Inside Raisina Hill: MP Government's Delhi Outreach And The IPS Deputation Question

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".

Madhya Pradesh Government Steps Up Delhi Outreach

Madhya Pradesh’s “double-engine” government appears to be putting an extra engine behind its Delhi outreach.

Despite already having a Resident Commissioner in the national capital, the Mohan Yadav government has now turned to a seasoned retired IPS officer to strengthen its interface with the Centre further. Sources say 1995-batch IPS officer A. Sai Manohar has been appointed Advisor to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on a contractual basis and will operate out of the Chief Minister’s Office in New Delhi.

The move is being seen as an attempt to give Madhya Pradesh’s Centre-state coordination a more focused and strategic edge. Manohar is expected to work closely on issues requiring sustained engagement with the Union government, particularly matters of strategic importance to the state.

The appointment, however, has triggered some chatter in bureaucratic circles, with questions being raised over the need for another layer of Delhi representation. Yet, supporters of the move point to Manohar’s reputation as one of the more capable officers of his generation.

With his Delhi posting, the Yadav government appears keen to ensure that the State's priorities have a stronger and more direct voice in the corridors of the Centre.

Former Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta Dies By Suicide

Former Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, a 1975-batch AGMUT-cadre (retired) IAS officer, was found dead at his rented residence in Noida.

A note recovered from the residence reportedly attributed the extreme step to prolonged illness and stated that no one was responsible.

Mehta had held several senior positions in the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), playing a role in key civic, transport and power-sector initiatives in the Capital.

He became Delhi Chief Secretary in 2007 and headed the administration during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a period marked by intense focus on the city’s infrastructure and preparations. He retired from service in November 2010.

Despite SC Curbs, IPS Deputations Continue

The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from the Union Home Secretary over the continued deputation of IPS officers to senior posts in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), despite its direction to progressively reduce such appointments.

In an affidavit filed before the court, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said 46 IPS officers had been deputed to CAPFs to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) since the Supreme Court’s May 23, 2025 judgment. The BSF received the highest number at 13, followed by CISF with 11, CRPF with nine, SSB with seven and ITBP with six.

The court had, in its July 28, 2026 order, sought cadre-wise details of IPS officers deputed to the CAPFs after its 2025 ruling, which directed that posts reserved for deputation up to SAG level be progressively reduced within an outer limit of two years.

Now, the Bench has asked the Union Home Secretary to explain why such deputations continued despite the earlier directive. The Home Secretary has been given two weeks to file an affidavit, as the Supreme Court bench has fixed September 22 as the date for further hearing into the matter.

The development comes days after the court issued notice to the Centre on a challenge to the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026, which permits continued deputation of IPS officers to senior CAPF posts.

RAS Officers' Induction Into IAS Likely Soon

The long-pending process to induct eligible Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is finally set to move ahead, with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Selection Committee meeting likely to be convened soon, officials said.

The officials confirmed that the Rajasthan Department of Personnel (DoP) has forwarded the final list of eligible RAS officers to the UPSC after resolving objections and completing the pending procedural formalities.

The exercise had initially been set in motion in May 2026, when the State government sent the list to the UPSC for scrutiny. But objections raised by some officers, along with requests for additional information during the verification process, pushed the timeline back by nearly three months.

The next crucial step is the UPSC Selection Committee meeting, which will assess the eligible officers and recommend candidates for induction into the IAS.

The current promotion cycle covers 18 vacancies in the Rajasthan IAS cadre. Once the Selection Committee completes its deliberations and recommendations are finalised, the process will move towards formal appointment.

The resumption of the exercise is expected to bring relief to RAS officers awaiting promotion and end a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding the cadre’s elevation process.

REC Leads In ‘Official Language’ Implementation

REC Limited has secured the first prize for excellence in implementing the Official Language Policy for 2025-26, emerging as the top performer among organisations under the Ministry of Power.

The award was decided at a meeting of the Ministry’s Hindi Salahkar Samiti and was presented by Union Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal. Jitendra Shrivastava, a 2000-batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre, Chairman and Managing Director of REC, received the honour on behalf of the company.