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

Global Mission For Pavan Kapoor 

Pavan Kapoor, the 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and currently Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA), is tipped to spearhead a crucial diplomatic initiative aimed at advancing India’s national security interests, particularly in sensitive extradition cases.

Sources indicate that Kapoor is likely to lead high-level Indian delegations to engage with key countries and secure international cooperation in bringing individuals wanted in security-related cases back to India. The proposed assignment comes amid New Delhi’s renewed efforts to strengthen cross-border coordination in dealing with fugitives and complex extradition proceedings.

The potential move signals a concerted diplomatic push by India to leverage its strategic partnerships for cooperation on matters with significant national security implications. Kapoor’s experience in handling sensitive bilateral engagements is expected to lend considerable weight to the initiative.

A seasoned diplomat with an extensive international profile, Kapoor has served as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs and as India’s ambassador to Russia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Mozambique.

His exposure to diverse geopolitical environments and experience in navigating complex diplomatic relationships make him a strong contender for negotiations requiring strategic discretion and political sensitivity.

If assigned the role, Kapoor would bring considerable diplomatic heft to India’s efforts to secure cooperation from foreign governments on high-stakes extradition matters.

Year As Interim Law Secretary

The Centre’s interim arrangement for the crucial Law Secretary’s post is set to complete a year, with Rajiv Mani continuing to hold the portfolio as additional charge since 20 November last year.

Mani, who is Secretary of the Legislative Department, was entrusted with the additional responsibility of Law Secretary following the lateral shift of Anju Rathi Rana, the first woman to head the Department of Legal Affairs as Secretary, to Member-Secretary of the 23rd Law Commission.

The arrangement, initially intended to bridge the transition, has continued for nearly 12 months, with no full-fledged appointment yet announced. A permanent successor is now expected in the forthcoming round of Secretary-level appointments.

This is the second occasion on which Mani has been asked to shoulder the additional responsibility of Law Secretary. He was earlier given the charge on 5 February 2024, following the appointment of Niten Chandra (IAS: 1990: OR) as Secretary of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare.

The prolonged interim arrangement has kept the top administrative position in the Department of Legal Affairs under additional charge, even as the government prepares for its next round of senior-level bureaucratic appointments.

Sanjay Kumar Singh In Bihar CMO?

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary’s Office is set for another senior bureaucratic import from Odisha cadre, with 1997-batch IAS officer Sanjay Kumar Singh being considered for the post of Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. The state government has sent a proposal to the Centre for inter-cadre transfer.

The Centre has initiated the process for Singh’s inter-cadre deputation following a request from the Bihar government and has sought vigilance clearance from his parent cadre, Odisha.

Singh is serving as Principal Secretary of Odisha’s Works Department, with additional charge of the Food Supplies Department. His proposed move would place him in a key position in the Bihar Chief Minister’s Office, strengthening the administrative team around Chaudhary.

The development follows the deputation of another Odisha-cadre officer, Manish Kumar Verma, to the Bihar CMO during Nitish Kumar’s tenure as Chief Minister.

Verma, a 2000-batch IAS officer, later took voluntary retirement in 2018 and joined the Janata Dal (United) in 2024, ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

Singh’s proposed move thus marks another instance of Bihar turning to experienced Odisha-cadre bureaucrats for a key role at the highest level of the state administration. The appointment, however, remains subject to completion of the inter-cadre deputation process and the Centre’s approval.

Apex Court Seeks CAPF Cadre Review

The Supreme Court has renewed its scrutiny of the Centre’s handling of cadre restructuring in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), observing that its earlier directions on cadre review have not been complied with and directing the cadre review panel to submit its proposal for approval by 30 November 2026.

In a significant move, the court has also sought details of IPS officers serving on deputation in the five CAPFs - Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal - up to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG).

The latest intervention brings the contentious issue of cadre management in the paramilitary forces back into focus, particularly long-standing concerns over promotional avenues, career progression, and the allocation of senior command positions.

The demand for deputation-related information is particularly significant as the presence of IPS officers in senior positions has been a sensitive issue in the CAPFs, with cadre officers raising concerns over their share of leadership positions and the impact on promotion prospects.

The court’s intervention is also important in the backdrop of its May 23, 2025, judgment on service-related issues in the forces and the Centre’s subsequent legislative and administrative measures. The government’s compliance with the court’s directions is now under sharper judicial examination.

The 30 November deadline could prove crucial in determining the future framework of cadre management, career progression, and senior-level appointments across the five forces.

Bid To Recall 4 IAS Officers Rejected

The Centre, it is learnt, has rejected the Rajasthan government’s request to repatriate four senior IAS officers from Central deputation, dealing a setback to the state’s efforts to ease mounting pressure on its administrative machinery.

The state government had approached the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), seeking the return of Naresh Pal Gangwar, Rajeev Singh Thakur, Roli Singh, and Rajat Kumar Mishra, all of whom have been serving in Central assignments for several years.

Rajasthan had reportedly argued that their experience and administrative expertise were urgently needed to strengthen governance, expedite the implementation of Budget announcements, and improve monitoring of welfare and development programmes.

The Centre’s decision comes at a time when the state is grappling with a shortage of experienced IAS officers for key administrative assignments. The crunch has reportedly resulted in several senior officers being burdened with multiple departmental responsibilities, affecting the distribution of administrative workload.

The rejection is likely to complicate the state government’s efforts to streamline its bureaucratic set-up and ensure closer monitoring of flagship schemes and development initiatives.

The episode also highlights the competing demands of state governments and the Centre over the availability of senior IAS officers, particularly those with considerable administrative experience.