IAS Buveneswari S. is a 2015 Batch Officer of Maharashtra cadre and is currently posted as district Collector of Washim, Maharashtra. Her Vision for the district is to empower farmers Economically, socially and technologically. 

To achieve this, chia seed farming, a high-value superfood has been introduced among the farmers.“Washim has suitable soil and climate for chia and requires less water than wheat and chickpea”.In addition to this its highly profitable, has low cost of production and is easy to adopt.

“With a cost-to-benefit ratio of 1:4.81, chia cultivation significantly outperforms traditional crops like wheat (1:2.28) and chickpea (1:2.39) meaning for every ₹1 spent, the farmer earns ₹4.81 (Highest)” For successful adoption and to encourage farmers, under Buveneswari leadership a series of initiatives are being led including workshops, field demonstrations, farmer field schools, buyer-seller meets, technical guidance booklets(in local language), post-harvest management support, organic certification and much more.

“Chia farming started on 162.5 hectares in 2022-23. It grew to 898 hectares in 2023-24, which is 5.5 times more and in 2024-25,it reached 3,608 hectares, growing 3.9 times. Now chia is the third main Rabi crop after gram and wheat."

Before Intervention,farmers had to travel Neemuch(MP), to sell their produce. Today, local markets and APMCs (Agricultural Produce Market Committees ) actively trade chia in washim, ensuring fair prices for farmers. "In the last season alone, 4,500 quintals of chia were sold, generating a turnover of ₹6.3 crore, with organic chia selling at ₹14,000 per quintal."

The chia seed initiative in Washim district has transformed farming by preventing farmer suicides,doubling incomes and putting washim on the map for national and international markets.Previously Only clever farmers used to treat agriculture as business, now all.

“Washim is the only district in India with officially certified organic chia cultivation”

Looking ahead, the District administration has ambitious plans focusing on branding, retailing and developing value added products like chia nutrition bars. 

This initiative has transformed district from an aspirational to an inspirational model, showcasing how strategic interventions and teamwork can benefit community in more than one way “Healthy Consumer wealthy farmers”

Search of a new Chief Secretary Chhattisgarh has started. Present Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain is going to retire. He is a 1989 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.

CBDT is facing an acute shortage of Members. Out of six, presently the Board has only two Members.

Believe it or not! It is true that women outnumbered the men in Indian Economic Service (IES).  Out of 17 Probationers of 2025 batch, 13 are women while four are males.

Ms Nidhi Shrivastava is proving her mettle in the preponderance of male dominated management. She is one of the 27 women Board members out of 700 Board Members in Public Sector Undertakings (PSU). Ms Nidhi a Chartered Accountant & Law Graduate from Delhi University was appointed as the first Director Finance of BIRAC, a CPSE under the Ministry of Science & Technology, on December 9, 2021.  She has more than two decades of thematic experience in corporate accounts, project financing, budgetary control, audit & taxation with Big 4 consulting firms viz., Deloitte, Emst & Young along with prestigious organizations NTC & NAFED. Ms Shrivastava, who also obtained B.Sc from Ramjas college, Delhi University, has achieved various milestones in terms of democratization of date, budgetary controls, technology optimization, project financing, seed funding, fund flow management, grant-in-aid, treasury management, costing, compliances, loan recoveries & settlements along with networking and co-opting collaboration from diverse stakeholders in government, financial institutions, tax authorities, auditors & other entitles part of the corporate ecosystem. Making recommendations in thematic areas of expertise, analysis of short term and long term financial forecasts, coordinating and overseeing internal controls in terms of cross functional activities, optimization of lean resources, ability to advocate effectively & communicate sensitively, synergize & dovetail have been other focal areas of her achievements along with exposure in portfolios of vigilance & RTI. Reviewing financial plans, Capex & Opex budget & ensuring financial reporting systems comply with various Govt. regulations & legislations, drive due diligence & optimization of working capital and cash flows, strategizing and executing the turnaround of NAFED, efforts put in shift in policy & meticulous executing, reduction in transaction costs including cost of borrowing & migration to customized accounting software among others along with 'one time settlement scheme' implementation with various financiers.

