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UP Cabinet Reshuffle: Many Ministers to go while old Ministers make a comeback?
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expresses dissatisfaction with several underperforming ministers’ work. Sources indicate these ministers face exclusion from the upcoming cabinet reshuffle. Meanwhile, benched veteran ministers may stage a comeback to strengthen the team. Recent Delhi meetings with PM Modi, Amit Shah, and BJP leaders fueled speculation about expansion post-Makar Sankranti. Current 54-member cabinet could grow to 60, prioritizing regional balance and OBC representation. Names like Bhupendra Chaudhary circulate for re-induction after organizational roles. This pre-2027 poll move aims to address 2024 Lok Sabha setbacks and boost governance efficiency ahead of assembly elections. Political circles buzz with potential replacements to align with Yogi’s vision.
iPAC’s control over West Bengal government in focus again?
Political circles in Kolkata are abuzz with speculation that a clutch of iPAC functionaries now enjoy outsized access to the top tiers of Mamata Banerjee’s administration, well beyond routine consultancy briefings. Their informal say in candidate selection, messaging and even bureaucratic posting feedback is rumoured to have blurred the line between an external agency and an in-house political nerve centre. The latest Enforcement Directorate scrutiny of financial transactions linked to iPAC associates has only deepened murmurs that parts of the consultancy–government ecosystem may have overlapped in ways the Trinamool can no longer easily firewall. With central agencies probing money trails and opposition leaders alleging a “parallel power structure”, the swirl in West Bengal’s political bazaar is set to intensify in the weeks ahead.
India-Germany $8 billion submarine deal expected soon!
India and Germany stand on the brink of an $8 billion submarine deal, marking New Delhi’s largest-ever defense procurement. Under Project 75-I, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) will partner with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) to build six Type 214 conventional submarines featuring air-independent propulsion (AIP) for extended underwater endurance. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) are accelerating negotiations ahead of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s January 12-13 visit to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, where talks with PM Modi will prioritize technology transfer—a first for submarine production in India. This addresses the Indian Navy’s aging fleet amid Chinese naval expansion, potentially sidelining additional French Scorpene buys.
BUREAUCRACY
How IAS Vibhor Aggarwal is Reshaping Everyday Governance in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya
IAS Vibhor Aggarwal is a 2019 Batch Officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre and is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. His Vision for the district is rooted in making the life of locals easier, be it fixing everyday governance systems, improving maternal health outcomes , waste management or promotion of local products and entrepreneurship.
“One of the first things I realised when I joined the district was that there is no proper follow-up mechanism for complaints” he says. “People come to the DC office with letters and petitions, but generally these complaints get missed out.”
To address this, the district administration has created a structured complaint management system. An internal portal is being developed where each grievance is registered, assigned a unique number and tracked through every stage. “We are tracking the entire history of the complaint as to how it is going on” Aggarwal explains. “There is a person who follows up with the departments and makes sure that they carry out the processing of these complaints.” This not only makes it hassle free for the citizens but also helps in saving time and increasing the efficiency of the system.
Recognizing that not every citizen is literate and tech savvy, he emphasises “Most of the public are not literate enough to use online grievance systems. They come with letters. For those people, their complaints generally get missed out” he notes. “This mechanism ensures that no complaint that comes to the notice of the DC office is ignored.”
Health, especially maternal health is another key area where the district is tightening administrative oversight. While state-level programmes are ongoing, Aggarwal points to institutional deliveries as a critical focus. “If more and more institutional deliveries happen, then it can reduce maternal deaths also,” he says.
To achieve this a monitoring system has been devised to track every expected delivery. Medical officers begin their follow ups at least two weeks prior and are accountable for reporting and explaining the reason of home delivery if any, along with the corrective action taken.
Looking ahead, Aggarwal has planned ambitious initiatives in urban cleanliness and local economic development. Speaking about he said “Solid waste management is a priority”
Another project in the pipeline is a dedicated local mart. “This will be like any other shopping mart,” he says but with a clear distinction: “It will only have local products. No products from outside.”
