Inside Raisina Hill: The Bureaucracy Divide In Chandigarh That Tips The Balance

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".

Chandigarh's IAS, IPS Cadre Exceeds Sanctioned Strength

While most states and Union Territories grapple with an acute shortage of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, Chandigarh stands out for the opposite reason, as it has more officers than its sanctioned strength, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed Parliament.

Replying to a written question from Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that the Union Territory has 12 IAS officers against a sanctioned strength of 11 and 9 IPS officers against 7 approved posts.

The surplus includes officers drawn on deputation from neighbouring states. Of the IAS officers, five are on deputation: three from Punjab and two from Haryana. Among the IPS officers, two are on deputation, one each from the Punjab and Haryana cadre.

Highlighting the contrast, Tewari noted that the neighbouring districts of Mohali and Panchkula, each spanning four to five times the area of Chandigarh, are run by just one Deputy Commissioner and one Senior Superintendent of Police, respectively.

Senior IAS Officer Manoj Kumar Dwivedi To Head NDMC

Senior IAS officer Manoj Kumar Dwivedi (AGMUT cadre, 1997 batch) has been appointed Chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), marking a key administrative reshuffle in the national capital.

The appointment, cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), comes following Dwivedi’s repatriation to his parent AGMUT cadre. He took charge of the civic body after Keshav Chandra (AGMUT cadre, 1995 batch) demitted office upon his appointment as Secretary, Ministry of Mines, on July 23, 2026.

Before his elevation to the NDMC’s top post, Dwivedi was serving as Additional Secretary (Establishment) in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions. In that role, he handled key personnel and cadre management matters involving the Central government.

His appointment comes at a time when the NDMC, which administers the high-profile Lutyens’ Delhi area housing several key government institutions, embassies and national landmarks, is overseeing multiple civic and infrastructure initiatives. As Chairperson, Dwivedi will head the council’s administrative machinery and steer policy implementation in one of the country's most strategically significant municipal jurisdictions.

15 IRS Officers Vie For 3 CBDT Board Positions

The selection process for three vacant Member posts on the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) gathered pace on Wednesday (August 5), with the high-powered selection committee beginning interviews of 15 shortlisted Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officers.

The two-day exercise opened with five candidates appearing before the panel on Wednesday, while the remaining 10 officers appeared for the interview on Thursday. The appointments are expected to shape the top leadership of the country’s apex direct tax administration.

The contest brings together senior IRS (Income Tax) officers from three batches. According to sources, the shortlist comprises four officers from the 1990 batch, seven from the 1991 batch and four from the 1992 batch, all competing for the coveted Board-level positions.

The recruitment process was initially launched to fill two vacancies on the CBDT. However, the field was expanded after a third vacancy arose, as G. Aparna Rao (Member) is due to retire at the end of this month. Consequently, five additional officers were invited to join the selection process, taking the total number of candidates to 15.

The CBDT, functioning under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance, is the apex policymaking body for direct taxes in India. Headed by a Chairman, the Board can have up to six Members, who oversee critical functions including income tax administration, tax policy formulation, revenue mobilisation, investigations, taxpayer services, and legal affairs.

PESB Finds No Suitable Candidate For NTC CMD Post

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has failed to recommend a candidate for the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Textile Corporation Ltd (NTC), leaving the top position at the state-owned textile company vacant.

At its meeting held on August 4, 2026, the PESB interviewed Ashutosh Gupta, Director (Human Resources) and Director (Marketing) (Additional Charge), NTC, for the coveted post. But the Board did not find his candidature suitable for appointment as CMD.

Following the interview, the PESB advised the Ministry of Textiles, the administrative ministry for NTC, to initiate the next course of action for filling the vacancy. The Board recommended that the Ministry consider an alternative selection process, including referring the appointment to a Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC), or adopt any other procedure deemed appropriate with the approval of the competent authority.

The development means the leadership position at National Textile Corporation will continue to remain vacant until the government initiates a fresh selection process or opts for an alternative appointment mechanism. NTC, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles, plays a key role in managing the country's network of government-owned textile mills and related assets.

CAPF Cadre Officers Take Exception To 2026 Act

More than 3,000 Group A officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have approached the Supreme Court, challenging provisions of the Central Armed Police Force (General Administration) Act, 2026, claiming that the new law adversely affects their career progression and prospects of reaching senior leadership positions.

The petitioners have questioned the legislation, which they contend makes it more difficult for CAPF cadre officers to rise to top command positions while facilitating the continued appointment of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation to key roles.

The Act, passed by Parliament on April 2 and notified on April 9, 2026, has triggered concerns among CAPF officers who argue that it undermines their promotional avenues and alters the command structure of the forces.

The legal challenge comes months after a Supreme Court judgment in May 2025 that directed measures to reduce the dominance of IPS officers in CAPF leadership roles and to create greater opportunities for force cadre officers to occupy senior posts.

The petitioners have urged the apex court to examine the validity and impact of the new legislation, which they claim reverses the intent of the earlier judicial directions and affects thousands of officers serving across the CAPF organisations.