Inside Raisina Hill: IFS Officer Vipul Appointed As India’s Ambassador To Saudi Arabia

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".

Diplomat Vipul Appointed India’s Ambassador To Saudi Arabia

The Centre has appointed diplomat Vipul, a 1998-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and a leading expert on Gulf and West Asia affairs, as India’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Vipul, who is currently serving as India’s Ambassador to Qatar, will take up his new assignment in Riyadh shortly. He succeeds Suhel Ajaz Khan at a time of growing strategic importance in India-Saudi Arabia relations.

His appointment comes as New Delhi seeks to further strengthen ties with Riyadh across key sectors, including energy security, trade, investment, defence cooperation, technology, and regional stability.

Widely regarded as one of the most significant postings in India’s diplomatic service, the role reflects Saudi Arabia’s rising geopolitical influence and its central position in India’s engagement with West Asia. Vipul’s extensive regional expertise is expected to further advance this critical partnership.

MHA To Reconsider IPS Officer’s VRS Plea

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is set to reconsider its decision to reject the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) application of Abdur Rahman, a 1997-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Maharashtra cadre, following a directive by the Supreme Court (SC).

Rahman had faced various charges, including torturing a person in 2014, contracting a second marriage without the consent of his first wife in 2016, and giving a speech in violation of rules in 2019.

The officer had applied for VRS in August 2019. This was not accepted, following which he approached the apex court. The SC directed the Centre to examine Rahman’s request for VRS afresh and take a decision in three months.

Senior IAS Officers Prematurely Repatriated To Parent Cadre

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a series of significant decisions involving senior IAS officers, including the premature repatriation of two officers to their parent cadres.

The decisions, notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), involve senior officers serving in NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance.

Senior IAS officer Rohit Kumar, who is currently serving as the Additional Secretary in NITI Aayog, has been prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre of Rajasthan. According to the DoPT order, the ACC approved his repatriation on the request of the Rajasthan government, along with the imposition of an extended cooling-off period.

His central deputation had earlier been extended by one year, from September 24, 2025, to September 24, 2026. Before his posting in NITI Aayog, Kumar served in the Cabinet Secretariat, where he held positions as Joint Secretary and later Additional Secretary from May 2022 onwards.

In another major repatriation decision, Sajjan Singh Yadav, who has been serving as Special Secretary in the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance since 2019, has also been prematurely repatriated to his parent (AGMUT) cadre. The ACC approved the move following a request from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. He initially joined as Joint Secretary and subsequently rose through the ranks after empanelment at higher levels, eventually serving at the Additional Secretary and Secretary-equivalent levels.

PFC Closes 3 SPV Subsidiaries

Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has informed stock exchanges that three of its wholly owned subsidiaries - Deoghar Infra Limited, Deoghar Mega Power Limited, and Jharkhand Infrapower Limited - have been struck off and dissolved by the Registrar of Companies, effective June 1, 2026.

The entities were incorporated as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) under the Companies Act, 1956, and were not classified as material subsidiaries of PFC. Their closure follows approval from the Ministry of Power on November 27, 2025, after which the required filings were submitted to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). The MCA subsequently approved the dissolution with effect from June 1, 2026.

The move is part of PFC’s ongoing efforts to simplify its corporate structure and rationalise its subsidiary portfolio. As the dissolved entities were non-material subsidiaries with no significant operational relevance, the development is not expected to have any material impact on the company’s business operations, financial performance, or overall growth prospects.

IREDA Wins Data Centre Excellence Award

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has been honoured with the prestigious “Data Centre Excellence” Award at the 11th India PSU IT Awards 2026. The ceremony was held in New Delhi, organised by Governance Now.

The award highlights IREDA’s strong commitment to strengthening its digital infrastructure and adopting technology-driven transformation across its operations. The recognition on behalf of IREDA was received by Kuber Malhotra, General Manager (IT), along with senior officials of the organisation. The organisation has been consistently investing in modern digital solutions to support its operational growth and renewable energy financing activities.