provides SHGs with a platform to market locally made products while turmeric grown in Hamirpur is being processed into temple tilak and organic sindoor, promoting entrepreneurship and creating additional income for local communities.

Better infrastructure & green governance

Alongside governance reforms, the District Administration is improving pilgrim infrastructure through the construction of modern sanitation facilities, wider pathways and better public amenities. Looking ahead, keeping in mind sustainability- a sewage treatment plant (STP) and a biogas plant has been integrated into the temple's long-term vision ensuring scientific treatment of wastewater,effective waste management, production of clean energy from biodegradable waste and environmentally sustainable temple operations.

By integrating digital services, strengthening governance, improving infrastructure and creating livelihood opportunities for Self Help Groups, IAS Gandharva Rathore is transforming the temple into a model institution that upholds spiritual traditions while embracing modern standards of public service and good governance.

IAS Pari Bishnoi, District Collector of the Pakyong district is the youngest collector in the state of Sikkim. Born in 1996, Bishnoi is a 2020 batch officer of the Sikkim Cadre.

The tenure of Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan, a 1987-batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, ends on August 30, 2026. He will be completing two years as the country’s top bureaucrat.

Whispers are growing louder in the corridors of power regarding two senior, elite IAS officers who have abruptly vanished from the central govt's immediate radar. They were looked upon as the ones who have been on the fast track for administrative promotions and handpicked for critical nationwide mandates. Their sudden exclusion has sent shockwaves through the civil services. Insiders hint that brewing controversies, wrapped in unresolved procedural questions, forced the administration to quietly pivot away.

Was it an unexpected intelligence brief, or did shifting political alignments render them into overnight liabilities? While their names remain strictly guarded secrets, their absence from recent crucial briefings speaks volumes. For individuals once deemed indispensable for the state’s key strategic shifts, this tactical sidelining suggests a deeper institutional reset.

The much-awaited list of independent monitors of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is likely to be released only this month.

PESB recommended the name of Rekha Pandey, General Manager(HR/CSR), Coal India Limited, for the post of Director (Personnel), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (Schedule B).

Sanjiv Narain Mathur, presently serving as Additional Member (Budget), Railway Board, has been entrusted with the additional charge of the post of Secretary, Railway Board. He is an Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Railways for an extension in deputation tenure for Vinay Kumar, IRPS (2014) for a period of two years from November 13, 2026. His deputation with the Haryana state government was to end on November 13, 2026

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of Department of Personnel and Training for inter-cadre deputation of Ms.  Hephsiba   Rani Korlapati (IAS KN:2011) from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh for a period of three years.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Department of Revenue for extension of deputation tenure of Namoijam Kheda Varta Singh, IRS (IT:2008) to the Government of Manipur for a period of one year beyond May 16, 2026, in relaxation of the policy.

The Delhi Police is set to significantly strengthen its Police Control Room (PCR) fleet with the upcoming induction of 50 new vehicles. This addition will propel the total number of PCR vans operating across the national capital to well over 900. Sources indicate that the induction process has entered its final stages, with the fresh fleet expected to officially join the force within the next two months. By deploying more PCR vans on the roads, the department aims to substantially enhance its emergency response capabilities.

Furthermore, this fleet expansion is part of a broader, major revamp aimed at modernizing the Delhi Police infrastructure.

Four Senior Accounts Officers have been shifted. Those affected in the reshuffle are – Ravi Shankar Jha who was shifted from CBIC, Vapi to CBIC, Jamnagar, while Shalabh Kumar Jain has been transferred to H&UA, Chandigarh. Further, Dhiraj Negi, who was earlier shifted to H&UA, Chandigarh, has been retained at PFMS, Dehradun and Ritu Adhikari will be posted at CBDT, Dehradun. 

To strengthen India’s macroeconomic indicators, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Tuesday released the country’s first trial Index of Services Production (ISP) for 19 sub-sectors, providing, for the first time, a monthly measure of short-term activity in the formal services sector. The inaugural index, with 2024-25 as the base year, covers April 2026 and accounts for nearly 60 per cent of India’s services sector.The overall Index of Services Production will be introduced at a later stage after assessing the stability of the trial series and expanding coverage.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has advertised the post of Director General-Software Technology Parks of India. Details can be availed from www.meity.gov.in; www.stpi.in; www.persmin.gov.in; and www.ncs.gov.in  and applications can be sent latest by August 25, 2026. 

Last date to apply for the post of PO(ES) in the Directorate of Planning and Coordination, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence on deputation basis has been extended. The revised date is August 5, 2026. 

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has invited applications for the posts of Consultant in various Passport Offices. Applications can be sent at aopsp4@mea.gov.in latest by July 20, 2026. 

The Ministry of External Affairs is hiring Consultant for Emigration Policy and Welfare (EP&W) division. Applications can be sent to aopfsec@mea.gov.in latest by July 31, 2026. 

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has advertised two posts of Young Professionals under JICA- funded Project Capacity Enhancement for Effective Forest Management. Applications  can be sent at email id: rtdiv-mefcc@gov.in latest by July 26, 2026. 

