Inside Raisina Hill: PM Modi's Birthday, Bulletproof Glass, Leadership Changes At CAPFs

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

Slew Of Campaigns Mark PM Modi’s Birthday

This year's celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday is also an occasion to honour the nation's brave soldiers. 

As part of a slew of campaigns to mark the birthday celebrations, the Central Secretariat Service Forum (CSS Forum) has launched the month-long 'Kartavya Abhiyan', which commenced on September 17. The initiative is held in collaboration with the armed forces under the themes, "A Tribute to our Brave Soldiers” and “Serving the Nation Beyond Desks – Kartavya through Blood Donation”.

The campaign will run till October 16. Inspired by the PM's vision, the campaign aims to demonstrate the commitment of CSS officers, extending beyond the confines of their desks, besides promoting transparency and exuding a spirit of public service among government employees.

Meanwhile, government ministries have been organising initiatives such as a special redressal drive, which commenced on September 17. A cleanliness drive across all ministries and departments will be conducted from October 1 to 5.

The campaigns will culminate on CSS Day on October 16, marking the 'Central Secretariat Service Duty Celebrations', with a renewed focus on providing timely and transparent information under the RTI Act and a push for greater use of Hindi in administrative tasks.

Bullet-resistant Glass To Add Extra Layer Of Safety 

The chambers of top-ranking officials may soon become absolutely impenetrable in the face of security threats. Amid growing threats and in view of India's increasingly prominent role in international diplomacy, the government mulls installing bullet-resistant glass in the chambers of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan. 

The move gains prominence as it is considered a broader security overhaul in response to growing threats against high-ranking officials. It is learnt that the Central Public Works Department has floated a tender in this regard.  

The bullet-resistant glass will be selected randomly and sent for testing to the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh or the Gujarat Forensic Science Lab in Gandhinagar.

Ensuring the safety of senior diplomats is paramount and of top priority, say government sources. 

Located in the VVIP zone of Lutyens Delhi, the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan is safeguarded by elite protection units. 

DARPG Secretary V Srinivas Receives Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar

During a function organised by the Department of Official Language to mark Hindi Diwas (September 14), Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar (First) to Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Secretary V Srinivas.

The award was handed over to the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances for Best Performance in ‘Official Language Hindi’, by the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs. The award was for the category of Ministries/Departments with less than 300 personnel for the year 2024-25.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances received the award for the second consecutive time.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances is committed to the effective implementation of the ‘Official Language Policy’ of the Union government. As a result of its efforts, the use of the official language saw a rise in the Department. The Department has also developed a mechanism to efficiently monitor the implementation of the Official Language Policy of the Union government in its sections, and the offices and autonomous bodies attached to it.

Leadership Changes In Offing At ITBP, CISF, BSF 

Besides the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), at least three more Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are set to see changes in their leadership positions in the next couple of years. 

In view of this, senior functionaries in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the cadre-controlling authority, have been brainstorming to look for potential replacements.

The Directors General (DGs) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are set to retire this month, while the Border Security Force (BSF) DG is expected to step down in November. 

Sources in the MHA indicated that the government is unlikely to give an extension to the outgoing senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. 

According to sources, several of the senior IPS officers from AGMUT, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and other cadres are being considered for the leadership roles in these CAPFs.

Besides the Chief of the CISF, RS Bhatti, incumbent Director General of ITBP Rahul Rasgotra, a 1989-batch IPS officer from the Manipur cadre, will retire this month. 

Among the choices for the replacement of Bhatti is B. Srinivasan, the current DG of the National Security Guard (NSG) and a 1992-batch IPS officer from Bihar. Srinivasan is considered the frontrunner for the post. 

Sources suggest that Vitul Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer from the UP cadre and currently Special DG in CRPF, is likely to succeed Rasgotra as the new ITBP DG.

Notably, BSF DG Daljit Singh Chawdhary, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is scheduled to retire in November 2025. However, sources say he remains in contention for a service extension. 

As the retirement dates approach, formal announcements regarding the successors to the DG positions in the ITBP, the CISF, and, possibly, the BSF, are expected anytime soon from the MHA.

UPSC Panel Of 3 IPS Officers For TN DGP

After an undue delay and the Supreme Court’s intervention, the Tamil Nadu government has sent a list of senior Indian Police Service Officers belonging to the state cadre to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select a panel of three for appointment as Director General of Police (DGP).

Officials said that the UPSC would now convene the Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM) on September 26, 2025, in New Delhi, to finalise the names of three IPS officers for the post of DGP for Tamil Nadu.

The high-level empanelment committee is chaired by the UPSC Chairman. It includes the Union Home Secretary, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, and a senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs, nominated from among the Central Police Organisations (CPOs) or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

The list of officers, which the Tamil Nadu government has submitted to the UPSC, includes Seema Agrawal (IPS:1992:TN), Rajeev Kumar (IPS:1992:TN), Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS:1992:TN), K Vanniaperumal (IPS:1992:TN), Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal (IPS:1994:TN), G Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN), Vinit Dev Wankhede (IPS:1994:TN), and Sanjay Mathur (IPS:1994:TN).

If Seema Agrawal gets selected, she will become the second woman DGP in Tamil Nadu’s history, following Letika Saran, who had served from 2010 to 2011.

The sources said that once the UPSC finalises the panel of three officers on September 26, the Tamil Nadu government is expected to act quickly and appoint a full-time DGP by early October 2025.