Grapevine has it that Justice S A Dharmadhikari, Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court is moving to the Kerala High Court. One can wait and watch?

The deputation tenure of Santosh Rastogi working as IG, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been extended for a period of two years beyond August 5, 2025. He is a 1998 batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

Ajit Roy has been appointed as Director of Census Operations/Director of Citizen Registration at Deputy Secretary level, Mizoram. He is a 2013 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre.

As many as 15 IPS officers have been given fresh assignments in Madhya Pradesh. Accordingly, Adarsh Katiyar has been appointed as Special DG, Administration, PHQ, Bhopal, while Ms Sonali Mishra was made ADG, Selection and Recruitment, PHQ with additional charge of PTRI and Ravi Kumar Gupta is now ADG Rail, PHQ. Similarly, Sanjiv Shami has been appointed as ADG, Telecommunications, PHQ, Bhopal; Ashutosh Rai as ADG, AJAK, PHQ; Rajababu Singh as ADG, Training, PHQ, Bhopal; A Sai Manohar as ADG, Intelligence with additional charge of Cyber; Chanchal Shekhar as ADG, SAF, PHQ, Bhopal; Jaideep Prasad as ADG, SCRB, PHQ, Bhopal; Yogesh Deshmukh as incharge DG/ADG, Special Police Establishment, Lokayukta Organisation; Rakesh Gupta as Director, Sports and Youth Welfare; Gaurav Rajput as IG, Rewa zone; Mrs Krishnaveni Desavatu as OSD/ex-officio Secretary, Home Department; Saketh Prakash Pandey as DIG, PHQ, Bhopal and Rajesh Singh was made DIG, Rewa range.

Bharat Prakash, Joint Development Commissioner at Director level in the office of Development Commissioner, has been given premature repatriation to his parent cadre on personal grounds. He is a 2006 batch IRS-C&IT officer.

Rajeev Kumar Mishra (IRSE-Civil), Chief Engineer, Central Railway, has been selected for the post of Director (Way & Works), Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on March 22, 2025. As many as seven persons were interviewed for the same.

Sunilkumar Panangadan, Chief GM, Unit I/C FOJ, GRSE, has been selected for the post of Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on March 22, 2025. Three persons were interviewed for the same.

No officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of 1994 batch from Haryana cadre has been empanelled as Secretary in the Government of India.

The DoT has approved the VRS of Ms Sangeeta Asrani, GM, Network, BSNL, Bengaluru w e f March 31. She is a 1999 batch ITS officer.

Surendra Yadav, formerly Chief Electrical Loco Engineer (CELE), West Central Railway (WCR), has been granted an extension in his deputation tenure with IRCON International Limited for the fifth year, until March 5, 2026. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Manish Gupta, formerly General Manager (Construction), Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), has been appointed on deputation to IRCON International Limited as Chief General Manager (Civil) at Surat, Gujarat, for a combined tenure of five years, until July 13, 2027. The tenure will be counted from his initial deputation to DFCCIL, which began on July 14, 2022. He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer.

Rakesh Kumar Rousan, who is presently posted in North Eastern Railway (NER), has been transferred to Railway Board and appointed as Executive Director (Business Development), Railway Board. He is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.

Rajesh Mohan, who is presently working as Principal Executive Director (TI), Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), has been transferred to Patiala Locomotive Works (PLW) and posted as Principal Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Sumit Sarkar has been transferred from Eastern Railway (ER) to Metro Railway and posted as Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer (PCME). He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

Vishal Singh will join as Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands segment in the AGMUT Joint Cadre of Indian Forest Service (IFos). He is a 2020 batch IFoS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Mohan Choudhary will join as Deputy Conservator of Forests in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands segment in the AGMUT Joint Cadre of Indian Forest Service (IFos). He is a 2014 batch IFoS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Two IFoS officers of AGMUT cadre have been shifted. 2006 batch K S Jayachandran, CCF and 2009 batch Saurabh Kumar, CF, both currently posted in Delhi, have been shifted to Delhi.

