Who is Padma Jaiswal, IAS officer in spotlight over Arunachal graft case?

The Indian government has appointed Mahesh Dixit, Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau, as the new chief of the agency. His two-year term starts upon assuming the position, following approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Who is Mahesh Dixit? 1993-batch IPS officer named new Intelligence Bureau chief (X/@VIGNESHBJP_KTK) The Centre on Thursday named Intelligence Bureau (IB) Special Director Mahesh Dixit as the next chief of the country's premier internal intelligence agency.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Dixit's appointment for a two-year term. He currently serves as the second-highest-ranking officer in the IB.According to an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Dixit will serve as Director of the Intelligence Bureau for two years from the date he takes charge or until further orders, whichever comes first.The government has also approved an extension of his service under the provisions of Fundamental Rule 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, allowing him to continue in service while heading the intelligence agency."The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mahesh Dixit, IPS (AP:93), Special Director, Intelligence Bureau as Director, Intelligence Bureau vice Tapan Kumar Deka, IPS (HP:88), for a tenure of two years from the date of assumption of the charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier, by granting extension in service under the provisions of FR 56(d) and Rule 16 (1A) of All India Services (Death cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958," the order said, according to ANI.Who is Mahesh Dixit?Dixit, a 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, is currently the Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau. He will succeed Tapan Kumar Deka, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, whose second extended tenure as IB Director ends on June 30.A veteran intelligence officer, Dixit has extensive experience in counter-terrorism, internal security and intelligence operations. Before his posting at the IB headquarters in New Delhi, he led the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in Jammu and Kashmir, a key assignment given the region's security environment.One of the defining periods of Dixit's career was his role in the run-up to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, as per NDTV. While handling key intelligence responsibilities in the region, he also reportedly oversaw security arrangements during Srinagar's hosting of the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in 2023, a high-profile international event.He was transferred to the IB headquarters last year and promoted to Special Director, becoming the agency's second-in-command in a move that was widely viewed as preparing him to take over its top post.Meanwhile, outgoing Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka has headed the agency since July 2022. During his tenure, the IB intensified its efforts in counter-terrorism, intelligence coordination and addressing emerging security challenges. The government granted him two consecutive service extensions, underscoring its emphasis on continuity in the intelligence establishment.With Dixit's appointment, the government has handed over the leadership of the country's premier internal intelligence agency to a veteran officer with extensive intelligence experience.About the AuthorGarvit BhiraniGarvit Bhirani is a journalist based in Gurugram. He is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint, where he covers national and international news stories, focusing on accuracy and compelling storytelling for readers. With a total of six years of experience in journalism, he has previously worked with Vaco Binary Semantics for Google, taking on the role of news curation lead, and reported from the field on health, education, and agric

Vivek Aggarwal has been elected as the first Indian vice president of the Financial Action Task Force, a key milestone as India intensifies its focus on combating global terrorist financing and enhancing financial integrity, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.Who is Vivek Aggarwal? IAS officer appointed as FATF vice president (Image: X/PIB)India on Friday secured the vice presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the country in the global organisation responsible for setting standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.India has been a member of the FATF since 2010.According to an official statement, Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal was elected as the FATF vice president at the conclusion of the body's plenary meeting at its headquarters in Paris. The vice president is chosen by the FATF Plenary from among its members and supports the president in guiding and overseeing the organisation's work.Who is Vivek Aggarwal?Aggarwal, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has previously served as the head of India's delegation to the FATF and as Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Panjab University. He has also completed the Intermediate level of the Company Secretary (CS) programme from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. In addition, he undertook a specialised course on Globalisation and International Financial Systems at the London School of Economics and Political Science.At the time India's latest mutual evaluation report was released in 2024, Aggarwal was serving as an Additional Secretary in the Union Finance Ministry. He was also concurrently holding the additional charge of Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND).Aggarwal served as Joint Secretary and later Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, from 2019 to 2021. During this period, he was also the Chief Executive Officer of the PM-KISAN scheme and the National Farmer’s Welfare Programme Implementation Society, and led key initiatives such as Digital Agriculture and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.Between 2009 and 2018, he concurrently held the position of Secretary to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. From 2015 to 2018, he served as Principal Secretary in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh, while also acting as Managing Director of the MP Metro Rail Corporation and MP Urban Development Company. During the same period, he was Commissioner and State Mission Director for programmes including the Total Sanitation Campaign, Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT and PM Awaas Yojana.From 2010 to 2015, Aggarwal was Managing Director and Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD), at the MP Road Development Corporation. Earlier, between 2008 and 2010, he served as Managing Director of the MP Warehousing Corporation and the MP Agriculture Marketing Board.From 2001 to 2008, he held various district-level administrative assignments as Collector and District Magistrate in Kapurthala (Punjab) and in the Madhya Pradesh districts of Rajgarh, Ujjain and Indore.Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed Aggarwal's election a "major win" for India, stating that the appointment highlights the country's strong commitment to tackling terrorist financing worldwide."As India continues to champion a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, this leadership role reinforces our relentless focus on combating global terrorist financing networks and dismantling illicit financial systems," he mentioned.Jaiswal also noted that Aggarwal's "profound expertise" as the former leader of India's FATF delegation would help further the organisation's mission of safeguarding financial integrity.About the AuthorGarv

