Inside Raisina Hill: UPSC Unveils Logo, Swadeshi Push, & New Press Secretary To President

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".

UPSC's New Logo

On the occasion of the 100-year celebrations (commenced this week) of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Ajay Kumar, Chairman, UPSC, unveiled the new logo for the examination body. 

In the new logo, the national emblem, which is placed in the centre, is flanked by a wreath of banyan leaves on either side. It also features a ribbon bearing the words, "Sangh Lok Seva". 

The logo has been designed in view of UPSC's pivotal role in India’s administrative progress. The earlier logo prominently used the Ashoka Emblem. 

The UPSC also launched a portal titled "My UPSC Interview: From Dream to Reality", which is accessible on innovateindia.mygov.in/upsc. The new portal intends to invite both serving and retired civil servants to share their personal experiences of appearing before the UPSC interview board.

Swadeshi Push

Over the past several years, the Narendra Modi government has been pushing for the Swadeshi cause. The recent high tariffs imposed by the US have also prompted the Centre to double down on the initiative.

And the birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi this week turned out to be an occasion to amplify the voice for the movement: several of the top ministers and bureaucrats were seen shopping, some along with their spouses, at various Khadi stores and other Swadeshi outlets across the country. The government firmly believes that the nation needs to opt for Indian brands and localised businesses.    

Books On Counter-Naxal Ops

A set of books on anti-Naxal operations is likely to hit the market over the next few months, as several top IAS and IPS officers, who have served in the Maoist-affected regions, have been penning memories from their tenure in such regions. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has designated 31 March 2026 as the date to wipe out such extremism from the country, and the books are also likely to be released on the scheduled date.  

New Press Secretary

The position of Press Secretary to the President of India has returned to the Indian Information Service (IIS) cadre after over a decade. Manisha Verma, a 1995-batch IIS officer, on Friday took charge as the Press Secretary to President Droupadi Murmu, succeeding Ajay Singh, whose term ended on September 26. 

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment on September 25.

As per the order, Verma’s term is co-terminus with that of President Murmu, or until further orders.

The term of Singh, a veteran journalist, was extended for another year by the ACC last year. He served in the Rashtrapati Bhavan for six years. He was appointed as the Press Secretary to former President Ram Nath Kovind for a year in September 2019.

Earlier, Archana Datta worked as an Officer on Special Duty (Public Relations) under former President Pratibha Patil, from 2007 to 2012. Before her, S.M. Khan served former President A.P.J Abdul Kalam as his Press Secretary, which was probably the first time an IIS officer was appointed to this role.