From SIDBI to PFRDA: S. Raman Brings Decades of Financial Leadership to India’s Pension Regulator
Subramaniam Raman, an IA&AS officer of the 1991 batch, serves as the Chairperson of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA); he assumed this role on June 20, 2025, for a five-year term. Prior to this, he held the positions of Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General and Chief Technology Officer at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. His career has spanned the fields of public finance technology and financial regulation. Before becoming the PFRDA Chairperson, S. Raman served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). He also held the positions of MD and CEO of National E-Governance Services Limited and Executive Director at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). His leadership reflects a strong commitment to financial stability, institutional development, and inclusive economic growth. Regarding his educational and professional qualifications, S. Raman holds a B.A. in Economics from St. Stephen’s College and an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi. He subsequently earned an M.Sc. in Financial Regulation from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Mumbai. As PFRDA Chairperson, he has focused on expanding the reach of the National Pension System (NPS) by simplifying distribution norms and designing improved payout and annuity frameworks for the accumulation phase of an individual’s financial journey. Leveraging his extensive experience in public finance and governance, he has contributed significantly to strengthening India’s financial system and enhancing transparency within it. As Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General, he worked to improve audit and accountability mechanisms, while his tenure as Chairman and Managing Director of SIDBI focused on supporting MSMEs and increasing access to finance.
From Ziro Valley to DGP: Robin Hibu Creates History as Arunachal Pradesh’s First IPS Officer to Reach the Top Rank
Robin Hibu, an officer of the 1993 AGMUT cadre, made history as the first IPS officer from Arunachal Pradesh. Currently serving as the Special Commissioner of Police (Human Resources) in the Delhi Police, he has recently been promoted to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP). His journey—from the remote Ziro Valley to the highest echelons of the Indian Police Service—is truly inspiring. Throughout a career spanning over three decades, Robin Hibu has built a strong bridge between law enforcement and public service. He earned his promotion to the rank of DGP based on his outstanding service, leadership capabilities, and consistently excellent Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs). He has received numerous prestigious honors, including the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, and the Ati-Utkrisht Seva Padak (Medal for Exemplary Service). He has held several key responsibilities within the Delhi Police. He served as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he led the security arrangements for the nation’s highest constitutional institution. Additionally, as the Managing Director of the Delhi Police Housing Corporation, he made significant contributions to the welfare of police personnel and the development of infrastructure. Robin Hibu’s most notable initiative is his social organization, “Helping Hands.” This organization provides emergency assistance, legal counsel, educational support, medical aid, and rations to citizens in need, including people from the North-East. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization set a remarkable example of humanitarian service by delivering relief to thousands of people. He has also consistently raised his voice against issues such as racial discrimination and racial profiling faced by people from the North-East. By establishing networks like the ‘Crime Victim Group,’ ‘Student Leader Group,’ and ‘SOS Group,’ he has provided immediate aid and institutional support to victims. His efforts have strengthened the sense of security and trust among the North-Eastern community living in metropolitan cities. His commitment to public service and social causes has earned him respect across the country. His work has been appreciated by numerous national figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, and world-renowned boxer Mary Kom. Today, Robin Hibu is recognized not only as a senior police officer but also as a symbol of leadership, sensitivity, and social change.
Deepshikha Sharma: The Tech-Savvy IAS Officer Driving Transparent Governance and Sustainable Development in Ferozepur
Deepshikha Sharma is a 2015-batch IAS officer (Punjab cadre) currently serving as the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Ferozepur. Since assuming office on September 13, 2024, she has focused intensely on making the administration more transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric. With a background in Electronics and Communication Engineering, she is known for integrating technology and data-driven governance into effective administrative practices. As the head of the district administration, she has accorded top priority to disaster management and public safety. Her proactive monitoring, swift decision-making, and coordinated strategies during situations such as flood threats and rising water levels have strengthened the relief and rescue mechanisms. Under her leadership, the administration has emphasized advance preparedness to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of vulnerable areas. She has also made significant contributions to the conservation of natural resources. She has promoted scientific water planning and sustainable agricultural practices, while fostering groundwater and aquifer management through initiatives like NAQUIM 2.0. Her objective has been to devise long-term solutions to water-related challenges and encourage farmers to optimize resource utilization. She has played a pivotal role in environmental conservation and the strengthening of democratic processes. To tackle the issue of stubble burning, she facilitated coordination among various departments, farmers, and experts; simultaneously, in the realm of election administration, she oversaw activities such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to ensure the accuracy and transparency of electoral rolls. Her working style exemplifies an effective balance between development, environmental sustainability, and good governance.
