Inside Raisina Hill: Weekly Wrap From The Power Corridor-III

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".

BPCL CMD Selection May Go HPCL Way

After Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), now it is the turn of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). The PSU oil company may also look at hiring a private sector expert as its Chairman and Managing Director (CMD).

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), after failing to find a suitable candidate from among 12 Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) professionals for the top job at BPCL, has sent an advisory to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas suggesting it explore other possible selection modes, including the formation of a Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC).

The search is on because incumbent G Krishnakumar is set to superannuate on April 30, 2025. 

Last month, the PESB interviewed 12 candidates, including senior executives from the BPCL, the HPCL and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), who hold key leadership positions.

The upshot: the quest for the next BPCL CMD may turn out to be a prolonged exercise, and may give the government freedom to go for a strategic leadership transition by drawing talent from the private sector — according to an industry source.   

Earlier this month, the government gave its nod to appoint Vikas Kaushal as the CMD of the HPCL for a period of five years. Kaushal was working as the Global Head of energy and process industries at Kearney.

The recent development about finding the new BPCL CMD has come at a critical phase, where the oil sector companies are navigating a dynamic energy landscape. 

The final decision on selecting the top brass will have ramifications on the company’s growth trajectory amid ongoing market challenges and opportunities.

Uncertainties Galore Among UP Cadre Senior IPS Officers

The government has accepted the VRS (voluntary retirement scheme) application of 1989-batch IPS officer Ashish Gupta — the second senior-most in the Uttar Pradesh cadre. 

This happened just 22 months ahead of his retirement in December 2026. His last posting in the state was as the Director General, Rules & Manuals.

With a degree of BTech in Computer Science from IIT-Kanpur and an MBA under the belt, Ashish Gupta held an important position in the NIA looking after the counter-terrorism IT infrastructure ‘Natgrid’ (National Intelligence Grid). 

He also held the post of Additional Director General (ADG) in the Border Security Force (BSF).

Sources in the government, however, conveyed that Gupta was kept on the waiting list for more than six months after being suddenly repatriated to his home cadre from central deputation in December 2022. 

He was given charge of the DG (Rules & Manuals) on June 24, 2023. It is heard in the IPS circles that Gupta was not satisfied with his current posting and thus sought the VRS.

His batchmate and third in seniority, Aditya Mishra, has been a posting as DG (Fire) after a wait of nearly three months. Mishra, a 1989-batch IPS officer, got the posting after his return to the home cadre on January 27, 2025. He will retire in June this year.

DG-level IPS officer Renuka Mishra of the 1990 batch is yet to get a new posting, since she was removed from the DG (Police Recruitment Board) post a year ago, after an alleged paper leak case.

There appears to be palpable unease among senior IPS officers of the UP cadre. In recent times, many opted for VRS, or given compulsory retirement, or were kept in waiting for too long.

Earlier, 1994-batch IPS Aseem Arun took VRS to foray into politics and is currently representing the Kannauj Sadar constituency in the UP Legislative Assembly. 

The alarming fact: Quite a few of them, including 1992-batch IPS Amitabh Thakur, 2002-batch IPS Rajesh Krishna, and 2005-batch IPS Rakesh Shankar have been given compulsory retirement.

MHA Removes Key Officials Related To Enemy Properties

All of a sudden, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has removed two senior officials dealing with 12,000 identified Enemy Properties (EPs), with an estimated value of nearly Rs 1 lakh crore. 

There are whispers that all is not well in the way assets under the office’s cutodianship are being managed. 

In an order issued on March 12, the MHA said, “Shri Rahul Ramesh Nangare, (1999-batch IRS) presently posted as Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI) in Ministry of Home Affairs is relieved from the Ministry of Home Affairs with immediate effect and his services are placed at the disposal of Department of Personnel & Training for repatriation to the parent cadre.” 

In a separate order on the same day, the MHA said, “Shri Anant Kishore Saran, CSS (SL4710A) presently posted as Joint Secretary in the MHA is relieved from the ministry with immediate effect and his services are placed at the disposal of Department of personnel & Training.”  

Nangare had earlier succeeded Saurav Ray, a 1994-batch Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) officer in April 2023, who gained a measure of fame for the reforms he had brought about. Within two years, Ray is reputed to have managed to transform the CEPI. Under his leadership, an all-India survey and valuation of EPs was conducted, several EPs were sealed, and e-auction of such properties was initiated.