Alok Kumar Maurya has been granted the Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) of the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) w e f January 1, 2024. He is a 2015 batch IFoS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Nine officers of the Senior Commandant level in CISF have been shifted. Alok Kumar has been shifted to GP HQ Chandigarh; Mahesh Powrel to Red Fort New Delhi; Anup Kumar to ASG Lucknow; K K Bhardwaj to IOC (GR) Baroda; Maneesh Kumar Rai to VSTPP VIndhyanagar; Bhagwata Ram Dhaka to 8th Res BN Jaipur; Deepak Chouhan to NS HQ New Delhi and Navdeep Singh Heera was moved to 3rd Res Bn Bhilai.

Eleven officers of the Commandant level in CISF have been shifted. Laxminarayan Choudhary to CCL Kargali; Surender Kumar to IOCL Paradeep; G M Thangzom to ChPA Chennai; Chanchal Sarkar to SCCL Singareni; Ram Mohan to 2nd Res Bn Ranchi; Kundan Kumar to NRL Numaligarh; Lalit Panwar to P&HCS Chandigarh; Neeraj Kumar to GBS New Delhi; Naveen Bhagat to ASG Jaipur and Panjaj Kumar was transferred to NEZ-III Mundali.

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has invited applications from IRSE-Civil Engineers for the post of Joint General Manager-Civil for Rishikesh.

The tenure of Surendra Yadav with IRCON International Limited has been extended. He is an IRSEE officer.

Anoop Singh Gahlaut has returned from deputation to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and transferred to Northern Railway. He is a SAG (NBR), IRSEE officer.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has advertised for the filling up of posts of Additional Director/ Joint Director in the Financial Intelligence Unit, India (FIU-IND) under the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue at New Delhi, on deputation basis.

The Department of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has advertised for the engagement of 10 Consultants on contract basis. Applications must reach on or before April 21, 2025.

Sunil Kumar, Chief General Manager (CGM), Haryana Telecom Circle, BSNL has sought voluntary retirement. He is a 1989 batch ITS officer.

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has advertised for the engagement of Interns under the Internship Programme 2025-26.

Last date to submit applications for 17th National Youth Parliament Competition 2024-25 for universities and colleges has been extended. The revised date is April 15, 2025.

Last date to apply for various posts in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MPA) has been extended. The revised date is April 10, 2024.

J V Appa Rao has been transferred to Rail Wheel Factory (RWF). He is an IRSME, East Coast Railway officer.

Marampudi Vamsikanth has been transferred to South Central Railway (SCR). He is IRSME, Southern Railway officer.

Two officers of Indian Trade Service have joined the DGFT HQ as Dy DGFT. They are: Ms B Kruti and  Bharani VLSVS.

Ms Shilp Chopda has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Defence. She is a 2015 batch IRS-IT officer.

K V Tirumala has been appointed as Director in the Department of Defence. He is a 2009 batch ITradeS officer.

