IAS Akansha Konde,a 2018-batch officer of Uttarakhand cadre and currently posted as Collector of Bageshwar is driving an impactful grassroot initiative by promoting medicinal plant cultivation as a steady source of income for local people.

Using medicinal plants as a double edged weapon, boosting livelihoods while also supporting better health.“The idea is to use what we already have and make it work better for people” she quoted.

Recognising the region’s natural potential, farmers are being encouraged to grow crops like Kapur Kachri and Kutki which are naturally suited to the region. Kutki, known for its medicinal properties especially for liver health is both economically and therapeutically significant.Additionally a large scale plantation plan of nearly 11 lakh Kutki plants has been envisioned aiming to create sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Under her leadership, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have also been strengthened with some of these groups earning close to Rs 55 lakh annually with medicinal farming.

Beyond this,Bageshwar’s traditional identity as a tea growing region is also being leveraged for economic development.

IAS Akansha Konde’s unique approach is transforming one of India's remotest district into a hub of opportunities and growth.

As many as 11 officers of 1992 batch of Indian Police Service (IPS) are enjoying police power as Head of Police Force in 11 States in the country. They are:

Rupin Sharma, Nagaland

Harmeet Singh, Assam

Idashisha Nongrang, Meghalaya

Arun Dev Gautam,  Chhattisgarh

Satish Golcha, Delhi

Nalin Prabha, Jammu Kashmir

Gaurav Yadav,  Punjab

Dr K Laxmi Narayan Rao, Gujarat

Harish Kumar Gupta, Andhra Pradesh

Ajay Singhal, Haryana

Siddh Nath Gupta, West Bengal

If sources are to be believed the Central Government is likely to skip the latest installment of DA to Central Govt Employees and DR to Pensioners due in January 2026. Earlier the govt used to announce this in the month of March but this time it has not yet been announced which has fuelled the suspicion. The reason is said to be financial strain due to the West Asia crisis. Sources point out that during the Covid 19 the government had not provided DA, DR relief.

Out of total 16 IAS officers of 1995 batch empanelled, only five officers have been appointed as Secretaries in Government of India.

As many as 137 officers/officials in the Directorate of Enforcement are shifted and posted to different stations. Click the link below for a complete list: https://whispersinthecorridors.com/pdf/ed1.pdf

As many as 84 officers in the grade of Deputy Director (DD) and Assistant Director (AD) in the Directorate of Enforcement are shifted and posted to different stations. Click the link below for a complete list: https://whispersinthecorridors.com/pdf/ed2.pdf

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared proposals worth approximately Rs 2.38 lakh crore (~$28 billion) to augment capabilities across the three services.

All indicators now point toward Starlink’s imminent entry into India’s satellite internet market. Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia recently met SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell, Starlink’s Global Business VP Lauren Dreyer, and the India leadership team to discuss the company’s plans. In a major development, the Meghalaya government has partnered with Starlink India to pilot satellite-based internet services in its remote hill regions an area where traditional telecom infrastructure faces significant challenges due to the terrain. The initiative aims to boost connectivity for essential sectors like education, healthcare, and disaster management. If successful, this pilot could pave the way for nationwide expansion, supporting India’s push for universal digital inclusion and resilient broadband access in hard-to-reach areas.

Surajit Mandol, Director (Finance), Telecommunications Consultants (India) Limited, appears to be only a Board level contender for the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Telecommunications Consultants (India) Limited.

 Disputes and grievances over transfers were flagged across PSBs (including Union Bank of India, PNB, and others) and some private banks, involving repeated transfers, humanitarian concerns, and policy objections. Conciliation proceedings were noted in recent union updates.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) issued a directive to PSBs on Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) payments to officers in Scale IV and above (and SBI Deputy MDs) under the revised 2024 scheme. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) issued a strong objection, demanding it be kept in abeyance pending consultations to protect industrial harmony. This remained a hot topic with no resolution reported till the date.

Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain has taken over command as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command, succeeding Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth.

2026 features more than 8 major events (e.g., AI Summit Feb 19-20, Quad Summit, India-Africa Summit, India-Japan Annual Summit, India-Russia Summit in Moscow, India-Nordic Summit in Norway, Global Big Cats Summit). Trend: Multipolar balancing via tech/climate forums, reducing reliance on G20/UN.

