After many contentions & a RSS intervention, BJP UP Chief to be announced soon?
The Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to announce its new Uttar Pradesh chief soon, following weeks of internal consultations and deliberations. According to sources, there had been differences between the party’s central leadership and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the choice of candidate for the post. While Yogi was reportedly keen on appointing a leader considered close to his camp, the BJP high command wanted someone with broader organizational acceptance to balance regional and caste equations ahead of upcoming polls. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is said to have played a crucial mediating role, helping bridge the communication gap between the two sides. With the Sangh’s intervention, the deadlock has largely been resolved, and a consensus candidate has emerged. An official announcement is expected shortly, signaling the leadership’s intent to project unity and organizational coherence in India’s most politically significant state.
Trump administration pitching for Core 5 (C5) against G7 with India as a part?
Reports suggest the Donald Trump administration is exploring the creation of a new international bloc called C5 (Core 5) as an alternative to the G7. According to Politico, the proposed grouping would include the United States, Russia, China, India, and Japan. The idea, reportedly discussed in Washington and mentioned in an unpublished draft of the U.S. National Security Strategy accessed by Defense One, would aim to establish a union free from G7’s conditions and restrictions.Sources indicate the C5’s initial focus could be resolving Middle East tensions, particularly the normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. While Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly declined to confirm the document’s existence, analysts believe the initiative aligns with Trump’s foreign policy style—favoring pragmatic cooperation among strong global powers over ideological alliances. Experts say it underscores Trump’s view of international relations through strategic spheres of influence.
BUREAUCRACY
Appointment of IC and CIC in a day or two?
Final appointments of CIC and IC are expected to be announced in a day or two.The Central Information will have new CIC.
Will Praveen Vashistha be new Vigilance Commissioner?
Name of Praveen Vashistha is now doing the round for Vigilance Commissioner in the CVC .He is a 1991 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre. Announcement is likely in a day or two.
Vatsa Sehra deputed as Joint Director, EAC-Prime Minister
Vatsa Sehra has been deputed as Joint Director in the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), Delhi. He is an IRS-IT officer.
15 Candidates shortlisted for Members, CBIC
As many as 15 candidates have been shortlisted to be interviewed for the posts of Members, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). Five candidates: Raj Kumar, Valte Vungzamuan, Prachi Saroop, Rimjhim Prasad and Rajesh Jindal will be interviewed on December 29, 2025 while Mayank Kumar, Arti A Srinivas, Shailendra Kumar Sinha, Abhai Kumar Srivastava and S K Vimalanathan appear for the interviews on December 30, 2025 and Vimal Kumar Srivastava, Sanjay Mangal, Sunil Jain, Anuj Gogia and Kajal Singh are being interviewed on January 2, 2026.
Rajeev Singh Thakur’s extension as Adviser to NITI Aayog reflects policy level continuity for GOI!
The six-month extension of Rajeev Singh Thakur (IAS: RJ: 1995), Adviser, NITI Aayog, underscores the government’s emphasis on maintaining continuity in key policy-level decision-making during a critical phase of ongoing reform initiatives. As an Additional Secretary-level officer with deep experience in economic policy, industrial strategy, and public administration, Thakur’s continued presence ensures stability in project oversight, inter-ministerial coordination, and long-term policy formulation. His role in evaluating sectoral strategies and monitoring flagship programmes makes institutional continuity particularly vital for sustaining policy momentum. The extension also indicates a preference for leveraging domain expertise over frequent bureaucratic reshuffles, especially as NITI Aayog pushes forward with developmental blueprints and performance-based frameworks for states. By retaining an experienced hand, the government reinforces its intent to preserve administrative consistency, preventing disruptions in decision cycles and ensuring smooth execution of strategic policy goals under the national development agenda.
IRS officer to join EAC-PM
Satvik Dev, Joint Commissioner/OSD (TRU), СBIC is set to join the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister(EAC-PM), on attachment basis for a period of one year. He is a 2014 batch IRS(C&IT) officer.
No suitable candidate found for MD, BCPL
The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has failed to find a suitable candidate for the post of Managing Director, Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited (BCPL) at a selection meeting held on December 11, 2025. The Board, which interviewed as many as nine candidates, has recommended the Ministry to select the candidate through Search cum Selection Committee (SCSC).
Pankaj Joshi is now Chairman GERC
Former Chief Secretary of Gujarat Pankaj Joshi has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC). He is 1989 batch IAS officer.
Satyanarain Gupta is also CVO, RINL
Satyanarain Gupta, CVO, SAIL, has been assigned an additional charge of CVO, RINL, Visakhapatnam, for a period of one year. He is a 1993 batch ITS officer.
Ms Vinita Narera gets additional charge of CVO, PFC
Ms Vinita Narera, CVO, REC, has been entrusted with an additional charge of CVO, PFC, for a period of six months. She is a 2000 batch IRSSE officer.
7 IIS officers applied against 5 posts
The MIB has reportedly received 7 applications from IIS officers against 5 posts of PB Foreign Correspondents. The posts are located at Dubai, Kathmandu, Colombo, Dhaka and Beijing.
Tenure of Prabhat Kumar as DCO/DCR, Jharkhand extended
The central deputation tenure of Prabhat Kumar working as DCO/DCR, Jharkhand has been extended upto March 31, 2026. He is a 2011 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre.
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