Congress struggles to keep up with BJP after Pahalgam attack

After the Pahalgam attack and ‘Operation Sindoor’, BJP has launched a big national campaign, putting the Congress party under pressure. Congress showed support for the Modi government and the armed forces and avoided raising questions about intelligence failures at that time. Now some Congress leaders worry the party is once again letting the BJP take the lead on national security as Congress’ demand to call a special parliament session on the issue has not been supported even by INDIA coalition parties. PM Modi visited Adampur Air Force base, and stressed that India will not tolerate terrorism. As the government boosts its message, the BJP has started Tiranga Yatras, leaving Congress trying to catch up and find a clear path forward.

Ashish Gupta, DG (Rules & Manuals) in Uttar Pradesh, has sought a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) from the Indian Police Service (IPS). Gupta, who belongs to a 1989 batch IPS officer, will be retired from the service with effect from June 10.

Dr Ajay Kumar, former Secretary, Ministry of Defence, has taken over the charge as Chairman, Union Public Service Commission. He is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre.

Anurag Bhushan, presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Sweden. He is a 1995 batch IFS officer.

One senior Minister of the Modi government has three Advisors on govt exchequer. As per sources, one Advisor looks after his image building, second takes care of publicity in his home state and the third is for other works. Among them two are retired govt officers while the third Advisor is a private person. A question in the power of corridors is arising upon these appointments. They said the PMO has two advisors, whereas the Minister, who is holding only one ministry, has three Advisors. They were also surprised whether prior permission was taken from the PMO by the concerned Minister? It is said that the particular minister is very conscious about his personal publicity and image.

Some ministries are facing tough times with the behaviour of Advisors. An Advisor in one ministry recently sent a proposal to take the press party of the vernacular press to Tamil Nadu which was reportedly turned down. Sources asked when the TN CM is running an anti-Hindi campaign why he proposed a flare up proposal? They term it an anti- establishment proposal. They also surprised how he is continuing as Advisor?

Surendra Paul Singh, Commissioner, Bangalore City (ICDs), Bangalore Customs Zone, has been assigned additional charge of the post of ADG, DG Systems & Data Management, Bengaluru Zonal Unit. He is an IRS(C&IT) officer.

Lalramsanga Sailo has been accorded proforma promotion to the grade of Joint Commissioner of Income Tax.

Rajarshi Dasgupta has been appointed as Joint Commissioner in the office of Competent Authority and Administrator, Kolkata on deputation basis.

Two IPS officers have been given new postings in Punjab. Harman Deep Singh Hans has been transferred as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), SAS Nagar, while Sirivenmela is posted as SP City, SAS Nagar.

Mrs Ashima Brar, Commissioner & Secretary, Cooperation Department and MD, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd., will also hold the charge of Commissioner & Secretary, Excise & Taxation, in addition to her present duties. She is a 2004 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre.

Sachin Ashok Bhalode, who is presently posted as Deputy Inspector General-cum-Chief Security Commissioner (DIG-cum-CSC), Northern Railway, has been transferred to Railway Board and appointed as Deputy Inspector General (Co-ordination), Railway Board. He is an Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS) officer.

Anand Bhatia, Additional Member (Civil Engineering), Railway Board, has been assigned the additional charge of Additional Member (Land & Amenities), Railway Board, for a period of three months. He has also been given the additional charge of Additional Member (Works), Railway Board, in addition to his own, up to June 1, 2025. He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer.

Rakesh Ranjan, who is presently serving as Senior Divisional Engineer (Coordination), Varanasi Division, North Eastern Railway (NER), has been selected for deputation to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) as Chief Project Manager (Civil) at Patna for a period of five years. He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer.

Rabindra Nath Mishra, presently working as Executive Director (Finance)/C&PPP, Railway Board, has been given additional charge of the post of Director (Finance), Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), for a period of one year with effect from April 1, 2025. He is an Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer.

