All-Female Crew Takes Over Forestry Association; IRS Officer Quits Govt, Eyes Consultancy

As one walks down the Hill along the Rajpath, now renamed Kartavya Path, come other edifices — Rail Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, and Shashtri Bhavan on one side and Sena Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan and Vanijya Bhavan on the other. The bureaucrats who adorn the offices in these buildings decide India's economic, social, and industrial policies. There are many tales to be told from the corridors of these grandiose buildings. We let you in on some of them here in this week's edition of "Inside Raisina Hill".

IFS Goes Glam with Women Power!

Move over boys’ club, there’s a new forest fire lighting up India’s civil services. And this time, it’s all-female! The Indian Forest Service Association just shook things up at its General Body meeting, electing a trailblazing new national executive body. And guess what? For the first time, it’s an all-women crew at the helm. Talk about a breath of fresh (forest) air!

Leading the pack is the seasoned Jyotsna Sitling as Patron, with Anita Karan taking on the role of President. The dynamic Monalisa Dash takes over as the Secretary-General, joined by the ever-efficient Surbhi Rai as Joint Secretary, Suvvena Thakur as Treasurer, and Chestha Singh holding court as Literary Secretary.

The IFS may be known for guarding trees and tigers, but this new leadership is all about planting the seeds of change — and girl, are they growing fast! With 36 organised civil services associations in India, this leafy league just made history by becoming the first all-women executive team at the national level.

From patrolling jungles to crafting policies for a greener economy, these wonder women are proving that glass ceilings — even in forest canopies — are made to be shattered. The message? Gender-inclusive governance isn’t just a trend — it’s the new normal.

IRS Officer Kapil Raj Quits, Open To Corporate Move

Soon, the private sector will get its own ‘financial detective’ on hire. A former senior investigator in the Enforcement Directorate has resigned from government service, and there are whispers in his peer group that he is planning to take up such a job on assignment. 

Kapil Raj, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 2009 batch, who has led several sensitive cases like the probes into the Delhi Excise Policy scam and the Jharkhand Land Scam during his stint with the ED, has hung up his boots. He counts arresting two state Chief Ministers among his credits.

Whispers are now doing the rounds that Raj is planning to venture into private detective roles and is planning to offer consultancy to private sector enterprises.

At the time of his resignation, Raj was serving as the Additional Director in the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Delhi, after he returned from his deputation with the ED, where he served as an Additional Director.

Other noteworthy cases in which he had a role during his stint with the ED include probing the Jharkhand Mining scams, the PNB scam, the West Bengal Coal scam, and the Yes Bank scam.

From IAS To AI, With Musical Interludes

A recent viral video has taken the internet by storm — not for a dance trend or a celebrity cameo, but for the soulful notes sung by Kashish Mittal, a former IAS officer — who has turned into a tech entrepreneur. 

With over six lakh views in just three days, the video not only showcases Mittal’s musical finesse as a trained Hindustani classical singer, but also shines a light on his fascinating, unconventional life journey.

Mittal was never a typical bureaucrat, or for that matter tech leader. His story begins with academic brilliance: Securing an All-India Rank of 6 in the JEE, he went on to study Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi, graduating in 2010.

But the IIT tag was not where he stopped. Driven by a desire to serve, he cracked the civil services exam soon after, this time earning an impressive All-India Rank of 58. He joined the IAS in 2011 and was posted in the AGMUT cadre.

Yet, despite the prestige and promise of a high-ranking government job, Mittal made a bold move in 2019, and resigned. Reportedly unhappy with a transfer to Arunachal Pradesh, he chose to walk away from one of India’s most sought-after careers. But he wasn’t walking away from ambition; just redirecting it.

His next destination was the cutting-edge world of technology. Mittal joined Microsoft as a Principal Research Programme Manager, where he spent five years helming research and innovation. Then, in March 2025, he made another daring leap, this time into entrepreneurship. Co-founding Disha AI, Mittal embarked on a mission to blend his tech expertise with a vision for meaningful impact in the AI space.

And all the while, music remained a quiet but steady presence in his life. A trained Hindustani classical vocalist, Mittal’s recent viral video revealed a personal, artistic side of a man who has worn many hats. Not only has his performance captivated listeners, but also reignited admiration for his extraordinary path.

Social media has been buzzing with praise. Users across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have hailed his courage to break away from the norm — excelling in India’s toughest academic and professional challenges, then choosing to follow his heart. His journey is being celebrated as a testament to the power of versatility, passion, and reinvention.

To Select NMDC Director, PESB Tells Govt To Take SCSC Route 

For some time now, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has struggled to find the right leadership talent for several key positions across Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs). The latest example adds to this growing concern.

On July 21, the PESB conducted interviews for the post of Director (Finance) at National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Limited — a crucial role that remained vacant for months. Despite a shortlist of seven candidates from within the PSU ecosystem, the board came away unimpressed. Not one individual was deemed suitable for the high-stakes financial leadership role at one of India’s largest mining companies.

This outcome not only reflects a persistent talent vacuum but also highlights the limitations of the current selection process. The PESB has now referred the matter to the Ministry of Steel. It has been suggested that the ministry explore alternative methods of selection, such as constituting a Search-Cum-Selection Committee (SCSC), or any other route deemed fit, with due approval from the competent authority.

The development raises broader questions about succession planning and the availability of leadership-ready professionals within India's public sector structure.

Commerce Ministry Holds Workshop On Trade Remedy Tools For MSMEs 

In a bid to empower India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) against unfair global trade practices, the Commerce Ministry recently hosted an insightful workshop focused on trade remedy measures. 

The event was held under the guidance of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), including sessions aimed at raising awareness among MSMEs about the tools at their disposal to counter challenges like the dumping of foreign goods in Indian markets.

“The central theme,” the Ministry said, “...was to equip the MSME sector with knowledge on available trade remedy tools, facilitate discussions on existing challenges faced by them, and explore concrete ways forward to strengthen their defence against unfair trade practices.”

The event drew participation from industry leaders, policymakers, and global trade experts. Notably, Anant Swarup, former DG of DGTR, and Andrea Mastromatteo, Director of the Rules Division at the WTO, shared valuable insights into navigating the complex world of global trade regulations.

With MSMEs forming the backbone of India's economy, such initiatives are timely and essential. By educating smaller businesses on how to protect themselves from predatory practices, the ministry is paving the way for a more level playing field in international trade.