Sardar Patel's jayanti to be celebrated in a big way

The Government has planned to celebrate Sardar Patel’s birthday in a big way on October 31 this year. It will be celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. As per official sources, this year’s celebration is particularly special to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. The celebrations will include a grand parade and cultural festival in Ekta Nagar, Narmada district, Gujarat, where the statue of Sardar Patel has been installed. This is called the ‘Statue of Unity'. From November 1 to 15, 2025, Ekta Nagar will host the Bharat Parv, featuring cultural performances and a food festival from different states. The festival will culminate on November 15 with special programs celebrating God Birsa Munda Jayanti, highlighting the glorious culture and resilient spirit of our tribal communities.

Rahul Gandhi to meet TVK’s Thalapathy Vijay Chandrasekhar amidst rift between Congress and Stalin’s DMK in Tamil Nadu?

Rahul Gandhi is reportedly set to meet with Vijay, the leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), today to discuss a possible alliance in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. This move comes amid ongoing speculation about shifting political equations in the state, especially concerning the traditionally strong alliance between the Congress party and DMK. The DMK has so far resisted any major challenge to its dominance in Tamil Nadu from Congress, despite the two parties being allies. However, recent signs of discontent within state Congress circles over seat-sharing and growing interest in TVK as an alternative ally have created political ripples. Vijay’s TVK, a relatively new but rising political force, is seen as a potential challenger to the DMK with ambitions for leadership and power-sharing in a new coalition. This development could pose a significant threat to the DMK’s stronghold if Congress formalizes support for TVK. Currently, the Congress-DMK alliance remains officially intact, but talks with Vijay indicate possible shifts in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.

Newly appointed, Secretary, Commerce and Industry Rakesh Agrawal, will also act as Chief Negotiator for Trade talks. He owned this responsibility successfully, when he was the Special Secretary in the same ministry. He is a Manipur cadre IAS officer. After his elevation as Secretary, the government is yet to appoint a Special Secretary.

The Union Home Ministry has instructed 17 Indian border states to launch a crackdown on illegal religious structures erected within 30 kilometers of the country’s international frontiers. The directive, issued under the supervision of Home Minister Amit Shah, applies uniformly to all faiths and targets unauthorized temples, mosques, mazars, and other places of worship built on government or sensitive land. Officials have been ordered to identify, survey, and demolish such encroachments, which the ministry believes could manipulate local demographics or compromise national security. States sharing borders with Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China have been told to report compliance and restore encroached land to government control. The directive stresses that district administrations and local bodies will be held personally accountable for enforcement failures, as the government views this cleanup drive as crucial to maintaining border integrity and curbing potential misuse of religious structures in high-risk zones.

Jungle Man of Madurai, Dean, Forest College and Research Institute  (FC&RI), Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Nihar Ranjan recently started a ‘Walk with Dean’ every evening benefitting students, faculties and even himself alike.
 

Tamil Nadu Cadre, 2001 batch IFS officer shares the beautiful experience of walking through verdant trails that nourishes both intellect and soul, reminding students that the truest classroom often lies beneath vast sky, amidst nature’s embrace.

For full interview read November 2025 magazine issue.
 

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar have been conducting field inspections at major railway stations, including Anand Vihar and New Delhi, to oversee Chhath Puja arrangements. With an estimated 1.7 crore passengers expected to travel during the festival, the Railways has launched an extensive nationwide operation to ensure passenger safety, especially across poll-bound Bihar.

Three-level war rooms have been established at the divisional, zonal, and Railway Board levels to monitor real-time train movements and crowd conditions through live CCTV feeds. At each major station, mini control rooms coordinate decisions between local and central control points, enabling immediate response to congestion. Artificial Intelligence-based heat mapping and real-time data analytics are being used to track crowd surges and deploy standby trains accordingly.

