Inside Raisina Hill: UPSC CSE 2026, Vanishing Act, & 8th CPC

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".

UPSC CSE 2026

After a delay of a few weeks, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has now formally released the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification, announcing 933 vacancies for top administrative positions, including IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services. The online application window is open from February 4 to February 24, 2026.

The preliminary examination will be held on May 24, 2026, and the mains examination will be held on August 21, 2026. The cut-off date for age eligibility is August 1, 2026.

As per the notification, of the 933 vacancies, 33 posts are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates. The final number of vacancies may vary based on inputs from Cadre Controlling Authorities. Government reservations will also apply for SC, ST, OBC, Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and PwBD candidates.

IDAS Officer Ashish Yadav Takes Up Role Of Director In 8th CPC

Ashish Yadav, a 2012-batch Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) officer, has been appointed as the Director of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC). This was approved and recently announced by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Yadav shall be joining the 8th CPC on a deputation basis under the Central Staffing Scheme; his tenure would be ‘Co-Terminus’ with the pay panel led by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.

The 8th CPC was formally constituted on November 3, 2025, and the assignment is extendable up to his admissible tenure under the Central Staffing Scheme or until further orders, whichever is earlier, the DoPT added in its order.

IDAS Yadav’s career reflects steady progression within the Defence Accounts Department (DAD), moving from regional controller roles to central government policy implementation.

The 8th CPC is mandated to revise and re-work the salary, allowances, and pension structures for over one crore Central government employees and pensioners. The panel has been given 18 months to complete its recommendations, with a target of mid-2027 for report delivery. The new pay scales have an official reference date of January 1, 2026, with actual financial rollout projected for late 2027 or early 2028.

Corporate Coup Rumours

The rumour mills kept churning about a "corporate coup" at the public sector undertaking Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) following a digital glitch due to an error in the server of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB).     

A technical glitch on the PESB website sent ripples through the corridors of power as it resulted in the sudden disappearance of SAIL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Amarendu Prakash’s name from the official portal. This had happened on January 31, 2026.  

However, by the evening of February 1, 2026, all such speculations were put to rest when the name of the CMD was restored to the portal, confirming that the “vanishing act” was nothing more than a digital glitch, which can happen anytime and anywhere.

New NCDRC Members

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of two members to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), following recommendations from the Search-cum-Selection Committee of the Department of Consumer Affairs. These appointments are for tenures of five years or until the appointee reaches 67 years of age, whichever is earlier.

The officers, who have been appointed, include 1989-batch retired IPS officer Pidaparthi Venkata Rama Sastry and 1986-batch IFoS officer Shashi Nandkeolyar.

Sastry is a former Director General of Police, Department of Prisons, Uttar Pradesh, and Nandkeolyar is a former Director, State Institute of Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand.

The NCDRC, established under the Consumer Protection Act, serves as the apex body for addressing consumer grievances in India. The commission plays a critical role in adjudicating disputes involving consumer rights, ensuring fair resolution of complaints against goods and services, and strengthening consumer protection mechanisms across the country.

Assam Chief Secretary Tenure Extension

With the approval from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), the Assam government has extended the tenure of Ravi Kota, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the State cadre, as the Chief Secretary, for a period of six months beyond the date of his superannuation (April 30, 2026).

In an order issued by the State’s Department of Personnel, the government said, “In pursuance of approval of the Government of India, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), New Delhi, and in the interest of public service, the services of Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS (AM:1993), Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, is extended for a period of 06 (six) months beyond the date of his superannuation.”

Kota was appointed as the 51st Chief Secretary to the Assam government on January 17, 2024, superseding at least three IAS officers. He replaced Paban Kumar Borthakur, who had retired on March 31, 2024.