Ms. Shalini Darbari, presently working as Principal Financial Adviser (PFA), Western Railway (WR), has been entrusted with the additional charge of the post of Director (Finance), Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC), for a period of one year with effect from March 1, 2025. She is an Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer.

G Ramwsh Kumar Reddy, who is presently working as Chief Engineer/TP, South Central Railway (SCR), has been posted as Chief Project Director/SD (CPD/SD) on the Railway itself. He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer.

Syed Sarfaraj Ahmad, who is presently serving as Deputy Inspector General-cum-Chief Security Commissioner (DIG-cum-CSC) on South Western Railway (SWR), has been transferred to Northern Railway (NR) and posted as DIG-cum-CSC. He is an Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS) officer.

S Louis Amuthan, who is presently serving as Deputy Inspector General-cum-Chief Security Commissioner (DIG-cum-CSC) on East Central Railway (ECR), has been transferred to South Western Railway (SWR) and posted as DIG-cum-CSC. He is an Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS) officer.

Jag Ram Meena, who is serving on West Central Railway (WCR), has been posted as Chief Electrical Distribution Engineer (CEDE) on the Railway itself. He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Lakhan Lal Meena, who is serving on North Western Railway (NWR), has been posted as Chief Electrical Signals Engineer (CESE) on the Railway itself. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Ganesh, who is serving on Southern Railway (SR), has been posted as Principal Chief Signal Officer (PCSO) on the Railway itself. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Satyaveer Singh Yadav, who is serving on Northern Railway (NR), has been posted as Principal Chief Electrical Engineer (Projects) on the Railway itself. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Vinay Kumar Garg, who is serving at Research Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO), has been posted as Principal Executive Director (PED), SE on RDSO itself. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

The tenure of Shri Sunil Kumar Tiwari, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), Mumbai Central (MMCT), Western Railway (WR), has been extended by one year. He is an Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSS) officer.

The sacred Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra, encompassing Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, commenced on April 30, with the Uttarakhand government implementing comprehensive measures to ensure a safe and seamless pilgrimage experience for devotees. The first few weeks of the Yatra have seen a tremendous surge of pilgrims to the Dhams. Sachin Kurve, Secretary Tourism, Uttarakhand, reviewed the preparations for the Yatra and issued instructions for a hassle-free Yatra. He also gave instructions to ensure a memorable experience for the visitors.

This year a Hybrid Model of Pilgrim Registration has been adopted: Online and On-spot. Pilgrims can register online via registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, while on-spot counters are set up in Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun's Vikas Nagar. Yatra Registration facility is also available through the Tourist Care App and by sending a WhatsApp message on the official number 8394833833.

In a bid to promote environmental conservation, the state has initiated the 'Green Chardham Yatra' campaign. Government has tied up with various agencies to minimize the use of single use plastic, collection and disposal of plastic. Besides, in a significant move to prioritize pilgrim health, the state has inaugurated new hospitals in Kedarnath and Badrinath. 25 specialist doctors have been deployed along the yatra routes and 154 ambulances, including 17 Advanced Life Support units, are operational to handle any emergencies. Helicopter ambulances, managed by AIIMS Rishikesh, are also available.

To further facilitate pilgrims undertaking the Chardham Yatra, the government is providing helicopter services to Kedarnath. These services offer a swift and comfortable alternative to the 16-kilometer trek from Gaurikund, making the sacred temple more accessible, especially for senior citizens and those with health concerns. Kurve mentioned that some unscrupulous elements are spreading fake news of the Yatra being temporarily closed. He warned the pilgrims to be wary of such elements including websites and social media.

Prakash Chand Saboo has been appointed as Managing Director & CEO, State Bank Operations Support Services Private Limited in State Bank of India (SBI).

Rajesh Kumar has been appointed as Deputy Managing Director (Retail-Agri & SME), Corporate Centre Mumbai in State Bank of India (SBI).

Balaji Kumar Singhsamanta has been appointed as Chief General Manager, Ahmedabad Circle in State Bank of India (SBI).