Holding areas with passenger amenities such as toilets, drinking water, and seating have been created at key hubs like New Delhi, Patna, and Muzaffarpur to prevent overcrowding and stampedes. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) units have been reinforced, with drone surveillance and automatic ticket vending systems further modernising the process.

Over 12,000 special trains have been announced to handle the Chhath and Diwali rush, of which 1,500 will run in the four-day peak period from October 23 to 26. The ministry has emphasised that passenger safety, timely operations, and seamless travel remain top priorities as the Chhath festival coincides with election-sensitive movement in Bihar.

Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena is likely to be appointed Next FOC-IN-C(South) replacing Vice Adm Srinivas. Orders are expected next week.

The Railway Board’s rehiring initiative for retired personnel (up to December 31, 2026) empowers General Managers to appoint medically fit retirees with performance ratings above “Good,” at remuneration equaling last salary minus basic pension (no DA hikes or HRA). This targets operational gaps in safety-critical roles, with 25,000 vacancies across zones.

Manish Gupta, presently High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Ghana, has been appointed as the next Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland. He is a 1998 batch IFS officer.

The officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS), waiting for promotion for a long time, have been promoted from Assistant Section Officers to Section Officers on an ad-hoc basis.

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has failed to find a suitable candidate for the post of Member (Operations), Airports Authority of India (AAI) at the selection meeting. The Board has recommended the concerned Ministry to select the candidate through Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC).

Nitin Khamesra, CGM, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, has been selected for the post of Director (Finance), The Shipping Corporation of India Limited at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting. As many as 11 persons were interviewed for the same.

The CBIC has accepted the VRS application of Vivek Anand, Dy Commissioner from IRS(C&IT). He was a 2015 batch officer. 

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is seeking a person for the post of General Manager (Finance & Accounts). Those willing to apply for this post can send applications before November 19, 2025.

Kerala government’s school hijab allowance sparked “Kerala Education Debate,” with IPS whispers of enhanced campus security deputations.

The ‘State of Finance for Forests 2025’ report, specify India’s domestic forest spending (30x international aid) via Joint Forest Management (JFM) and tribal projects. It is assumed that IFoS-led biodiversity credits/carbon markets could attract $500M private investment by 2027, per UNEP. Whispers criticize delayed India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 release (now expected December 2025), speculating “data fudging” to mask 2.33M ha tree cover loss since 2000. 

SAIEE Elephant Census (released October 18) shows population stability, prompting IFoS initiatives for habitat corridors in NCR fringes. Trending news emphasises “community-led governance” in forests, with JFM expansions under Green India Mission projected to cover 5M ha by 2030. 

Post-COP30 (2025), IFoS officers may lead 10+ international carbon projects, boosting upgrades. In All India Services, whispers of AI-HR tools for faster postings by Q2 2026 to counter “pyramid structure” delays.

Four officers of Indian Economic Service (IES) belonging to 2007 batch have been promoted to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG). The officers are: Ms Chandrani Gupta, Ms Bhumika Verma, Ms Swayamprava Pani and Prasanth. 

As many as 14 IPS officers have been given new postings in Delhi. Robin Hibu has been appointed as Special CP, Human Resource Division, while Rajesh Khurana takes over as Special CP, Provision & Finance Division and Neeraj Thakur was made Special CP, Traffic Division. Similarly, Devesh Chandra Srivastava will be posted as Special CP, Crime with additional charge of Perception Management & Media Cell; David Lalrinsanga as Special CP, Operations (PCR & Communication) with additional charge of SPUNER; Anil Shukla as Special CP, Special Cell with additional charge of Tech & PI Division; Manish Kumar Agarwal as Special CP, Intelligence Division with additional charge of Public Transport Safety Division; Ajay Chaudhry as Special CP, Vigilance Division with additional charge of SPUWAC; Atul Katiyar as Special CP, Welfare Division with additional charge of Licensing & Legal Division; K Jegadesan as Special CP, Protective Security Division with additional charge of MD, DPHCL; Vijay Kumar as Joint CP, CP Secretariat-cum-OSD to CP Delhi; Rajiv Ranjan Singh as Additional CP, Eastern Range; Rohit Rajbir Singh as DCP, CP Secretariat (Crime) and Vikram K Porwal was posted as DCP, CP Secretariat (Admn).