Sundarraj P, 2003-batch IPS officer, has served for a total of 12 years in the Bastar region, including seven continuously as the police chief of the most Maoist-violence-affected regions of the country until recently.Who is Sundarraj P? Bastar's longest-serving IPS officer joins NIA(AFP)The Union government has appointed Sundarraj P, the longest-serving IPS officer in Chhattisgarh's Maoism hit Bastar region, as an inspector general in the federal anti-terror probe organisation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA).A letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 16 June to the Chhattisgarh government said the 2003-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer is being deputed to the federal agency following approval from the competent authority.The communication asked the Chhattisgarh government to release the 46-year-old officer immediately to enable him to take up his new assignment at the Centre.Who is Sundarraj P?Sundarraj P (Sundarraj Pattilingam) has served for a total of 12 years in the Bastar region, including seven continuously as the police chief of the range comprising seven districts of south Chhattisgarh, the most Maoist-violence-affected regions of the country until recently.View full ImageSundarraj P (Sundarraj Pattilingam) has served for a total of about 12 years in the Bastar region, including seven continuously as the IG or the police chief of the Bastar Range that comprises seven districts of south Chhattisgarh, which were, till recently, the most Naxal-violence-affected regions of the country.Sundarraj P is credited with playing a vital role in supervising anti-Naxal operations undertaken by security forces, including coordination with central paramilitary forces, which led to meeting the Union government's deadline of ending Maoist from the region and the country by 31 March this year.Sundarraj P was the authority and constant face for interaction with the press when the security forces achieved successes or suffered losses during anti-Maoist operations over the last many years, news agency PTI said.MHA is learnt to have made a ‘special recommendation’ to depute Sundarraj to the NIA in appreciation of his hard work and leadership in operations against the Maoists in Bastar.Amit Shah declares India Maoism freeUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on 18 May announced that the country was ‘free’ from Maoism.“I am declaring with pride, India is now Naxal-free,” Shah said in Bastar, where he was on his first visit after March 31, a date the Centre had earlier set as a deadline to eliminate Left-wing extremism from the country.Union Home Minister Amit Shah: 'I am declaring with pride, India is now Naxal-free.'A native of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Sundarraj holds a Bachelor's degree in agriculture science He studied at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, completing a degree in agriculture before shifting his focus to civil services before shifting his focus to civil services.(With PTI inputs)Get Latest real-time updatesStay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US news. HomeNewsWho is Sundarraj P? Bastar's longest-serving IPS officer now joins NIAMore

Padma Jaiswal was posted as Special Secretary in the Administrative Reforms Department of the Delhi government and has been removed after a long-drawn disciplinary process. Who is Padma Jaiswal, IAS officer in spotlight over Arunachal graft case?Padma Jaiswal, a 2003-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories) cadre has been removed from service on charges of corruption, a report in Indian Express said.Jaiswal was posted as Special Secretary in the Administrative Reforms Department of the Delhi government and has been removed after a long-drawn disciplinary process. Her removal order Was issued a few days ago with final approval from the President of India on the recommendation of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) headed by the Prime Minister, the Indian express report said.What is the case?The action against Jaiswal is regarding allegations dating back to 2007-08 when she was posted as Deputy Commissioner of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh.In February 2008, a complaint filed by local residents in West Kameng accusing her of misappropriation of government revenue and misuse of official position.Jaiswal was briefly suspended in 2008 but reinstated later pending inquiry which concluded recently.The MHA is learnt to have initiated action under Rule 8 of the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had earlier quashed it on jurisdiction grounds. The Union government challenged the CAT order before the Delhi High Court, which on April 1 this year ruled in favour of the Centre.After the High Court verdict, the MHA completed the process and recommended the major penalty of removal.Who is Padma Jaiswal?Born on October 6, 1975, Padma Jaiswal is a 2003 batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre. She holds a BCom in Accountancy, an MCom in Management, and a CS in Company Management.Padma Jaiswal served as the Special Secretary at Delhi in the Administrative Reforms Department since 16 February, 2026. Throughout her two-decade long career, she Padma Jaiswal held various positions including Secretary, Secretary to Government, Director, Deputy Commissioner, Joint Secretary, and Registrar.The removal from service ends her current IAS tenure but does not automatically bar future government employment.About the AuthorGulam JeelaniGulam Jeelani is Political Desk Editor at LiveMint with over 16 years of experience covering national and international politics. Based in New Delhi, Jeelani delivers impactful political narratives through breaking stories, in-depth interviews, and analytical pieces at LiveMint since February 2024. The expertise in video production fuels his current responsibilities, which include curating content and conducting video interviews for an expanding digital audience. Jeelani also travels during elections and key political events and has covered assembly elections in key states apart from national elections. He has previously worked with The Pioneer, Network18, India Today, News9Plus and Hindustan Times. Jeelani’s tenure at LiveMint and previous experience at print and digital newsrooms have honed his skills in creating compelling text and video stories, explainers, and analysis that resonate with a diverse viewership. Before moving to New Delhi in 2015, Jeelani was based in Uttar Pradesh, where he worked for five years as a reporter. In 2018, Jeelani was one of the two Indian journalists selected for the Alfred Friendly Fellowship in the US. There, he attended training workshops on reporting and data journalism, and he was attached to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in Minnesota, where he worked as a reporter. Jeelani is a Bachelor's in Chemistry and holds a Masters Degree in journalism and mass communication from Aligarh Muslim University. Outside work, he enjoys poetry, cricket and movies.Stay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US new