From Ayodhya to Saharanpur: IPS Officer Ashish Tiwari’s Technology-Driven Policing Model Earns National and Global Recognition
Ashish Tiwari is a 2012-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre and currently serves as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Saharanpur. He is recognized as an officer who champions technology-driven, data-based, and citizen-centric policing models. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles in several key districts, including Jhansi, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Etah, Jaunpur, Firozabad, and Ayodhya. In these districts, he placed special emphasis on strengthening community policing, public engagement, and digital administrative systems. His tenure as the police chief of Ayodhya was particularly noteworthy. During a period of sensitive and historic significance, he played a pivotal role in maintaining law and order, fostering trust among diverse communities, and ensuring peace. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, Ashish Tiwari has effectively implemented technological innovations in policing. Initiatives such as monitoring and curbing fake news, establishing tech-based mechanisms to trace missing children, and institutionalizing ‘SMART’ policing have directly impacted millions of citizens in Uttar Pradesh. He also spearheaded extensive public awareness campaigns against social crimes through women-led grassroots initiatives. These efforts not only fostered trust between the community and the police but also made crime prevention a more participatory process. His innovations and leadership capabilities have garnered international recognition. He was named among the global “40 Under 40” policing leaders by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Additionally, he has received numerous national awards for innovation in policing, digital transformation, and public service.
Krishna K. Yadav: Modernizing India’s Postal Services with Technology, Vision, and People-Centric Governance
Krishna K. Yadav is a senior officer of the Indian Postal Service (IPoS) and currently serves as the Postmaster General of the North Gujarat Region. Over an administrative career spanning more than two decades, he has made significant contributions toward making the Department of Posts more modern, effective, and people-centric. His working style is characterized by a balanced blend of technological innovation, good governance, and sensitivity toward the needs of the common citizen. Throughout his long tenure, Yadav has held positions of responsibility in numerous key regions across the country, including Surat, Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Jodhpur, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Working amidst diverse geographical and socio-cultural landscapes, he spearheaded several key initiatives aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency, improving service quality, and strengthening digital infrastructure. Under his leadership, special emphasis was placed on extending postal services to the last mile and making them more accessible to citizens. Yadav firmly believes that post offices are not merely conduits for the delivery of letters and parcels, but serve as powerful bridges connecting society with the administration. In line with this philosophy, he championed the integration of technology into postal services, thereby rendering service delivery more transparent, swift, and reliable. His efforts to bolster citizen-centric services—in both rural and urban areas—have garnered widespread acclaim. Most recently, he inaugurated Gujarat’s first Gen-Z themed post office at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT Gandhinagar). This initiative marks a pivotal step toward engaging the youth with postal services and transforming traditional post offices into modern, technology-enabled, and innovation-driven spaces. This endeavor also reflects a broader vision of fostering greater youth participation in the communication and postal sectors, while making post offices more relevant to the new generation. Beyond his administrative responsibilities, Krishna K. Yadav is also a distinguished name in the realm of literature and writing. He is the author of several books, and his works reflect a profound understanding of society, culture, rural life, and human values. His dual identity—as both a civil servant and a litterateur—sets him apart as a truly unique figure. A sensitive outlook, creative thinking, and dedication to public service have earned him respect in both the administrative and literary spheres.
From IBC Reforms to Financial Literacy: Anita Shah Akella’s Impact on India’s Corporate Governance Landscape
Anita Shah Akella is a 1996-batch officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS). Currently, she serves as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) Authority. Through her administrative experience and policy-oriented perspective, she has made significant contributions toward strengthening India’s corporate and financial governance framework. Her role in efforts to reform India’s insolvency and debt resolution mechanism has been particularly noteworthy. She spearheaded the drafting of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as well as the extensive consultation process involving various stakeholders. This was a significant policy initiative spanning nearly three years, aimed at making insolvency processes more effective, transparent, and time-bound. The primary focus of the amendments formulated under her leadership has been to minimize procedural delays, simplify the resolution process, and ensure the expedited and improved disposal of cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). These reforms have laid a crucial foundation for making India’s debt resolution framework more efficient and investor-friendly. As an ex-officio member of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), Anita Shah Akella has also played a pivotal role in driving comprehensive and multi-faceted reforms within the Code. She firmly believes that, alongside changing economic dynamics, laws must also remain flexible, pragmatic, and solution-oriented to effectively address emerging challenges. In addition to insolvency reforms, she has been a staunch advocate for promoting investor protection and financial awareness. She has placed special emphasis on strengthening digital grievance redressal systems, simplifying the processes for settling investor claims, and expanding financial literacy. Through her diverse initiatives, Anita Shah Akella has fostered transparency, accountability, and efficiency within the realm of corporate governance. Their policy initiatives not only safeguard the interests of investors but also make a significant contribution to making India’s corporate governance framework more credible and effective.