Non-AC, modern trains with 11 General + 8 Sleeper coaches, pantry, etc. operational as of March 18, 2026. Recorded 100% occupancy in FY 2025-26. Full list includes routes like Lokmanya Tilak–Saharsa, Gaya–Delhi, Darbhanga–Anand Vihar, etc. (Southern Railway runs 14). Features of the train are Vande Bharat-like aesthetics, jerk-free couplers, CCTV, improved toilets/lighting/charging, fire suppression, etc. Minister highlighted acceptance for affordable travel.

Sarbesh Kumar Das and Usha Chandrasekhar have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Indian Ports Association (IPA). 

Apurva Varma and Bharat Prasad Singh have been empanelled for appointment as IEMs. Both are from Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC).

Prabhat Ranjan Acharya has been empanelled for appointment as IEM. He is a 1985 batch IA&AS officer and retired as DG/Director (Finance) BEL.

Pradeep Kumar has been empanelled for appointment as IEM. He is a 1981 batch IRSSE officer and retired as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board.

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has advertised the post of General Manager (S&T), Bhopal on deputation basis. Applications must reach latest by April 28, 2026.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is seeking to fill the post of Director, LHMC & Associated Hospitals. Applications must reach latest by April 7, 2026.

Post of Central Project Advisor (CPA) under Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) of Ministry Of Education has been advertised. Applications must reach latest by April 4, 2026.

Department of Higher Education has advertised the post of Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Madhya Pradesh. Applications must reach latest by April 25, 2026.

Four officers of Indian Forest Service (IFoS) have been given new responsibilities in MP. Samita Rajoura, has been entrusted with the responsibility of Chief Wildlife Warden, while Vibhash Thakur is posted as Chief Executive Officer, Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Good Governance, on deputation. Similarly, Archana Shukla will join as PCCF for Research and Extension Headquarters and Kamolika Mohanta was made APCCF and Managing Director, State Minor Forest Produce Federation. Besides, Subharanjan Sen, PCCF and the Head of the Forest Force, will be relieved of his duties as the Chief Wildlife Warden.

World Bank is seeking to fill the post of Senior Administrative Assistant, Paris, France. Applications must reach latest by April 13, 2026.

Satish Kumar, who is presently working as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board, has been entrusted with additional charge of the post of Member (Operations & Business Development), Railway Board.

 

Brijesh Kumar Mishra, who is presently working as Chief Freight Transportation Manager (CFTM), Eastern Railway (ER), has been appointed on deputation as Group General Manager (E8) in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) for a period of three years. He is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.

Santosh Kumar Tiwary, who is presently working as Principal, Multi-Disciplinary Zonal Training Institute (MDZTI), Bhuli, Eastern Railway (ER), has been appointed on deputation as Joint General Manager (Operations & Business Development) in Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) for a period of three years. He is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.

Mahesh Kumar Roy, who is presently working in East Central Railway (ECR), has been transferred and posted as Chairman, Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), Muzaffarpur. He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

Ms Surabhi Malik has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. She is a 2012 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre.

Ms Nelli Harika has been promoted to the Senior Time Scale (STS) of Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS). She is a 2021 batch ICAS officer.

Two ICAS officers have been promoted to the Junior Time Scale (JTS) of ICAS and posted as Assistant Controller of Accounts following promotion. Accordingly, Kedar Nath is posted with the Department of Commerce and Ministry of Textile, New Delhi, while Laxmi Kant Meena will join the Office of CGA, New Delhi.

Ananda Bantia has been appointed as IFA at Director level in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Delhi. He is a 2012 batch IRAS officer.

Six IAS officers in Nagaland have been given new responsibilities. Kuko Mero has been relieved of additional charge of Managing Director, NBDA and retained Secretary, Home Department, while Vineet Kumar was made Additional Secretary, Finance & IDAN and Dharam Raj will join as DC, Tuensang. Similarly, Sara S Jamir is posted as Secretary, Science & Technology Department; Lithrongla T Rutsa as Additional Secretary, P&AR Dept with additional charge of MD, NBDA and K Mhathung Tsanglao is now DC, Wokha.

