India, EU poised to seal trade pact; MEA readies parallel defence cooperation push
EU’s decision to move ahead on a formal security and defence partnership with India effectively locks in New Delhi as a long-term strategic pillar for Europe in the Indo-Pacific. Coming on the eve of a prospective “mother of all deals” FTA that Ursula von der Leyen says is now within reach, it signals that trade and hard security will be stitched together at the upcoming summit in New Delhi. Within MEA, this is triggering a coordinated push: fast-tracking negotiations on the Security and Defence Partnership and Security of Information Agreement, aligning naval and maritime-security cooperation, and mapping defence–industrial projects where EU technology can plug into India’s manufacturing and export base. For South Block, the package is being read as a chance to de-risk from Russia without alienating Moscow, while leveraging Europe’s search for reliable partners amid US–EU frictions on tariffs and China policy.
Is CM Yogi’s PR and Media team now weak?
Once considered the country’s number one Chief Minister and widely seen as a leader with one of the strongest PR and media management teams, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath faces a severe backlash. TV debates on all channels indicate this. This has triggered questions in political and media circles: why is Yogi’s PR lagging, what is the Reason?.
BUREAUCRACY
IAS Lalit Rayal Drives Land Record Reforms, Field Governance and Infrastructure Push in Nainital
IAS Lalit Mohan Rayal is a 2011-batch IAS officer currently serving as the District Magistrate of Nainital, Uttarakhand. Leading one of the state’s most dynamic and tourism-centric districts, he has focused on land reforms, improved public service delivery, and infrastructure development. Alongside his administrative responsibilities, Rayal is also a noted Hindi author, and his literary work has earned him recognition as an important voice in regional literature. One of his key priorities in Nainital is the systematic cleaning and updating of land records, an area closely linked to long-term law and order. He points out that a major challenge has been the prolonged delay in transferring inheritance to rightful successors. To address this, his administration has reversed the traditional approach by taking services directly to citizens. “The public is not coming to the administration; the administration is going to the public,” he explains. Revenue inspectors and patwaris now hold evening chaupals in villages, collecting details on the spot by asking when the inheritance event occurred, how many successors are involved, and updating records in real time. The impact has been significant, with 5,000 such cases cleared in just three months. In parallel, the district administration has launched a focused land measurement and dispute-resolution Abhiyan to address encroachments on pathways, lake areas, and private land, as well as long-standing errors in plot numbers and ownership entries that have historically triggered conflicts. Under this initiative, every Saturday dedicated teams, supervised by revenue officers, visit subdivisions, conduct on-the-spot measurements, and resolve issues immediately, with the drive continuing across the district. Another key intervention has been in improving timely birth and death registrations, which Rayal notes are essential because delays often stall insurance claims, banking processes, and access to welfare benefits. To make the process more accessible and respectful, his administration has linked certification to local social practices by delivering death certificates during post-ritual gatherings and issuing birth certificates around naming ceremonies or havans. Beyond governance reforms, Rayal has also prioritised infrastructure upgrades to support Nainital’s growing tourist pressure, including in emerging centres like Kainchi Dham, where footfall has increased sharply. Projects such as bypass roads, bridges, and basic public amenities are being developed, while road strengthening, drinking water systems, sewage networks, and civic infrastructure are also being upgraded. He added that Haldwani is being developed with a long-term vision of the next 40 to 50 years, with major projects underway in road widening and related urban improvements. Through these initiatives, IAS Lalit Mohan Rayal is strengthening doorstep governance and helping build a future-ready Nainital.
174 IPS officers to retire in 2026
As many as 174 officers of Indian Police Service (IPS) of various cadres and batches are due to retire in 2026.
Will Mhaiskar succeed Gagrani as Commissioner BMC?
Name of Milind Jayant Mhaiskar, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre who serves as the Additional Chief Secretary Forests is also doing the round for the post of Commissioner Bombay Municpal Corporation in March after the superannuation of Bhushan Gagrani.
Sanjeev Khirwar appointed as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Delhi
Sanjeev Khirwar has been appointed as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi. He is a 1994 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre.