Ratna Teja Dinakara Akella has been appointed as Chief General Manager, Bhubaneswar Circle in State Bank of India (SBI).

Prabhas Bose has been appointed as Chief General Manager, Guwahati Circle in State Bank of India (SBI).

Sahadevan Radhakrishnan has been appointed as Chief General Manager, Hyderabad Circle in State Bank of India (SBI).

Anurag Joshi has been appointed as Chief General Manager, Patna Circle in State Bank of India (SBI).

Bangarraju Venkata Kunaparaju has been appointed as Chief General Manager, Thiruvananthapuram  Circle in State Bank of India (SBI).

Sanjai V S has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (FI), Corporate Centre Mumbai, in State Bank of India (SBI).

Amritesh Mohan has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (GBSSU), Corporate Centre, New Delhi in State Bank of India (SBI).

Hemant Karaulia has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (Resources), Corporate Centre Mumbai in State Bank of India (SBI).

Madan L S has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (Third Party Management), Corporate Centre Mumbai, in State Bank of India (SBI).

Rajeev Srivastava has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (Executive Support System) Global IT Centre Navi Mumbai, in State Bank of India (SBI).

Shailendra Singh Taragi has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (IT-Core & Special Projects), Global IT Centre Navi Mumbai, in State Bank of India (SBI).

Vamsidhar K has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (International Banking), Corporate Centre Mumbai, in State Bank of India (SBI).

Navaduri DSV Nageswara Rao has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (Operational Process Re-engineering) Corproate Centre Mumbai, State Bank of India (SBI).

Ponnambalam Murugan has been appointed as Chief General Manager (Human Resources), Corporate Centre Mumbai, in State Bank of India (SBI).

Arun Pandey has been appointed as Chief General Manager, Risk Management Department, Corporate Centre Mumbai in State Bank of India (SBI).

Sham Lal Garg has been appointed as Chief General Manager, (Compliance) Corporate Centre Mumbai, in State Bank of India (SBI).

Kaduhole Shantharam Pai has been appointed as Chief General Manager (IA-I), Internal Audit Department, Corporate Centre Hyderabad in State Bank of India (SBI).

Debasis Patri has been appointed as Chief General Manager (IA-II), Internal Audit Department, Corporate Centre Hyderabad  in State Bank of India (SBI).

Debasis Patri has been appointed as Chief General Manager (IA-II), Internal Audit Department, Corporate Centre Hyderabad  in State Bank of India (SBI).

Dinesh Pruthi has been appointed as Chief General Manager, Corporate Centre Mumbai in State Bank of India (SBI).

From the resilient farmlands of India to the global corridors of influence in Monaco, Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) made its mark at the IFA Annual Conference 2025, held from May 12 to 14. Representing India on this prestigious platform, Dr S P Mohanty, Managing Director, led the HURL delegation with a powerful message—Bharat’s future lies in sustainable partnerships, secure nutrients, and farmer-first innovation. A Dialogue That Crossed Borders, A Commitment That Stayed Rooted.As food security, sustainability, and supply chain resilience take center stage in global policy conversations, HURL’s presence in Monaco was more than symbolic—it was strategic. The opening day set the tone with high-level discussions involving global fertilizer leaders including Midgulf, OCP, RNZ, and Quest. These engagements were anchored in one goal: to unlock long-term synergies in the Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) segment and secure nutrient independence for India’s farmers. Each dialogue carried the weight of purpose. Every handshake echoed HURL’s commitment to transform international cooperation into reliable, timely, and efficient access to critical inputs for Indian agriculture. “India's agricultural vision is ambitious, inclusive, and global in scale. And HURL is proud to be its trusted implementer on the ground and its strong voice on the world stage,” shared Dr. Mohanty. IFA 2025: Where Innovation Meets Intention. This year’s IFA conference was more than a meeting of minds—it was a blueprint for the future. Focused on “Transforming the Global Agri-Food System,” the conference spotlighted urgent global trends: Trillion-dollar green growth opportunities; Smart, tech-integrated nutrient solutions; Sustainability as a primary driver; Calls for resilient and diversified supply chains. In the midst of this dynamic global agenda, HURL stood out—not just as a participant, but as a leader from the Global South. With a deep understanding of India’s agricultural realities and a clear vision for scalable innovation, HURL brought India’s grassroots perspective to a global table.From Monaco to the Margins of Bharat; While world leaders deliberated over policy shifts, HURL brought to the forefront the voice of millions of Indian farmers—for whom soil health is national wealth and nutrient access is life-sustaining. Whether it was exploring joint ventures, discussing phosphatic raw material security, or aligning on tech-driven fertilizer innovation, HURL’s intent was crystal clear: every global partnership must deliver tangible benefits to the Indian kisaan.