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited has advertised the posts of Assistant General Manager/ Joint General Manager/ Deputy General Manager-Finance for Corporate office on deputation basis. Details can be availed from http:// www.dfccil.com/Careers and applications must reach attest by August 7, 2026. 

Last date to apply for various posts under Administration of UT of Ladakh has been extended. The revised date is July 24, 2026. 

The World Bank is hiring WBG Pioneer-Governance Intern for Washington, DC, United States. Applications must reach latest by August 12, 2026.

Ramendra Kumar Tewari, presently serving as Additional Member (Railway Electrification), Railway Board, has been entrusted with the additional charge of the post of Additional Member (Planning), Railway Board. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Nagaraj Tadinada, presently serving as Director-II / Traction Rolling Stock / Centre of Excellence, Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET), has been transferred to Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and posted as Director-I/TRS/COE, RDSO, at Secunderabad. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Kallakuri NVSL Ramesh, presently serving as Director-II / Traction Rolling Stock / Centre of Excellence, Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET), has been transferred to Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and posted as Director-II/TRS/COE, RDSO, at Secunderabad. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Satish Kumar Chilamkurti, presently serving as Director / Signal & Telecommunication / Centre of Excellence, Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET), has been transferred to Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and posted as Director/S&T/COE, RDSO, at Secunderabad. He is an Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE) officer.

Karamveer Prasad, presently serving as Deputy Director / Signal & Telecommunication / Centre of Excellence, Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET), has been transferred to Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and posted as Deputy Director/S&T-I/COE, RDSO, at Secunderabad. He is an Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE) officer.

Pratyus Sinha has been transferred to Railway Board and posted as Director, Civil Engineering (Bridges & Structures)-II. He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer. 

Rajiv Gandhi, formerly serving as Principal Executive Director (RRB), Railway Board, has been selected for deputation to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) as General Manager (Human Resources with effect from May 25, 2026. He is an Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer.

The Tamil Nadu government transferred two IAS officers. Those transferred include H. Krishnanunni (IAS TN: 2012), Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) who has been posted as Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services.

Likewise, S.P. Amrith (IAS TN: 2013), Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has been posted as Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation.

As many as 28 IPS officers have been reshuffled in W Bengal and assigned new responsibilities. Natarajan Ramesh Babu has been appointed as DG and IGP of CID and will continue to hold the additional charge of DG, Correctional Services, while Supratim Sarkar has been transferred from the post of ADG, CID/IB to ADG, Telecommunications.

Similarly, K Jayaraman has been moved from ADG, North Bengal Region to the post of Director, Directorate of Economic Offences; Tripurari Atharv, Police Commissioner of Bidhannagar, has been posted as ADG, Traffic and Road Safety.; Anand Kumar will now serve as ADG and IGP, Western Zone; Vishal Garg has been assigned the responsibility of ADG and IGP, IB; Praveen Kumar Tripathi will be posted as IG, Home Guards; Sukesh Kumar Jain as IGP, North Bengal Region; Sudhir Kumar Neelakantham as IG, STF; Rathod Amitkumar Bharat as Police Commissioner, Bidhannagar (DIG rank); David Ivan Lepcha as DIG, Raiganj Range; VSR Ananthnag will continue as Joint CP (Administration), Kolkata, and will also hold the additional charge of Joint CP, STF and Dinesh Kumar has been posted as DIG, Barasat Range, with additional charge of DIG, STF.

Further, Pradeep Kumar Yadav will now serve as DC, Cyber, Kolkata Police; Arindam Sarkar as DC, Eastern Division, Kolkata; Ms Sparsh Nilangika as DC, Enforcement Branch (EB), Kolkata. Manish Joshi, DC Traffic (Kolkata), has been transferred to the post of SP, Cooch Behar; Amlan Kusum Ghosh will continue as DC North, Howrah Police Commissionerate; Yeilwad Shrikant Jagannathrao has been appointed as SP, Darjeeling; Ms Pratiksha Jharkharia as DC, 1st Battalion, KAP; Jaspreet Singh as SP, CCW; Manish Joshi as SP, Cooch Behar; Sudhir Kumar Neelakantham as IG, STF; Siddharth Dhapola SP, STF and Rajiv Kumar joins as DC, STF, Kolkata.

REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI), for the establishment of a ground-mounted, grid-connected 1 MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant at the institute's campus in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

The MoA was signed by Jaspal Singh Kushwaha, General Manager, RECPDCL, and Dr. M Sundaramari, Registrar, GRI, in the presence of Prof. Dr. N. Panchanatham, Vice-Chancellor, GRI, and Ms Thara Ramesh, Head of Department & CPM, REC Regional Office, Chennai. Senior officials and representatives from both organizations were also present during the signing ceremony.

The proposed 1 MW solar power plant will meet the entire electricity requirement of Gandhigram Rural Institute, enabling the institution to transition to 100% green energy consumption. In addition to providing clean and sustainable power, the project will serve as a demonstration facility showcasing various solar photovoltaic technologies, thereby creating valuable opportunities for practical learning, research, and innovation for students, scholars, and faculty members.

