Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari to Retire on Sept 30, Successor Yet to Be Finalised
Jharkhand Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari will retire on 30 September, with her last working day on Friday due to Secretariat holidays. The State Government has not yet named her successor, but a decision is expected on Tuesday. Vandana Dadel (1996 batch) and Avinash Kumar (1993 batch) are the frontrunners, with other CS-rank IAS officers unlikely to return from central deputation.
Alka Tiwari to Remain Chief Secretary Till Sept 30, Avinash Kumar Likely Successor
Jharkhand Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari will officially retire on 30th September, though Friday marked her last working day due to a six-day Secretariat closure. The Government is set to announce a new acting Chief Secretary the same day, with Avinash Kumar emerging as the frontrunner, while A.K. Singh and Dr. Nitin Kulkarni are also in consideration.
Eight IFS Officers Transferred in Jharkhand, 123 Junior Engineers Also Shifted
Jharkhand’s Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department transferred eight IFS officers, assigning key roles and additional charges, including Sanjeev Kumar as PCCF-cum-Executive Director, Wasteland Development Board. Vishwanath Sah was promoted as PCCF and made Chairperson, Biodiversity Board. Meanwhile, the Drinking Water Department transferred 123 junior engineers and the Water Resources Department promoted 108 junior engineers as assistant engineers with postings.
Anup Hanjura Selected as New Technical Director of CCL
Anup Hanjura, currently General Manager at Western Coalfields Limited, has been selected as the new Technical Director of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL). The Public Enterprises Selection Board finalized his name after interviewing 12 senior officers on Friday. Hanjura’s appointment marks a key leadership change aimed at strengthening technical operations within CCL.
Suspended IAS Officer Vinay Choubey Faces Arrest in Hazaribagh Forest Land Scam
Suspended IAS officer Vinay Choubey, already in jail, is set to be arrested in the Hazaribagh forest land scam. After receiving approval from the Cabinet Vigilance Department, ACB filed an FIR on September 25 naming Choubey and Nexgen Automobiles’ owner Vinay Singh. Singh was arrested Thursday. This is the third FIR against Choubey, who will soon be interrogated in custody.
BSNL Marks Silver Jubilee with Rs. 1573 Cr 4G Push in Jharkhand, Eyes 5G by 2026
BSNL is celebrating its Silver Jubilee with a nationwide 4G rollout on indigenous C-DoT core, inaugurating 97,500 towers worth Rs. 37,000 crore. In Jharkhand, 755 new towers will cover 2,750 villages, while 816 LWE-area sites are being upgraded. With data usage up 50% and 1.54 lakh new subscribers, BSNL aims for full 5G readiness by 2026.
NML Jamshedpur, IIT Dhanbad Named Centres of Excellence Under National Critical Minerals Mission
Under the National Critical Minerals Mission, CSIR-NML Jamshedpur and IIT-ISM Dhanbad have been declared Centres of Excellence to boost research on rare earth metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The initiative aims to reduce India’s import dependency and develop technologies for extracting minerals from tailing ponds, supporting green energy, semiconductor manufacturing, and defence needs.
Jharkhand Notifies Rules for Displacement & Rehabilitation Commission, Office Setup in Progress
Jharkhand has notified rules for its State Displacement and Rehabilitation Commission under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. The commission will survey affected families, assess socio-economic conditions, and recommend rehabilitation measures. Office space and staff recruitment are underway, with plans to soon appoint a chairperson and members to make the commission fully operational for planning and policy support.
Governor’s Directive Boosts Hope for Startup Revival in Jharkhand
The Indian Startup Association (ISUA) welcomed Jharkhand Governor’s directive to the Chief Secretary to act on its plea for reviving the startup ecosystem under the 2016 policy. The move could benefit 107 startups awaiting stipends, grants, and dues clearance. ISUA called it a turning point and urged swift action to retain local talent and innovation.
Jharkhand HC Quashes DC’s Order Against Hazaribagh Sub-Registrar
Jharkhand High Court set aside Hazaribagh DC’s order for departmental action against Sub-Registrar Rajesh Ekka. Justice Anand Sen ruled in Ekka’s favour, who challenged the action for registering 293 hectares of Moitra coal block land for JSW Steel without senior approval. The court’s decision means no departmental proceedings will be carried out against him.
HC Summons Forest Secretary in Forest Guards Regularisation Case
Jharkhand High Court directed the state’s Forest Secretary to appear in court during the next hearing on 30th October in an appeal against a single-bench order regularising forest guards. The petitioners, including Rambali Das, have worked as daily wagers since 1983 and had sought regularisation, which was earlier granted by the single bench.
Ashok Kumar Jha Elected President of R&D Union at SAIL’s RDCIS
The Research & Development Centre for Iron and Steel (RDCIS) of SAIL held its union elections on Friday in Ranchi. Employees participated actively, leading to the formation of a new executive committee. Ashok Kumar Jha was elected president, Ujjwal Mandal general secretary, Laxman Kumar treasurer, while Ajit Kumar Dey, K.P. Patra, and Vijay Kumar were chosen as vice-presidents.
Coal Production Resumes at Tandwa’s Amrapali Project After 25-Day Shutdown
Coal production restarted at CCL’s Kamdhenu Amrapali project in Tandwa after a 25-day halt, the longest in a decade. Operations resumed following an agreement with landowners to reinstate contract workers. Production began with rituals on Friday, with Caliber producing 13 MT coal and Mahalaxmi handling 11 MT OB, signaling improved coordination between CCL and locals.
Jharkhand HC Grants Bail to Land Scam Accused Shekhar Kushwaha & Kamlesh Kumar
Jharkhand High Court granted bail to Shekhar Kushwaha and Kamlesh Kumar in a land scam case involving fake documents. Justice Rangan Mukhopadhyay ordered Kamlesh’s release on two sureties of ₹10,000 each, noting his custody since July 2024 and slow trial progress. ED had seized cash and 100 cartridges, but the court found bail justified citing Supreme Court precedent.
IHM Ranchi Hosts First National Tribal Tourism Conference, Showcases Jharkhand’s Heritage
IHM Ranchi organised the first National Tribal Tourism Conference 2025 on “Globalising Tribal Heritage.” Tourism Director Vijaya Jadhav highlighted tribal traditions as models of sustainability and urged global promotion. The event featured Chhau dance, research presentations, and panel discussions on eco-tourism, homestays, and rural tourism, aiming to position Jharkhand as a global tribal tourism destination.
Adani Enterprises Wins National Climate Action Award for Hydrogen Truck Deployment
Adani Enterprises Limited received the “Jury’s Choice Leadership in Climate Action Award” at the Sustainability Symposium & Excellence Awards 2025 in New Delhi for pioneering hydrogen trucks in mining logistics. The project, launched in Chhattisgarh, significantly cuts emissions and noise. Adani is advancing sustainable mining with hydrogen trucks, solar power, and digital innovations to drive India’s clean energy transition.
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