Vrunda Manohar Desai to join as Textile Commissioner
Mrs Vrunda Manohar Desai has been posted as the Textile Commissioner, Mumbai. She is an ITrS officer. She was posted as Addl DGFT, Delhi.
Telangana Records Strong Presence of Women District Collectors
Telangana today stands out for its strong presence of women district collectors across the state. From the capital Hyderabad, headed by IAS Harichandana Dasari, to Warangal led by IAS Dr. Satya Sharada and Karimnagar led by IAS Pamela Satpathy, women officers are leading some of the state’s most significant administrative centres. Nirmal, headed by IAS Abhilasha Abhinav; Sangareddy, headed by IAS P. Pravinya; Hanamkonda, headed by IAS Sneha Shabarish; Nizamabad, led by IAS Ila Tripathi; Mahabubnagar, led by IAS Vizendira Boyi; Narayanpet, headed by IAS Sikta Patnaik; and Siddipet, led by IAS K. Hymavathi; Rajanna Sircilla led by IAS Garima Agrawal.
Government finalises IDBI Bank’s strategic disinvestment ahead of Budget!
The government has invited financial bids for IDBI Bank’s strategic disinvestment, marking a key step toward completing the long-pending transaction. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) issued the invitation after securing approval from the Finance Minister-led panel. Prospective bidders have been granted a month to submit their financial offers. Before this stage, DIPAM conducted multiple rounds of discussions with interested bidders and completed all essential approvals, including security clearance and the fit-and-proper evaluation by the concerned agencies. With due diligence and procedural clearances finalized, the government aims to fast-track the remaining process. Officials indicate that efforts are underway to complete the IDBI Bank sale by the end of FY26, aligning with the broader privatization agenda and fiscal consolidation goals. The move is seen as one of the major milestones in India’s banking sector reform and asset monetization pipeline.
Rs 50,000 cr worth push for PM KUSUM expected in Budget 2026!
The upcoming Union Budget is expected to significantly scale up support for renewables, with a sharper focus on PM-KUSUM 2.0 and domestic battery manufacturing. Government discussions indicate that the next phase of PM-KUSUM may integrate battery storage with feeder-level solarisation, aligning farm power reform with grid-scale storage needs. Policy planners are weighing a consolidated clean energy and storage push, with proposals that could take the overall outlay for PM-KUSUM and associated decentralised renewable schemes beyond ₹50,000 crore over the coming years. This is likely to be backed by incentive-led financing and possible PLI-style support for advanced chemistry cell batteries and long-duration storage to reduce import dependence and build a domestic value chain. Together, these moves would position Budget 2026 as a key inflection point for India’s energy transition architecture.
Rajneesh Narain selected as Director (Fin), IRCTC
Rajneesh Narain, Director (Finance), NCL, has been selected for the post of Director (Finance), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on January 21, 2026. As many as eight persons were interviewed for the same.
Subodh Yadav returns to parent cadre
Subodh Yadav, Additional Secretary, Water Resources, has been repatriated to his parent cadre on personal grounds. He is a 1999 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.
Tenure of M Ramachandrudu as Director, Census Operations, Bihar extended
The tenure of M Ramachandrudu as Director Census Operations has been extended for a period of three months. He is a 2009 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.
Tenure of Ms Aishvarya Singh as Joint Secretary, Drinking Water extended
The central deputation tenure of Ms Aishvarya Singh working as Joint Secretary, Drinking Water has been extended for a period of one year beyond February 5, 2026. She is a 2008 batch IAS officer of Sikkim cadre.
Interviews for Director (Mining), HCL on January 23
The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) is holding interviews for the post of Director (Mining), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) on January 23, 2026.
Allahabad High Court ruling on IAS/IPS probation
The Allahabad High Court ruled that officers inducted into IAS/IPS on probation are entitled to benefits (like promotions) accruing to juniors in state service during their lien period, potentially influencing cadre management nationwide, including southern states.Directive on IPS central deputation is seen as a key development, potentially straining state cadres amid SC-mandated reductions.
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