The initiative reflects RECPDCL's continued commitment to promoting renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting India's transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon future. The project is also aligned with the Government of India's renewable energy goals and reinforces RECPDCL's efforts to accelerate the adoption of clean energy solutions across the country.

As many as 18 IPS officers have been shifted in Rajasthan in a major reshuffle. Anil Paliwal of 1994 batch, currently posted as DGP, Training & Traffic, Jaipur, has been shifted as DG & Commandant General, Home Guards, Jaipur, while Mrs Malini Agarwal, also of 1994 batch, will take charge as Director General of Police, Traffic, Jaipur.
Likewise, Sharat Kaviraj is shifted as IGP, Crime Branch, Jaipur; Rajendra Singh as Inspector General of Police  (IGP), Vigilance, Jaipur; Anshuman Bhomia as Police Commissioner, Jodhpur; Dr Ravi as IGP, Ajmer Range, Ajmer; Kailash Chandra Bishnoi as  IGP, Planning, Modernization & Welfare, Rajasthan, Jaipur and Dr Preeti Chandra is now IGP, Bharatpur Range, Bharatpur.

Further, Pradeep Mohan Sharma was shifted as Additional Police Commissioner, Traffic & Administration, Jaipur; Rajesh Kumar Kanwat as Superintendent of Police (SP), Balotra; Narendra Singh Meena as Commandant, 10th Battalion, RAC, Bikaner; Mrs P D Nitya as SP, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jodhpur; Rameshas SP, CB (Human Rights and Weaker Sections), Police Headquarters, Jaipur; B Aditya as SP,, Hanumangarh; Pankaj Yadav as SP,, Jodhpur Rural; Ajey Singh Rathore as Commandant, 7th Battalion, RAC, Bharatpur; Vishal Jangid as SP, Pratapgarh and Mrs Anushtha Kalia has been transferred as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters), Police Commissionerate, Jaipur.

Alok Bansidhar Shriram has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of DCM Shriram Fine Chemicals Limited.

Nitin Atroley has been appointed as Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent Director) of DCM Shriram Fine Chemicals Limited.

Senthil Kumar Bellan has been appointed as Additional Director (Executive), designated as Managing Director of Axentra Corp Limited

Satyaki Ghosh has been appointed as Whole-Time Director, designated as Chief Executive Officer, of Raymond Lifestyle Limited.

Ritesh Tiwari has been appointed as Executive Director (Additional), designated as Chairman & Managing Director of Net Pix Shorts Digital Media Limited.

Ms Alka Tiwari has been appointed as Executive Director (Additional), designated as Whole-Time Director of Net Pix Shorts Digital Media Limited.

Aryaman Kothari has been appointed as Additional Director and Whole-Time Director of Viji Finance Limited.

Ms Sakshi Chourasiya has been re-appointed as Non-Executive Independent Director of Viji Finance Limited.

C Chiranjeeviraj has been re-appointed as Non-Executive Independent Director of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited.

Ms. Jansi Patel has been appointed as Additional Director (Executive) of Laddu Gopal Online Services Limited.

Ms. Gunjan Jyotishbhai Leuva has been appointed as Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent Woman Director) of Laddu Gopal Online Services Limited.

Nazish Furniturewala has resigned as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Net Pix Shorts Digital Media Limited.

Kanhaiya Lal Berwal has ceased to be Non-Executive Independent Director of Choice International Limited upon completion of his tenure.

N Alamelu has resigned as Independent Director of Veranda Learning Solutions Limited.


 

Naveen Gupta has resigned as Independent Director of Recode Studios Limited.

Congress leader likely to join BJP  

That's the good thing... There are lot of waste in their party. Then the party will be clean and good.

Vishar

Only BJP

Slowly entire congress leaders will join.

Rajesh

Opportunists throw themselves into dump washing machine

Eagerly waiting for all opportunists with no ideology, morals values & principles to throw themselves into the garbage dump washing machine!

Wuch

FAA’s order directing disclosure set aside by CIC

The appellant sought for the rank, name and marks secured by candidates for Labour Enforcement Officer separately in RT and interview and the total aggregate rank wise. On appeal, the FAA directed to furnish appropriate reply on this point. On second appeal, after the perusal of the FAA’s order, the CIC observed that the directions for disclosure of information were passed without application of mind, although the appellant had sought personal details including educational qualification of other candidates. The FAA’s order was set aside by the CIC regarding providing the educational details of candidates. It was held that personal details/ information of other candidates is held by the UPSC in a fiduciary relationship and is exempted under section 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act, 2025.

Comments

Information about the educational qualification or the marks scored by the other candidates is often an issue raised in an application filed under the RTI Act. Understanding privacy and respecting the personal information is a responsibility entrusted to the PIO.

Citation: Rahul Kumar Pathak v. Union Public Service Commission, Second Appeal No. CIC/UPSCM/A/2024/650667; Date of Decision: 25.08.2025

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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