THDCIL has been awarded the prestigious “Digital Innovation in Disaster Management (Gold Category)” at the ETGovernment DigiTech Awards 2025 in New Delhi for its pioneering Digital Disaster Management System for Tehri Dam. This recognition highlights THDCIL’s leadership in leveraging cutting-edge technology for disaster resilience and public safety. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, and Department of Space, Government of India was the chief guest of event. The presence of Dr. Jitendra Singh as the Chief Guest, along with top government officials and industry stalwarts, underscored the significance of the conclave. Dr. Singh emphasized the role of next-generation technologies—including Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Augmented/Virtual Reality—as key components of India’s governance reforms. It is also noteworthy to mention that last year THDC India Limited (THDCIL) was also conferred with the prestigious PSU Leadership & Excellence Award 2024 in the category of ‘Leadership in Digital Transformation’. R K Vishnoi, Chairman and Managing Director, THDCIL, congratulated Team THDCIL for this remarkable achievement, attributing the success to their relentless dedication and innovative spirit. He stated that the award is a testament to THDCIL’s commitment to adopting advanced technologies to address critical challenges such as disaster management. “Our Digital Disaster Management System for Tehri Dam exemplifies how digital innovation, combined with advanced forecasting and early warning systems, can safeguard lives and infrastructure. We are committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements to ensure safety, sustainability, and operational excellence,” said Vishnoi. Vishnoi further highlighted that the Digital Disaster Management System for Tehri Dam integrates a sophisticated Inflow Forecasting System, established in 2016, which provides advance information on inflow and reservoir levels at 6- hour and 24-hour lead times. The system processes real-time data from 11 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and four Automatic Gauge and Discharge (AG&D) stations within the Tehri Catchment area. By utilizing hybrid forecasting models, which merge a Geomorphologic Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph (GIUH)-based deterministic model with Stochastic ARMAX models, THDCIL has significantly enhanced flood risk mitigation and water resource management. Shallinder Singh, Director (Personnel), THDCIL, expressed his heartfelt congratulations and stated that this award reflects THDCIL’s unwavering commitment to innovation and public safety. He emphasized that THDCIL’s Digital Disaster Management initiatives, including the Inflow Forecasting System and Early Warning System for Tehri Dam, demonstrate how technology can mitigate risks and protect communities. “It is an honor to be recognized at the national level, evaluated against stringent benchmarks by some of the country’s most eminent experts. This achievement motivates us to further enhance our digital capabilities and contribute to nation-building with excellence and sustainability at the core,” he added. Bhupender Gupta, Director (Technical), THDCIL, congratulated the THDCIL team for their outstanding efforts in developing and implementing advanced digital solutions for disaster management. He underscored the significance of THDCIL’s initiatives in ensuring the safety of downstream areas and optimizing reservoir operations, particularly during monsoon seasons. He reiterated the organization’s dedication to enhancing digital capabilities, ensuring resilience, and contributing to India’s mission of sustainable development. The ETGovernment DigiTech Awards 2025 were presented during a grand ceremony held on March 18, 2025, at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, recognizing THDCIL’s exemplary contributions to digital disaster resilience and public safety.

Ajay Seth, Secretary, DEA, has been appointed as Finance Secretary. He is a 1987 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.

The post of Ms Arti Bhatnagar has been upgraded as Special Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry in Secretary rank. She is a 1990 batch IDAS officer.

The post of Ms Trishaljit Sethi has been upgraded as Director General (Training), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship in the Secretary rank. She is a 1990 batch IPoS officer.

The post of Sanjay Prasad has been upgraded as Special Secretary, Department of Expenditure in the Secretary rank. He is a 1990 batch IRS-IT officer.

The post of L Staya Srinivas has been upgraded as Special Secretary, Department of Commerce in Secretary rank. He is a 1991 batch IRS-C&IT officer.

The post of S Sharad Rao has been upgraded as Director in the Ministry of Steel. He is a 2011 batch IOFS officer.

Larsen and Toubro has appointed Subramanian Sarma as the construction major's Deputy Managing Director & President — a promotion.

Ms Rekha Warriar has been appointed as Chairperson on the Board of IIFL Capital Services Limited.

R Venkataraman has been appointed as Managing Director of IIFL Capital Services Limited. He succeeds Nemkumar H, who has resigned from the position of Managing Director and has been designated as Chief Growth Officer.

Vijay Kumar Gupta has been reappointed as Chairman and Managing Director of Vijay Textiles Limited for a period of three years, effective April 1, 2025, with nil remuneration.

