Inside Raisina Hill: Thrust On 'Whole-Of-Government' Approach To Accelerate Reforms

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".

Viksit Bharat@2047: From Policy Intent To Tangible Improvements

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent interaction with 80 Union Secretaries on the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 underscored the importance of adopting a “whole-of-government” approach to accelerate governance reforms and ensure time-bound delivery of national priorities.

The Prime Minister’s emphasis on breaking departmental silos through enhanced coordination, integrated planning, and transparent implementation reflects a shift towards collaborative governance, where ministries work in unison.

The Secretaries were also asked to leverage the PM GatiShakti platform, with a focus on technology-enabled coordination in improving decision-making and execution.

A senior official said that the deliberations centred on two critical pillars: deregulation, which is to enhance ease-of-doing business and ease of living. Equally significant is the focus on addressing sector-specific challenges through forward-looking governance strategies that strengthen institutional capacity and improve public service delivery.

“The discussions also reinforced that reforms must translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives rather than remain confined to policy intent. Stress on measurable outcomes, adherence to timelines, and the integration of artificial intelligence [AI] and other emerging technologies into governance reflects an outcome-oriented administrative framework aimed at making India more efficient, responsive, and prepared to realise the vision of a developed nation by 2047,” the official said.

What's Next For ONGC, Railway Board Chiefs?

In the corridors of power, retirement often marks a change of designation rather than an exit from public life. As the tenure of the chiefs of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and the Railway Board draws to a close, the buzz is that the government has already begun the process to assign new assignments to them.

ONGC Chairman Arun Kumar Singh is set to demit office on December 7, 2026, while Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar (IRMS, 1986) will complete his extended tenure on August 31, 2026. Sources indicate that both remain firmly on the government’s radar for high-profile post-retirement responsibilities, with regulatory, advisory, and strategic positions among the options under consideration.

Given the scale and complexity of the sectors they have steered, insiders believe neither is likely to fade into the background after superannuation. Instead, their retirement is widely expected to be a seamless transition into another influential assignment.

Will Incumbent Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav Remain At The Helm?

The race for Punjab’s next Director General of Police (DGP) has entered the final lap, but if the buzz in the power corridors is anything to go by, there may not be much of a race after all.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has cleared a three-member panel of 1992-batch IPS officers: incumbent DGP Gaurav Yadav, Special DGP-cum-Chief Director of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau Sharad Satya Chauhan, and Special DGP Harpreet Singh Sidhu.

The State government must now pick one name from the shortlist, but insiders say the scales are heavily tilted in favour of the incumbent.

According to sources, the State government sees little merit in changing the guard at a time when Punjab continues to grapple with narcotics, organised crime, and cross-border security challenges. Administrative continuity, they say, is emerging as the overriding consideration.

Yadav, who took over as Punjab Police chief in June 2022 in the aftermath of the Sidhu Moosewala murder, has since led the state’s anti-drug campaign, intensified operations against gangster networks, and strengthened intelligence-led policing. With retirement not due until April 2029, he also offers a longer tenure than his contemporaries.

The UPSC panel follows the Supreme Court-mandated process under the Prakash Singh police reforms judgment, leaving the final call with the State government. Unless political equations shift dramatically, officials believe the formal appointment may simply endorse what the bureaucracy already expects: that Gaurav Yadav will remain at the helm of the Punjab police force.

PESB Launches Search For Next ONGC Chairman

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has initiated the search for a new Chairman of ONGC, India’s largest upstream oil and gas company, setting the stage for one of the most closely watched leadership transitions in the public sector this year.

The selection process comes nearly five months before incumbent Arun Kumar Singh completes his tenure in December 2026.

Applications have been invited from eligible executives across the public and private sectors. Candidates must be between 45 and 59 years of age on the date the vacancy arises, while applications will be accepted between July 21 and July 30.

NBCC To Build New AP Bhavan In Delhi

State-owned NBCC (India) Ltd has secured a major infrastructure project with the Andhra Pradesh government, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct the new Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi on a turnkey basis.

Under the agreement, the Navratna public sector enterprise (PSU) will undertake the project from concept to completion, covering architectural design, planning, construction and end-to-end execution. The new Andhra Pradesh Bhavan will serve as Andhra Pradesh's official establishment in the national capital, providing accommodation for visiting dignitaries and officials, while also functioning as an administrative hub for the state government.

The MoU was signed in the presence of NBCC Chairman and Managing Director K.P. Mahadevaswamy and Andhra Pradesh Bhavan Residential Commissioner Arja Srikanth, underscoring the collaboration between the State government and the Centre's premier construction and project management company.

The proposed facility is expected to strengthen Andhra Pradesh's institutional presence in New Delhi by offering modern infrastructure for official engagements, inter-governmental coordination and guest services. Officials said that the project will be executed with an emphasis on quality, timely delivery and operational efficiency.