Rajesh Kumar has assumed charge as Director (Finance) at REC Limited for a period of five years. Rajesh Kumar is a seasoned finance professional who brings over 30 years of extensive experience in the public sector, specifically in the power and infrastructure financing domains.

India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo, is set to revise its fuel charge following the government’s announcement of a 25% increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices. The airline said the sharp hike comes amid continued volatility in global oil markets due to the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, which has squeezed global fuel supplies. In its statement, IndiGo thanked the government for cushioning the impact on consumers by implementing the ATF price rise in a partial and staggered manner. The carrier added that it is currently assessing the impact of the revised ATF rate effective from April 1, 2026 on its operating costs and will soon announce an updated fuel charge. With ATF accounting for nearly 40% of an airline’s operating expenses, the move is expected to push fares higher across the domestic aviation sector in the coming days.

Gainsight, global customer success/Agentic retention platform company with US/UK/European operations, announced a “triple hire” to boost post-acquisition growth and scaling:

Paul Sheppard as CFO (previously CFO/head of Corporate Development at Amplify; prior CFO roles at Entangled Group, Invoke, ConnectEDU; strategy/COO experience at McGraw-Hill).

Chirayu Amin has been appointed as Executive Chairman of Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited. Meanwhile, he has ceased to hold office as Chief Executive Officer of the company upon completion of his tenure.

Pranav Amin has been re-appointed as Managing Director of Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited. 

Rajkumar Baheti has been appointed as Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Navneet Kumar Sureka has been re-appointed as Managing Director of Mauria Udyog Limited.

Ramakanth V Akula has assumed office as Managing Director of The Waterbase Limited.

Chola Varma Alluri has assumed charge as Chief Executive Officer of The Waterbase Limited.

Rahul Bhatnagar has been appointed as Chairman (Non-Executive Independent Director) of Tasty Bite Eatables Limited.

Burra Vamsi Rama Mohan has assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited with effect from April 1, 2026.

Manish Synghal has been appointed as Additional Non-Executive Independent Director of East West Freight Carriers Limited.

Rajkumar Baheti has been appointed as Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Mohit Jain has resigned from the position of Independent Director of Helloji Holidays Limited.

Pradeep Poddar has resigned from the position of Chairman (Non-Executive Independent Director) of Tasty Bite Eatables Limited.

1000 Rs pensions

Trust that the new secretary of pensions and pensioners welfare will be kind enough to appreciate the plight of EPF 95 pensioners whose minimum pension is a princely amount of Rs 1000 per month and about 65 lakh pensioners are struggling to get a decent increase in their monthly EPF 95 pension. Unless some miracle happens by an increase in the monthly pension, a famous saying can be aptly applied here' secretaries may occupy this chair and after a few years get transferred but the Rs 1000 pension will go on forever.'

K Srinivasa Rao

Gvt never gives pays Commission arrears

Center never gives pay commission arrears. Instead they will adjust. Delaying the process for a long time. Hence after getting confirmation only we can. Up to time please don't post. Government didn't mention fitment factors yet by the committee. After 2028 they will till bit changes. One can expect the salary must have raised up to Rs 5000 only. That too is not confirmed.

Mahindran D

Personal hearing before the first appellate authority

Information in respect of election in Sri Ram CGHS Itd. was sought. The CIC noted that the Complainant has not served a copy of the instant Complaint upon the Respondent. The CIC observed that serving a copy of documents (including Complaint, Second Appeal and Written submissions) to the opposite party is fundamental requirement for due process in legal proceedings and crucial for fairness, transparency, and also in the interest of expeditious response from the concerned Public Authority. The CIC issued an advisory u/s 25 (5) of the RTI Act to the Respondent Public Authority to provide a due opportunity of being heard to the parties while adjudicating the First Appeal in view of principle of natural justice.

Comments

There is no specific provision in the RTI Act, 2005 which provides for a compulsory personal hearing before the first appellate authority. However, it would be incumbent upon the FAA to grant a personal hearing to the appellant if it has been sought. The principles of natural justice should be followed.

Citation: S K T Sherman v. O/o the Registrar Cooperative Societies, File No: CIC/REGCS/C/2024/624441; Date of Decision: 18.08.2025

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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