Know About Indu Bhushan: ADB’s senior official, ex-Rajasthan cadre IAS and new CEO of Ayushman Bharat; 10 Things

IN YET another appointment of a successful former IAS officer being brought back to India to head a new government scheme, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) last week approved the appointment of Indu Bhushan as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission (ABNHPM). Bhushan’s appointment draws parallel to that of Parameswaran Iyer, a 1981 batch former Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS who had left a job in the World Bank to return to India and spearhead the Centre’s ambitious programme, Swachh Bharat Mission. 

Here are 10 things you may like to know about the new CEO, Indu Bhushan:

Roman Saini who quit IAS to turn an entrepreneur is now in "Forbes 30 Under 30" list

Roman Saini, a doctor-turned IAS officer, surprised many when he decided to quit IAS in January 2016 to be a full-time entrepreneur and tutor. Now, 26-year-old Saini, along with two other co-founders of Unacademy — Gaurav Munjal, 27, and Hemesh Singh, 25, have been recognised in Forbes' prestigious 30 Under 30, a list of Indians below 30 years of old and those who are "shaping new India”. Saini, who has a medical degree from New Delhi's AIIMS, and the one who left the administrative service only after two years as assistant collector in Jabalpur, now finds his name in the Forbes list along with celebrities such as...

Ex-Gujarat cadre IAS PK Pujari appointed chairman, CERC; Govt declines extension of railway officer Urvilla Khati in steel ministry

Ex-GUJARAT cadre IAS and former power secretary Pradeep Kumar Pujari, 60, will be the new chairman of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC). The ACC while approving  his appointment on Tuesday said, he would get a tenure of three years or until he attains the age of 65 years, or until further orders. Originally belonging to Odisha, Pujari is a postgraduate in economics and was the secretary, NRI affairs, in the Government of Gujarat, among handling other posts. Between March and May, 2017, he also handled the post of union telecom secretary. Meanwhile, the ACC has declined the proposal of...

Pravesh Sharma: Know more about this IAS-turned Sabziwala

Pravesh Sharma, a 1982 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS resigned from IAS to begin a start-up named Sabziwala, a retail fruits and vegetables chain that promises delivery of quality fresh produce directly sourced from farmers to consumers. Beginning its operation from Delhi, the chain has been using push carts, street vendors, kirana and general stores, milk kiosks etc. to sell its products. Do you want to know more about this former director of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s PMO? Here are the 10 things to know about this IAS-turned Sabziwala:

Naresh Chandra: Former defence, home and cabinet secretary, and ex-ambassador to US died in Goa, aged 82

THIS former Rajasthan cadre IAS officer is often addressed as ambassador thanks to his five years long eventful innings as India’s ambassador to US. Ambassador Naresh Chandra is no more. He died at a hospital in Goa late Sunday, aged 82, due to multiple organ failure. BoI presents here 10 facts that summarize life and career of one of the most influential and impactful civil servants of post-independence India:

Ex-IAS V Ramani’s 10 Survival Tactics for IAS: Be humble, maintain paper trails and don’t sit in the office beyond 6 pm…

A WRITE-UP by former Maharashtra cadre IAS V Ramani on 10 survival tactics for IAS officers was the talking point in the corridors late last week. Ramani who quit IAS in 2010 to work in a UNICEF-supported nutrition programme in Maharashtra, elaborated how IAS officers need to downplay their achievements, be humble, insist on paper trails and due processes, remain out of a rat race in career, be always in good company, and yes, not to sit…

Obituary: Ex-IAS and “Chanakya of Odisha politics” Pyari Babu; 10 things to know

ON SUNDAY, Pyarimohan Mohapatra, a 1963 batch retired IAS officer and former political advisor to Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik died, aged 77 years. One of the very few IAS officers playing a more exciting second innings in politics —he was also a Rajya Sabha Member—Mohapatra was instrumental in Patnaik’s rise in Odisha politics till the CM suspected Mohapatra’s “coup attempt” to topple him when he was away in London in 2012. Here are the 10 things to know about the former IAS who many fondly called as Pyari Babu:

Ex-civil servants Sudhir Chandra, PJ Thomas, others start UPSC interview coaching centre, Anugrah

A NUMBER of former civil servants and experts, many of whom were on UPSC interview board earlier, have started a low cost coaching and customized guidance centre in New Delhi to train IAS aspirants for interviews. Named Anugrah, this Delhi-based organization says, it will give priority to those who hail from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds, though anyone including those who have not yet cleared the civil services mains examination, may enroll at the centre. Former civil servants who are guiding the young aspirants for the UPSC personality test include…

Parameswaran Iyer: How this ex-IAS and new drinking water and sanitation secretary may give a Vietnamese twist to Swachh Bharat Mission

IN THE World Bank, everyone calls this program manager and lead water and sanitation specialist as Param. His full name is Parameswaran Iyer, a 1981 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS who took voluntary retirement about seven years ago. In a rare instance, the Narendra Modi government in an order dated February 3, roped in this IAS-turned sanitation specialist as union secretary in charge of the ministry of drinking water and sanitation, the agency that anchors the Centre’s ambitious programme of Swachh Bharat Mission, or Clean India Mission. Iyer’s appointment will be on a contract basis for…

Rise and Fall of Sanjay Gupta: Who’s this IAS, businessman and Gujarat’s metro man, now behind bar?