As many as 40 IAS officers of AGMUT cadre have been transferred and posted to different places. Ashish Chandra Verma and Anil Kumar Singh have been posted to J&K, while Sudhir Kumar is shifted to Mizoram and Dilraj Kaur, Pandurang K Pole and Vijay Kumar Bidhuri were transferred to Delhi. Similarly, Chanchal Yadav and Sachin Shinde have been posted to Andaman & Nicobar Islands; Vinod P Kavle to Mizoram; Ramesh Verma to Delhi; Krishna Mohan Uppu, Smitha R and Ravi Prakash to Puducherry; Naveen S L to J&K; A Nedunchezhiyan, K K Singh and Arun Kumar Mishra to Delhi; Sanjiv M Gadkar, Yetindra M Maralkar and Shakeel Ul Rehman Rather to Goa; Pradeep Kumar to Chandigarh; Rahul Sharma to Ladakh; Suneel Anchipaka and Soumya Saurabh to Delhi; Choudhary Mohammad Yasin and Vikranth Raja to Puducherry; Shashwat Saurabh and Talo Protam to Delhi; S R Suse to J&K; S G Sukhadev and Arjun Mohan to Goa; Sheha Gitte, Asvin Chandru A and Yashaswini B to Arunachal Pradesh; Shreya Singhal, Mahima Madan and Ananth Dwivedi to J&K; Nitish Rajora and Rakesh Kumar to Ladakh and Soma S A Kotaru was moved to Lakshadweep.

As many as 26 IPS officers of AGMUT cadre have been transferred and posted to different places. B Shankar Jaiswal has been shifted to Lakshadweep, while Keshav Ram Chaurasia was moved to Goa and Omvir Singh Bishnoi, Raj Kumar Singh and Dheeraj Kumar were posted to Delhi. Similarly, Pushpendra Kumar was transferred to Chandigarh; Umesh Kumar to Delhi; Ashok Malik to Mizoram; Sameer Sharma to J&K; Devesh Kumar Mahla and Surendra Choudhary to Arunachal Pradesh; Apoorva  Gupta to Andaman & Nicobar; Sharad Bhaskar Darade, Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Mahesh Kumar Barnwal, Rohit Rajbir Singh, Anant Mittal, Sandeep Gupta, Narra Chaitanya and Abhimanyu Poswal to Delhi; AK Lal and Nithya Radhakrishnan to Puducherry; Shivendu Bhushan and Anurag Dwivedi to Arunachal Pradesh; Rishi Kumar to J&K and K M Priyanka has been shifted to Chandigarh.

Amal Kumar Chakrabarty, Chief Financial Officer CFO, BHEL, has been selected for the post of Director (Finance), Troop Comforts Limited at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on May 16, 2025. As many as seven persons were interviewed for the same.

The post of ‘Special Police Commissioner, Mumbai Police’ at Additional Director General of Police, has been downgraded to the rank of Special Inspector General of Police. The post has been re-designated as ‘Joint Commissioner of Police, Intelligence’ in Maharashtra.

