Inside Raisina Hill: Who Will Be West Bengal's Next Chief Electoral Officer?

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".

WB CEO: Three IAS Officers In The Fray

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has begun the process to appoint the next Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, as the state government has sent a list of three senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers for consideration. The three officers in the list are Neelam Meena, Tanmay Chakrabarty, and Moumita Godara Basu.

The ECI now requires an officer to the post after the West Bengal government appointed former CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal as the Chief Secretary. Agarwal, who took charge as CEO in March 2025, is credited with effectively overseeing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state and also the assembly elections.

Meena, a 1998-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, hails from Rajasthan. During her distinguished career, she has served as the District Magistrate of Hooghly and as a senior officer in the Youth Services and Environment Departments. During her five-year central deputation, she worked with the Tea Board and the Ministry of Rural Development. She is currently serving as Principal Secretary, Consumer Affairs Department.

Chakrabarty, an IAS officer of the 2006 batch, is known for a unique distinction, as he was the only candidate in his UPSC batch to clear the Civil Services Mains examination using Bengali as the medium of writing. His key assignments include Sub-Divisional Officer, North 24 Parganas, Additional District Magistrate, Jalpaiguri, District Magistrate of Purulia and Malda and Managing Director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. He is currently serving as the Director of the ESI Scheme under the Labour Department.

Basu, a 2007-batch IAS officer, has extensive field experience, which includes serving as the District Magistrate of Bankura, Jalpaiguri, and Jhargram. She is currently holding the post of Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department.

Seasoned IFS Officer's Response To Norwegian Journalist Goes Viral

Sibi George, a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, who is considered to be one of India’s most experienced diplomats, recently hogged the limelight for his response to a Norwegian journalist during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway.

During a media briefing in Oslo, journalist Helle Lyng questioned India’s record on press freedom, minority rights, and human rights. Responding to the questions, George defended India’s democratic institutions, constitutional safeguards, and the vibrant media landscape.

“You know how many stories are up here (in India). We have a lot of breaking news every day. At least 200 TV channels in Delhi alone, in English, Hindi, and multiple languages. People have no understanding of the scale of India,” George asserted, and described selective narratives based on NGO reports, as some observers read “one or two reports” and draw sweeping conclusions about the country.

The exchange instantly went viral across social media platforms, with many users praising George for articulating India’s position with clarity and confidence on the global stage.

George currently serves as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, where he oversees India’s strategic, political and economic engagement with Europe, West Asia, and several multilateral forums.

2025-Batch IPS Officers Yet To Be Given Cadre Allocation

Even as the next cycle of the Civil Services Examination is set to begin on May 24, 2026, one of the most critical post-exam processes of allocating cadre for 2025-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from the previous year remains incomplete: cadre allocations for the IPS officers by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs are still pending.

The situation appears to be more piquant in view of the fact that the IAS and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officers have already been allotted their cadres in December 2025.

According to reports, even months after the final results, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has yet to issue any notification or public clarification, raising concerns among aspirants and selected candidates.

Be Sensitive Without Being Sentimental, President Murmu Tells Trainee IAS Officers

President Droupadi Murmu recently met a group of IAS officers belonging to the 2024 batch, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, and asked them to approach their work with compassion and sensitivity, without being sentimental.

The officers, who called on the President, are currently serving as Assistant Secretaries in various Union Ministries and Departments.

Addressing the officers, the President said that the All India Services (AIS), especially the IAS, have played a major role in the country's development. Now that the country has entered into a higher orbit of development, the expectations from the officers are also very high.

The President said that the neutrality of the officers will be an indicator of their fairness. “Their sensitivity will be the measure of their commitment to inclusivity. Their credibility will be built on their transparency and sustained performance. Their integrity, defined by their personal and professional conduct, will give them the moral courage to act decisively in the public interest," the President said. 

The President further said that ethics and governance are the two sides of the same coin, and underlined that the officers have to be honest and, at the same time, be able to deliver results.