Chandan Gupta has been appointed as Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent) of Vijay Textiles Limited.

Ms Raveena Agrawal has been appointed as Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent) of Vijay Textiles Limited.

N Gopalaratnam has been designated as Wholetime Director and Executive Chairman of Seshasayee Paper and Boards Limited.

Ashish Kumar Srivastava has been appointed as Additional Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sutlej Textiles and Industries Limited.

Mrs Gorsi A Parekh has been appointed as Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent) of Chembond Chemicals Limited.

Rahoul Rajivkumar Shah has been appointed as Whole-Time Director of Sandesh Limited.

Ashutosh Khajuria has been appointed as Additional Non-Executive Independent Director of Dhanlaxmi Bank Limited.

P Sridharan has been appointed as Additional Whole-Time Director of Modern Insulators Limited.

Animesh Banerjee has been appointed as Additional Whole-Time Director of Modern Insulators Limited.

Mrs. Purva Mangal has been appointed as Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent) of India Finsec Limited.
 

Rajib Mukhopadhyay has resigned from the position of Whole-Time Director of Sutlej Textiles and Industries Limited.

Altab Uddin Kazi has resigned from the position of Independent Director of Vijay Textiles Limited.

Judges transgressing all bounds of decency

The Supreme Court has uploaded reports, photos and videos related to allegations of unaccounted cash found at the official residence of Delhi HC Judge. It means that the Judge amassed money through bribes and delivered unfair decisions and judgments. It is alarming that Judges are transgressing all bounds of decency. If it is so, how will the common man get fair justice?

Mukesh Kumar

Numerous complaints against CPIO and First Appellate Authority of Bank

The PIO denied information sought by the appellant claiming that it relates to internal communication of the Bank and is confidential in nature. Further, no larger public interest is involved in the matter and the information is exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1)(d) of the Act. Before the CIC, it was submitted that the appellant has filed multiple RTI applications and First Appeals and the same have been disposed of within stipulated time frame. It was informed that RTI applications of the appellant are an offshoot of a family dispute between him and his relative (being one of their staff) and the respondent authority is being dragged to such a personal dispute, which is a clear abuse of the provisions of RTI Act. The respondent claimed that in addition to filing numerous RTI applications and complaints, the appellant had also been harassing the officials of our Zone by repeated calls and personal visits to the Branch/Zone. The Appellant has filed numerous complaints against the CPIO, First Appellate Authority of Ujjain Zone and even against the CPIO and First Appellate Authority of Head Office for exercising their functions under the RTI Act. The officials including the CPIOs are under threat of constant attack from the RTI Applicant for no fault of theirs. Malicious attacks are made on CPIOs through lengthy RTI Applications and Appeals. It was also submitted that the appellant's second appeal was dismissed by the CIC vide order dated 20.09.2024 in No. CIC/BKOIN/A/2023/128876 and order dated 28.11.2024 in No. CIC/BKOIN/A/2023/141282. The CIC noted that the reply given by the PIO is evasive and misleading. The CPIO, without applying his mind, has simply denied the information as it pertains to their internal communication and most importantly, the CPIO has not specified any of the exemptions clauses or sub-clauses as enumerated under sections 8 and 9 of the RTI Act. The CIC directed the PIO to revisit the above-mentioned points and furnish a revised reply to the appellant, specifying the correct exemptions clauses or sub-clauses. Regarding the submission of the respondents of multiple RTI applications being filed by the appellant, the CIC observed that the said concern can be taken up in an appropriate matter in the future for want of any similar pattern of cases as well as in the absence of any specific reference of the number of RTI applications filed with the respondent.

Comments

A PIO must know the clauses of the RTI Act thoroughly and the denial of information should be only as per section 8 or section 9.

Citation: Premchand Bangaria v. Bank of India, Mumbai, CIC/BKOIN/A/2024/116770; Date of Decision: 05.03.2025

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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