Inside Raisina Hill: Shakti Sharma Scripts History, Bureaucrat Turns Author

As one walks down the Hill along the Rajpath, now renamed Kartavya Path, come other edifices — Rail Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, Shashtri Bhavan, and Kartavya 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 on 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".

AVM Rank: Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma Breaks Glass Ceiling

Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has etched her name in the history of India’s Armed Forces by becoming the first woman officer from a non-medical branch across the Indian Defence establishment to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal, a prestigious two-star rank.

The landmark achievement comes as the Indian Air Force (IAF) continues to expand the role of women in positions of command, leadership, and strategic responsibility. On September 1, 2026, Air Vice Marshal Sharma assumed charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters.

Commissioned into the IAF’s Education Branch on June 18, 1994, she brings more than three decades of distinguished service to her new appointment. Her elevation represents far more than a personal milestone, as it signals the changing face of India’s military leadership and the growing opportunities for women across diverse branches of the armed forces.

AGMUT Cadre IPS Officer Goes Missing

A senior AGMUT cadre IPS officer has gone untraceable, prompting authorities in Mizoram to launch an inquiry into his whereabouts.

The officer has been identified as Shankar Choudhary, a 2011-batch IPS officer, posted as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at Police Headquarters in Aizawl (Mizoram). Officials said that Choudhary was on prolonged leave for more than 100 days between April and July 2026 and has not reported for duty despite being directed to take charge as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Training.

With authorities unable to establish contact or determine his whereabouts, a formal inquiry has now been initiated to trace the officer, the officials said.

A native of Jharkhand, Choudhary holds a master’s degree and joined the IPS on August 29, 2011. During his career, he served in the Delhi Police, including as a Deputy Commissioner of Police, before moving to Mizoram, where he handled assignments in the Narcotics wing and at Police Headquarters.

His prolonged absence comes amid a Delhi Police Vigilance Unit case registered in February 2026 over alleged police actions in November 2023. The allegations include unlawful detention, undocumented searches and seizures, and extortion. The case reportedly involves the alleged detention of a Nigerian national, Harrison, who was taken to Mizoram House in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar following a police operation.

Race For Top RPF Post Heats Up

The race for the top post at the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is gathering pace, with the spotlight already turning to potential successors to Sonali Mishra, who is set to move out on November 1.

Among the names generating the most buzz is Samapt Meena, a 1994-batch Jharkhand-cadre IPS officer currently serving as Special Director in the CBI. Meena is widely seen as a strong contender.

If she lands the RPF Director General’s post, Meena would make history as the second woman to head the force.

Meena is, however, not the only woman in the race. Anupama Chandra, currently serving as DG (Investigation) at the National Human Rights Commission, is also being projected as a serious contender for the coveted post.

Beyond the two women officers, the succession race is drawing interest from several senior IPS officers of the 1993 and 1994 batches, who are understood to be quietly positioning themselves for one of the most sought-after appointments in the policing establishment.

Ex-Manipur CS Puneet Goel In Race For DERC Chairmanship

With former Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel having exited the post, speculation is mounting that the 1991-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer could be headed for another key assignment – and this time at the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

Sources in administrative circles suggest that the Centre and the Delhi government, potentially on the same page, may consider Goel for the coveted post of DERC Chairperson. The position has remained vacant since retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Umesh Kumar demitted office last year.

Goel’s profile gives his candidature considerable weight. An IIT alumnus with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he brings specialised domain knowledge to a regulatory role at the heart of Delhi’s power sector. His perceived proximity to former Union Power Secretary and incumbent Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla is also seen by some insiders as an advantage.

Yet, not everyone in administrative circles is convinced that Goel has a clear run. Some observers believe his candidature could face hurdles as the selection process gathers momentum.

Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, a former IFS officer, has constituted a three-member panel headed by retired Delhi High Court judge Justice S.L. Bhayana to shortlist candidates for the crucial regulatory post.

The DERC chairmanship, vacant for months, is now firmly back on the power-and-policy radar.

IPS Officer Narayan Upadhyay Moved To Bihar Cadre

In another instance of inter-cadre movement within the All India Services, Narayan Upadhyay, a 2023-batch IPS officer, has been shifted from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre to Bihar following his marriage to his batchmate Sushma Sagar (IPS: 2023: BH).

The transfer has been approved by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions under Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 5 of the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954. The provision allows inter-cadre transfers on marriage grounds, subject to the concurrence of the respective state governments.

Bureaucrat's Memoir Explores Corridors Of Power

My Lady In Black, a memoir on institutional power written by Pankaj, Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner (HQ), was released at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on August 30 (Sunday), 2026. PENmanush, a venture dedicated to first-time authors, published the memoir. The memoir was released in the presence of Shantmanu (IAS; Retd.), State Election Commissioner, Jammu & Kashmir; Alok Mittal, Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D); advocate Braj Kishore Mishra; and senior journalist Satish K. Singh. 

Interestingly, the memoir, which explores the institutional footprint of power and the dynamics of the legal framework, is already being adapted for the screen.