GUJARAT CID on Thursday arrested Sanjay Gupta, an ex-IAS officer of 1985 batch who had served as executive chairman of the state-owned Metrolink Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA), for his alleged involvement in a forged bills scam of Rs 113 crore. According to reports, the case was filed by the current regime of MEGA and the CID arrested him based on the findings of a probe by additional DGP of CID Crime Ms Meera Ram Niwas. Here are 10 things about Gupta who left IAS to start a group that owns six luxury hotels, two golf properties among others. Later in 2011, he surprised many a sitting IAS and contender when he was picked up to build Gujarat’s first metro rail venture. More here:

On a clear day, can you see India from Manipur? Yes, IAS-turned entrepreneur C Balagopal has the answer

OVER three decades ago, C Balagopal was a young deputy commissioner in a district in the North-eastern state of Manipur. He left his high-profile job in 1983 to set up a company that ventured into manufacturing of medical devices. He then sold his shareholding to an MNC. Now, Balagopal plans to set up an incubator in Manipur’s capital city of Imphal to help young people setting up businesses. And his book on Manipur titled,

Babu Turns Neta: Full list of ex-IAS, IPS, IRS officers who won or lost Lok Sabha polls

Satyapal Singh with Ramdev (File photo)

FORMER IAS officers RK Singh and Bhagirath Prasad, ex-IPS officers Satyapal Singh, Harish Chandra Meena and Vishnu Dayal Ram and former IRS officer Udit Raj -- all from the BJP--- are among the 543 winning candidates in the Lok Sabha polls. As high as seven former IAS and 16 former IPS among others were in the fray in the poll, the results of which were announced on Friday. Here is the list of winning and losing candidates who had an earlier innings as bureaucrats:

5 things to know about new MCX chairman and former IAS Satyananda Mishra

Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) battling with a Rs 5,600-crore payment crisis in one of its group companies NSEL, has roped in former IAS of Madhya Pradesh cadre and ex-RTI chief Satyananda Mishra as its chairman. Many in the corridors were surprised by the move as unlike former IAS and ex-MCX director Ashok Jha, Mishra is not a corporate type. He does not know how to play golf, keeps a photo of his Guru at his chamber and speaks English with a thick Oriya accent. Here are five things you may like to know about new MCX boss Satyananda Mishra:

What if a driver asks for a written order to turn left? Ex-coal secretary Prasanna Mishra on Neta-Babu equations

THE recent Supreme Court order directing the government to frame rules to ensure that a civil servant does not act on verbal orders of the political boss has been hailed by civil servants among others. But what has not been discussed, or debated much, is whether it is feasible for a civil servant to work only under written instructions of political executives. Will such an arrangement not be as unworkable as a driver asking for written order from the owner of the moving vehicle in a busy road instead of his oral order to turn left instead of proceeding straight, asks...

Ex-IAS Sanjay Gupta launches PE Fund; to raise Rs 300 crore to fund SMEs

LIFE has a new meaning now. For former IAS officer Sanjay Gupta, who quit the elite service in 2002 to begin what’s now Rs 2,000-crore Neesa Group, Life means Let India Fly for Ever. That’s the tagline of his new venture called…

How Modi finally spotted Sanjay Gupta; ex-IAS now launches a news channel

SANJAY Raghunath Prasad Gupta, former Gujarat cadre IAS of 1985 batch left the service in 2002 when he was reportedly side-lined by Narendra Modi regime. But Modi later realized it was a mistake. Gupta who joined Adani Group as CEO and then set up his own luxury hotels called Cambay, was brought back for a government project by Modi almost a decade later. Gupta, 49, is now the…

Ex-IAS officer Sanjeev Sabhlok asks Arvind Kejriwal to stop “silly dramatics”

Sabhlok

A FORMER IAS officer Sanjeev Sabhlok has a piece of advice to Arvind Kejriwal, a bureaucrat-turned political activist who has been on an indefinite fast against “inflated” power bills. “Arvind should stop this silly dramatics and learn about good governance”, writes Sabhlok, a 1982 batch IAS officer who resigned from the elite service and moved to Australia. Here is Sabhlok’s main objection to Kejriwal’s venture:

Shiv Sena activist and 1986 batch former IAS leaves Thackerays

FORMER IAS officer Avinash Dharmadhikari who joined Shiv Sena in March, 2009, quit the party on Monday. A 1986 batch IAS who became deputy secretary to Maharashtra chief minister in mid-1990s, left service in 1996 and unsuccessfully contested two elections as independent candidates. Then he began his innings as a Shiv Sena activist, but could not cope up with the party culture and got side-tracked. His takeaway now is that you can’t change the system while remaining in a political party.

Dharmadhikari’s book Aswastha Dashakachi Diary, (Diary of a Decade of Agony) became a hit as he narrated his decade-long association with the government as an IAS. Last year, he again hogged the limelight when he began to run an IAS-IPS training academy to help Maharashtrian youths with preparing the UPSC examinations. The institute, set up by Sena MLA Vinod Ghosalkar and inaugurated by Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, is meant to produce more IAS officers from Maharashtra.

As an IAS, Dharmadhikari had served as additional collector, Pune and district collector, of Raigad (Alibag) besides being deputy secretary to Maharashtra chief minister.