Utpal Kumar Singh: From Steering Uttarakhand Through COVID-19 to Leading Lok Sabha Administration
Utpal Kumar Singh is a retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) belonging to the Uttarakhand cadre. He was born on July 29, 1960, in Malyampur village, Barhat Block, in the Jamui district of Bihar. Currently, he serves as the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History from the University of Delhi and the Institute of Social Studies. Additionally, he obtained a degree in Public Policy and Management from a university located in The Hague, Netherlands. Utpal Kumar Singh has held numerous significant positions across the Central Government and various State Governments, including that of Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, and has served in key central roles spanning departments such as Public Works (PWD), Agriculture, and Personnel. Key Achievements Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand: He performed exemplary work as the Chief Secretary of the Government of Uttarakhand, particularly for his public-spirited efforts aimed at making the state—known as ‘Devbhoomi’—free from COVID-19. Mega Events: He played a pivotal role in the management and organization of the Ardh Kumbh Mela held in Haridwar. World Bank Projects: Throughout his career, he was instrumental in managing World Bank-funded projects and formulating policies for various infrastructure development initiatives.
Ajay Seth appointed as IRDAI Chairman after steering India’s economic affairs and finance ministry reforms
Ajay Seth, the incumbent Chairman of India’s Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI), is a retired IAS officer of the 1987 batch from the Karnataka cadre; he has served in this capacity since September 2025. Prior to his tenure at the IRDAI, he held pivotal positions within India’s Ministry of Finance, serving as both the Finance Secretary and the Secretary of Economic Affairs. He was born on June 30, 1965, in India. He earned a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee and an MBA degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. Within the Government of Karnataka, Ajay Seth served in various key and diverse roles, notably as the Principal Secretary for Infrastructure Development, Urban Development, and the Planning Department. Between 2000 and 2004, he served as a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Expenditure and the Department of Economic Affairs within the Union Ministry of Finance. Subsequently, from 2004 to 2008, he served as an Advisor to the Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank. Later, within the Government of Karnataka, he served as the Principal Secretary for the Department of Health and Family Welfare and as the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes. His tenure as the Commissioner of the Commercial Taxes Department is recognized for ushering in numerous reforms in commercial tax administration, for which he was honored with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2013. In July 2018, he was appointed as the Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a position he held until April 2021. In April 2021, the Government of India appointed Ajay Seth as the Secretary of Economic Affairs. This appointment marked his return to the Central Government after a hiatus of 13 years. In March 2025, the government appointed Ajay Seth as India’s new Finance Secretary. This appointment took place after Tuhin Kanta Pandey stepped down from the post of Finance Secretary to assume the chairmanship of SEBI. After stepping down from both his previous positions, Ajay Seth assumed the office of Chairperson of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority for a three-year term, effective September 1, 2025.
Pramod Kumar Mishra: Veteran IAS Officer and Architect of Key Administrative Reforms in India
Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, serving as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1972 Gujarat cadre, who has held this position since 2019.Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra was born on August 11, 1948, in the Sambalpur district of Odisha. He completed his primary education in the Sambalpur district of Odisha, after which he pursued higher studies at the Delhi School of Economics, where he earned a Master’s degree. Subsequently, he obtained a Ph.D. in Economics and Development Studies from the University of Sussex in the UK. Career On September 11, 2019, he was appointed as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India. In addition to serving as the Additional Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, he has held various significant positions in both the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat. These roles include Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Member of the Gujarat Electricity Board, and District Magistrate and Collector for the Mehsana and Banaskantha districts within the Gujarat government. Furthermore, within the Government of India, he has served as the Union Agriculture Secretary, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development, and as a Member of the National Capital Region Planning Board. After retiring from the Indian Administrative Service, he was appointed by the Chief Minister of Gujarat as the Chairman of the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission. His tenure as the Commission’s Chairman concluded on August 11, 2013, at which time he had reached the age of 65. Upon Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister, Dr. Mishra was appointed as the Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. He was accorded this position with the rank and status of a Cabinet Secretary—considered the highest bureaucratic post in the Government of India—and was subsequently re-appointed to this role. Alongside Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, the effective Principal Secretary, Mr. Nripendra Mishra, was also re-appointed; these appointments were designated to run concurrently with Prime Minister Modi’s tenure. Awards In 2019, he was honored with the prestigious United Nations Sasakawa Award for his outstanding contributions to disaster risk reduction.
Govind Mohan: From IIT BHU and IIM Ahmedabad to India’s Home Secretary
Govind Mohan (born September 21, 1965) is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Sikkim cadre, currently serving as the Home Secretary of India since August 23, 2024. He was born in Uttar Pradesh. His father served as a Chief Engineer in the Public Works Department. Mohan received his early education at St. Joseph’s College and St. Francis College in Uttarakhand, completing his schooling in March 1982. Subsequently, he pursued a B.Tech degree at IIT BHU, studying there from July 1982 to March 1986. He went on to complete his MBA at IIM Ahmedabad, studying from July 1986 to March 1988. Throughout his administrative career, Govind Mohan has held several significant positions. Prior to becoming the Home Secretary, he served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Additionally, he served as a Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as a Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs within the Ministry of Finance. Mohan has also served as a Divisional Head for Union Territories and held the position of Principal Resident Commissioner for the Government of Sikkim.