 IFoS/IAS collaboration on “We Rise Initiative” for urban greening, launched October 20, targeting 1M trees by March 2026.

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is seeking a person for the post of Director (Operations). Those willing to apply for this post can send applications before October 28, 2025.

The DoT has entrusted the additional charge of Director(PM) to Devendra Kumar Saini, Director (PSU-IV).

Seed Technologist, National Seeds Research and Training Centre  (NSR&TC), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh post has been advertised. Details  can be availed from the website of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers  Welfare. 
 

 

Post of Deputy Police Commissioner, D-l in United Nations Mission in South  Sudan (UNMISS) has been advertised. IGP and ADG rank officers may  apply latest by November 8, 2025. 

 

Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Pawan Hans Limited post has been  advertised. Applications must reach latest by October 29, 2025.

Post of Curator (Anthropology),  NationalMuseum, New Delhi has been  advertised. Details can be availed from the Ministry of Culture  website. 

 

Consultant (Establishment/Human Resource) post for Noida Head Office  on contractual basis has been advertised. Applications must reach  latest by November 11, 2025. Details can be availed from  www.iwai.nic.in. 

 

 Senior Deputy Manager (Welfare) post has been advertised for Mumbai  Port Authority. Online applications can be filed on website http://onlinevacancy.shipmin.nic.in up to November 18, 2025 

 

World Bank has advertised the post of Infrastructure Security  Administrator, Chennai. Applications must reach latest by November 3, 2025.

Dr. Ajoy Kumar, who is presently working as Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) in Eastern Railway (ER), has been transferred to Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) and posted as Principal Chief Medical Officer (PCMO). He is an Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS) officer.

Sunil N Maske, who is presently posted in South Western Railway (SWR), has been posted as Chief Track Engineer (CTE) on the Railway itself. He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer.

Mahavir Singh, who is presently posted in Western Railway (WR), has been posted as Chief Planning and Design Engineer (CPDE) on the Railway itself. He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer.

Kuntal Ghose, who is returning from deputation to IRCON International Limited, has been posted on Eastern Railway (ER) in the cadre. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

Seven IPS officers have been reshuffled in Chhattisgarh. Mohit Garg has been shifted as Assistant Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, Nava Raipur, while Chandramohan Singh will take over as Director, Training Operations, Fire and Emergency Services, Homeguard and Civil Defence Headquarters, Raipur and Ms Ankita Sharma is now Superintendent of Police (SP), Rajnandgaon. Similarly, Yaduvali Akshay Kumar has been appointed as Assistant Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, Nava Raipur; Mrs Ratna Singh as SP, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur; Prafull Thakur as SP, Sakti and Pankaj Chandra joins as SP, Kondagaon.

Deepak Saharan has been appointed as SP, Sirsa, Haryana. He is a 2014 batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre. Posting order of 2019 batch IPS officer Mayank Gupta will be issued separately.

Pawan Kumar Rai, GM (Civil), Northern Coalfields Limited, has been selected for the post of Director (Project Planning), Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited () at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on October 25, 2025. As many as 11 persons were interviewed for the same.

As many as 19 officers of State Civil Service of Bihar have been promoted as IAS and allocated Bihar cadre. The promoted officers are: Arvind Kumar, Pramod Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Abhay Kumar Singh, Rajiv Kumar Singh, Amit Kumar, Kumari Seema, Dr Mahendra Pal, Rashid Kalim Ansari, Md Mumtaz Alam, Vijay Kumar, Sushant Kumar, Manoj Kumar Rajak, Ram Kumar Poddar, Rajesh Parimal, Raj Mohan Jha, Rajeev Ranjan Prabhakar, Dhananjay Kumar and Rakesh Kumar.

