Inside Raisina Hill: If Consultation On Lateral Entry Is Underway, What's The Hold-Up?

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".

Lateral Entry Still In Limbo

Nearly two years have gone by since the government put the lateral entry recruitment process on hold after facing demands for implementing reservation in the policy. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, on Wednesday said that “no feasible option” had yet been arrived at, leaving the policy in limbo.

The Minister, however, contended that the lateral entry has not been suspended, and consultation was underway with all stakeholders. “There is no such order suspending the process,” he said while interacting with the media.

Explaining further in a lighter vein, the Minister said he was at a loss as to how to implement reservation in standalone posts.

Meanwhile, Rachna Shah, Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), said that lateral entry was done in three cycles and 63 officers were appointed in different departments. “Two-thirds (of them) are still in the government and contributing (as specialists),” she said.

5 IRS Officers Shortlisted For Post Of CBIC Member

The Ministry of Finance has shortlisted five senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers for a Board-level position (Member) in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

The list includes Raj Kumar and Valte Vungzamuan (1990 batch) and Prachi Saroop, Rimjhim Prasad, and Rajesh Jindal (1991 batch).

The schedule for the selection interview is yet to be announced. All nine applicants belong to the exact pool of 15 officers whom the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) passed over earlier this year when filling the previous three vacancies. The vacancy was advertised in the first week of February 2026.

Former CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta To Be Posted In Lakadh

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has made a swift course correction by deciding to post former CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta (IAS, 2012) to Ladakh. The MHA modified its previous deployment order (June 3) to post Gupta in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) had prematurely repatriated Gupta to his parent cadre (AGMUT) with an “extended cooling-off” period, following the fallout from the high-profile OSM row and NTA controversies. Immediately upon his return, the MHA had routed him to the remote Andaman & Nicobar Island territory.

After a closer review of the administrative circumstances, the MHA, however, chose to revisit its original directive, reconsidering the arduous Andaman assignment and issuing a fresh order to post the young officer in the strategic Ladakh.

14 Bihar Administrative Service Officers Promoted To IAS Cadre

In a move to strengthen Bihar's administrative efficiency, the Union government has promoted 14 officers of the Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) to the IAS cadre under the Select List of 2025.

The promotions were notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), and have been made against vacancies that arose between January 1 and December 31, 2025.

According to the official notification, the promotions were finalised in consultation with the Bihar government following the prescribed selection process.

The officers who have been promoted to the IAS cadre include Mrinayak Das, Manoranjan Kumar, Vikash Kumar, Gagan, Anjani Kumar, Md Ejtaba Hussain, Rajnish Kumar, Bidhu Bhushan Choudhary, Md Wasim Ahmad, Krityanand Ranjan, Md Rashid Alam, Ibrar Ahmad Khan, Manoj Kumar and Hemant Kumar Singh.

The DoPT notification stated that these promotions were approved after due consultation with the State government, and in accordance with the relevant provisions governing the induction of State Civil Service officers into the IAS cadre.

Following the Centre’s notification, Bihar’s General Administration Department is now mandated to issue a separate state-level notification assigning new departmental responsibilities and postings to the promoted officers.

CIL Partners With Bank of Baroda To Enhance Employees' Financial Security 

State-owned mining major Coal India Limited (CIL) has signed a corporate salary package (CSP) agreement with public sector lender Bank of Baroda to enhance financial security and banking benefits for its employees.

As part of the partnership, CIL employees will get high-value insurance coverage and improved banking services. Under the new arrangement, the employees will receive accidental insurance coverage of up to ₹1.50 crore, life insurance cover of up to ₹15 lakh, customised financial products, and improved services and simplified banking facilities

The partnership reflects CIL’s continued emphasis on employee-centric policies and welfare initiatives. Officials stated that the initiative will benefit thousands of employees across CIL’s nationwide operations.