Davuluri Saharsh Rao has been re-appointed as Whole-Time Director, designated as Vice Chairman and Managing Director, of Neuland Laboratories Limited.

Mandar P Joshi has been re-appointed as Whole-Time Director and Chief Executive Officer of IVP Limited.

Ch Krishna Murthy has been re-appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of Vishnu Chemicals Limited with effect from January 2, 2026.

Dr. Sita Vanka has been re-appointed as Independent Director of Vishnu Chemicals Limited.

Abhishek V Gami, Managing Director of Rapicut Carbides Limited, has been appointed as Chairman of the company.

Vijaykrishnan Venkatesan has been re-appointed as Managing Director of Kennametal India Limited, effective September 17, 2025.

Vishvajitsinh Dilipsinh Jadeja has been appointed as Managing Director of Yash Trading and Finance Limited.

Mrs. Aakansha Vaid has been appointed as Independent Director of Yash Trading and Finance Limited.

Amarendra Mohapatra has been appointed as Independent Director of Yash Trading and Finance Limited.

Shitalbhai Mohanbhai Patel has been appointed as Independent Director of Yash Trading and Finance Limited.

Akhil Nair has been appointed as Independent Director of Yash Trading and Finance Limited.

Dr. Ritu Niraj Anand has been re-appointed as Independent Director of Yash Trading and Finance Limited.

Dr. Vikram Jit Singh Chhatwal has been re-appointed as Chairman cum Whole-Time Director of Medi Assist Healthcare Services Limited, effective March 1, 2026.

Satish V N Gidugu has been re-appointed as Whole-Time Director and Chief Executive Officer of Medi Assist Healthcare Services Limited, effective March 1, 2026.

Dr. Ritu Niraj Anand has been re-appointed as Independent Director of Medi Assist Healthcare Services Limited.

Dr. S D Premkumar has been appointed as Part-Time Non-Official (Independent) Director on the Board of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Rakesh Bhawsar has been appointed as Part-Time Non-Official (Independent) Director on the Board of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Ms. Alka Chandrakar has been appointed as Non-Official Independent Director on the Board of MSTC Limited.

Chandrashekhar Baghel has been appointed as Non-Official Independent Director on the Board of MSTC Limited.

Sudhir Mehta has been appointed as Part-Time Non-Official Independent Director on the Board of Power Finance Corporation Limited.

Gaurav Meena has been re-appointed as Independent Director of Prime Fresh Limited.

Bhaskar Bhattachrya has been appointed as a Part-Time Non-Official Director on the Board of Power Finance Corporation Limited.

Srinivasu Uggirala has been appointed as Additional Director, designated as Independent Director, on the Board of COSYN Limited.

Dhananjay D Kanitkar has resigned from the office of Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Rapicut Carbides Limited.

She is an excellent officer

Ms Sweta, who was appointed as Deputy Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, is an excellent IAS officer.

Bijay Kuamr Palai

Priority list if multiple dependents are eligible for the compassionate appointment

The appellant sought for the certified true copy of the rules and guidelines governing the matters connected to the compassionate appointment in the MES. The appellant asked for the eligibility criteria for a person to be considered a "dependent" of the deceased employee of the MES. Further, the appellant sought to know if "multiple dependents" of the deceased employee of the MES are eligible for the compassionate appointment, how is the "priority” created for them? He sought for the priority list in "chronological order.” The CIC observed that no reply was given to the Appellant on his RTI application which shows mala fide intent of the PIO in obstructing the information under the RTI Act. The CIC directed the PIO to show-cause why maximum penalty should not be imposed on him for contravening the provisions of the RTI Act and for disregarding the CIC’s notice of hearing by not appearing before it.

Comments

The guidelines regarding deciding the order of preference of taking up cases of multiple dependents should be made available on the website of the organization.

Citation: Marge Lombi v. Military Engineer Services, CIC/MESER/A/2024/600673; Date of Decision: 30.04.2025.

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