IAS Vibhor Aggarwal, a 2019 batch officer of the Assam–Meghalaya cadre, is currently posted as the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, and his vision for the district is centred on making everyday life easier for local residents by strengthening governance systems, improving maternal health outcomes, enhancing waste management, and promoting local products and entrepreneurship. Reflecting on his early days in the district, he notes that one of the first gaps he identified was the absence of a proper follow-up mechanism for public complaints, as citizens often approach the DC office with letters and petitions that tend to get overlooked. To address this, the district administration has initiated a structured complaint management system through an internal portal where every grievance is registered, assigned a unique number, and tracked at each stage, with a designated person responsible for following up with departments to ensure timely processing. This system not only makes grievance redressal hassle-free for citizens but also saves time and improves administrative efficiency, while ensuring that complaints from citizens who are not literate or tech-savvy and rely on written petitions are not ignored. Health, particularly maternal health, is another priority area, with a strong focus on increasing institutional deliveries to reduce maternal mortality; for this purpose, a monitoring system has been put in place to track every expected delivery, with medical officers beginning follow-ups at least two weeks in advance and being held accountable for explaining any home delivery along with the corrective action taken. Looking ahead, Aggarwal has outlined ambitious plans for urban cleanliness, identifying solid waste management as a key priority, and is also working on a dedicated local mart that will function like a regular shopping complex but exclusively showcase and sell locally made products, with no items sourced from outside the region.
Key Vacancies (7) Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
The extended tenure of CBI Director Praveen Sood ends in May 2026. Sood is a 1986-batch
Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Karnataka cadre. He was appointed as the Director of the CBI on 25 May 2023 for an initial two-year term and was later given one-year extension.
Selection of Members of CBIC on January 20
3 posts of Members in CBIC has been lying vacant and Committee of Secretaries(COS) for selection of Members postponed to 20th January.
PMO Takes cognisance of Agricultural Slowdown, Budget to Focus on Cooperative Farming and Value Added Agricultural!
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has taken cognisance of the declining growth trajectory in the agriculture sector, which has slipped from 4.6% in 2024-25 to an estimated 3.1% in 2025-26. To address this slowdown, the upcoming Union Budget is expected to announce targeted measures aimed at strengthening cooperative farming and promoting value addition across agricultural value chains. The government is likely to focus on fostering farmer collectives, improving post-harvest infrastructure, and supporting agro-processing units to boost incomes and rural employment. Policy emphasis is being placed on integrating small and marginal farmers through cooperatives to achieve scale in production, modernize supply chains, and enhance market competitiveness. Officials indicate that the budget push will align with the broader rural revitalization agenda, ensuring sustainable agricultural growth alongside value-driven economic diversification.
GOI on back foot for allowing private players in Forest Management post Aravalli protests?
Environment Ministry officials have clarified that recent amendments to the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) guidelines do not permit non-government entities to take over forest land management. A January 2, 2026, circular allows state governments to partner with private or government entities for afforestation and regeneration activities under approved working plans and state forest department supervision. These are classified as “forestry activities,” exempting them from compensatory afforestation and net present value payments, with states free to set revenue-sharing terms.Opposition leaders like Congress’s Jairam Ramesh allege the 2023 FCA changes enable privatization, risking commercialization of forests. Critics warn of weakened safeguards for ecosystems and forest-dependent communities, potentially prioritizing timber over biodiversity. The government insists oversight remains with state forest departments, aligning with restoration and climate goals, though debates intensify over ecological versus economic priorities .
Delhi bureaucracy faces as Delhi government plans intensive anti-encroachment drive?
Delhi’s bureaucracy faces mounting stress as the BJP-led government ramps up an intensive anti-encroachment drive across the city. Recent operations, such as the January 7, 2026, demolition at Ramlila Maidan near Turkman Gate’s Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, underscore the intensity, with 17 bulldozers clearing 36,000 sq ft of structures including a diagnostic centre and banquet hall, amid violent clashes injuring five police personnel. MCD officials coordinated with local stakeholders like the Aman Committee beforehand, following Delhi High Court directives from November 2025 to remove encroachments on 38,940 sq ft of public land.
Administrative pressures intensify due to legal oversight, with courts demanding responses from MCD, Delhi Waqf Board, and Urban Development Ministry, while BJP leaders like Dilip Jaiswal defend the actions as clearing illegal occupations on government property, regardless of religious sites. Bureaucrats juggle logistical challenges—deploying heavy machinery, ensuring police backup, and managing public backlash—against a backdrop of ongoing Ridge forest encroachments and NGT-mandated protections. This drive signals a broader BJP policy push post-2024 Assembly win, straining resources and testing inter-agency coordination in India’s capital.
UP is not having a regular DGP for the last four years
According to sources in Uttar Pradesh, for the last four years, DGPs are being posted on temporary basis or are being given the additional charge.
(DISCLAIMER: Correctness of this content is the responsibility of the author. By arrangement with whispersinthecorridors.com)