Post-IPO closure on October 7, 2025 (OFS of 4.62 Cr shares at ₹615-648 band), the company announced 200 new hires for GCC expansions in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. This signals entry into AI-driven workspace tech.

 Eyeing a blockbuster IPO by end-October 2025 at $8-10B valuation (raised $320M historically). Hired 150 AI engineers on October 10, 2025, for global expansion. Speculation rife over acquisition of a European ad-firm by Q4.

EvoluteIQ (PSU-adjacent via Bengaluru R&D) raised $53M from Baird Capital for AI expansion.

Reports highlighted PSU-linked agriculture initiatives, including the 10,000-FPO scheme (target 2025) for collective farming and value-chain linkages in rural PSUs like FPOs under NABARD.

Tracxn reported $13.5B raised by 1.59K Indian startups (till October 2025), with PSUs contributing via funds like ONGC’s (450% valuation growth in 5 years); 296 acquisitions and 225 IPOs YTD, including PSU-backed dronetech.

Amit Lalit Jain has been appointed as the Managing Director of Shentracon Chemicals Limited.

 

Sundaram Damodarannair has been appointed as an Additional Non-Executive Independent Director of Schneider Electric Infrastructure Limited.

Dr. Shalini Sarin has been appointed as an Additional Non-Executive Independent Director of Schneider Electric Infrastructure Limited.

Ms Smt Sowmya Sitaram has been appointed as a Non-Executive Woman Independent Director of Bannari Amman Sugars Limited.

Ms. Teesta Sandhu has resigned from the position of Independent Director of Primo Chemicals Limited.

Ashish Kamra has resigned from the position of Whole-Time Director of Regency Fincorp Limited.

Sudhir Maheshwari has resigned from the position of Non-Executive Nominee Director of JSW Cement Limited.

Radhakrishnan Nair has ceased to be a Non-Executive Independent Director of Geojit Financial Services Limited on completion of his second term.

Sandesh Mhadalkar has ceased to be an Independent Director of Innovassynth Investments Limited on completion of his term.

Mission in Kabul 

The best choice would be a journalist, an academic or someone who has not been a traditional diplomat but has experience of back channel diplomacy. It is such people who have been successfully avoided all out war with Pakistan during crises and tensions with US and other countries. Will the IFS lobby be headed by EAM himself. It is said that war is too serious a business to be left to the Generals; similarly diplomacy is too serious a business to be left to the IFS.

Prof. Naresh Charan Saxena

Time limit for replying to the RTI application not followed

Vide RTI application dated 29.04.2024, the appellant sought information about the Provident Fund Statement, PF trust being declared unexempted, his PF amount transferred to EPFO department etc. but did not receive any response. During hearing, upon the CIC’s query on not replying to the appellant within stipulated time limit, the respondent submitted that the earlier CPIO retired, and he has recently joined the respondent’s office and was not aware of the online RTI application. To this, the CIC questioned how an online RTI application can go unnoticed. In terms of the information to be furnished, the CIC observed that the respondent gave an appropriate reply to the appellant vide written submission dated 07.10.2025. Therefore, no further intervention of the Commission is required. Further, the CIC took a serious view of the fact that the respondent did not reply to the appellant within stipulated time limit as per the RTI Act and issued a show cause notice to the CPIO as to why action should not be initiated against him/her for not replying to the appellant’s RTI request within prescribed time limit.

Comments

One of the basic tenets of the RTI Act is that an applicant should receive a reply within the prescribed time limit. With the digital tracking of the RTI Application, it is incumbent upon the PIO to reply as per the prescribed time period or face consequences.

Citation: Biju Soman v. Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, Second Appeal No. CIC/HINAL/A/2024/134731; Date of Decision:15.10.2025

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