Other moves included getting a batch of exceptionally efficient just retired officers from the armed forces appointed, proceedings to regain control of property which had been illegally occupied and increase in rental income from properties rented out at 1950s rates.

Since then, the affairs of the CEPI have deteriorated, said insiders and possibly this forced the government to bring about quick and wholesale change at the top.

Will PFRDA Chief Mohanty Be Given Another Key Role After May 31?    

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) chairman Deepak Mohanty’s recent meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has caught the attention of many bureaucracy enthusiasts. 

Mohanty’s tenure at PFRDA is about to end on May 31 this year. His meeting with Sitharaman has led to speculation that he may be given another key post afterwards.

However, it is unlikely that any immediate announcement would be made as it is necessary for Mohanty to process the “cooling off” period of a few months.

Mohanty, who also served as Executive Director, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) handling key areas and Senior Adviser at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assumed charge as PFRDA chief on March 20, 2023.  

Mohanty, an alumnus of Cuttack’s Ravenshaw College as well as Yale University, was also associated with industry body Ficci (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) as its Chief Economic Advisor.

While all eyes are on Mohanty with speculations rife whether he is given another crucial post after his successful tenure at the PFRDA, the race to head the pension watchdog is equally being tracked.

The government has already initiated a search for the next chief to lead the pension regulatory body in December last year.

Sources said that though recent appointments of the Sanjay Malhotra as Reserve Bank of India chief and Tuhin Kanta Pandey as the boss of Securities and Exchange Board of India reflect the government’s preference for bureaucrats to lead these key posts, it is open to “anyone with high credentials” who will be able to expand the national pension system (NPS) — a savings scheme driven by market-linked investments, effectively meant for retirement needs.

According to official statistics, only 5.7 per cent of Indian household assets are allocated to provident and pension funds, reflecting a significant gap in retirement preparedness. The rise of the gig economy and the unorganised sector, where 93 per cent of the workforce lacks statutory social security, further amplifies the relevance of NPS. The PFRDA chief will have to address these issues effectively, a source said.

As per the government’s search notification, the next PFRDA chief, who will draw a consolidated monthly salary of Rs 5.62 lakh besides perks that include a house and car, will enjoy a five year term or till 65 years of age.

Rajiv Gauba And The Cabinet Expansion Buzz

Delhi’s bureaucratic circles are abuzz with two hot scoops. First up, the word on the street is that former Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba might be the next big name in the upcoming cabinet expansion. The expansion is likely after the Budget session, or by June. 

In a related second buzz, sources suggest that if Gauba doesn't land a Cabinet post this time, he’s likely to get a chair of the Governor. He missed out on the last round when several new governors, like Ajay Bhalla in Manipur and V K Singh in Mizoram, were appointed.

What’s fueling these speculations? It’s Gauba’s strong rapport with the Prime Minister, which many believe is key. His reputation for integrity, decision-making, and his close ties with other political leaders have earned him widespread recognition in political and bureaucratic circles. 

No wonder, even after his retirement, his name frequently surfaces in discussions around high-profile positions.

To Pacify Trump And Meet Gates

The Trump tariff hangs like the sword of Damocles. The deadline is April 2. Relevant ministries are knee-deep in frantic brainstorming to navigate the impending trade storm. All kinds of meetings and urgent discussions are being scheduled at breakneck speed as bureaucrats scramble to strategise and re-strategise.

Just when they were pulling up their socks, in walked Bill Gates! 

The creator of Microsoft turned philanthropist made a high-profile visit to India earlier this week. All of a sudden, the appointment schedules of ministers and top officials had to turn towards flexi-mode to accommodate ‘Big Bill’.

As if ongoing high-stakes trade negotiations were not enough, photo-ops, discussions on philanthropy and innovation made life even tougher for Raisina Hill denizens. Several pre-decided meetings on trade strategy were upended.

Officers, who were juggling tariff charts, found themselves engrossed in discussing India’s digital revolution with Gates. Ministers, hard-pressed for time to parry Trump tariff thrusts, were busy shaking hands with one of the world’s richest men and posing for TV crews.

Overheard on the sidelines of one of these encounters was the quip by a prominent babu: “We had a detailed session planned on US tariff … now we’re discussing malaria eradication instead!”

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking, and India’s official trade mandarins are hoping to refocus — well before the Trump tornado hits Indian shores next month.

Contributed by Pawan Kumar, Mahua Sengupta Venkatesh & Jayanta Roy Chowdhury; anchored by Abhijit Mukhopadhyay