BSP leader Randhir Beniwal, Akash Anands father-in-law, is expelled by Mayawati

New Delhi: On Sunday, Mayawati, the president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), dismissed national coordinator Randhir Singh Beniwal, father-in-law of her nephew Akash Anand, and former Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Siddharth from the party due to his lack of discipline and anti-party behaviour.The action follows the denial of rumours regarding Anand's involvement in the distribution of tickets for the Uttar Pradesh elections in 2027. Mayawati had stated on July 31 that she was personally in charge of the party's election preparations, presiding over review sessions in Lucknow, and selecting candidates. She dismissed as "completely baseless" claims that Akash Anand was choosing party nominees, stating that interviews had already taken place and that over two dozen people had been selected. Mayawati claimed on Sunday that rumours about Siddharth's return to Uttar Pradesh were a part of a "deliberate conspiracy" to confuse party members and sabotage 2027 election preparations. She declared that Siddharth had been banished immediately and would never be allowed to return.Randhir Singh Beniwal, the BSP national coordinator, was also dismissed by her due to persistent transgressions of party rules. According to party sources, Beniwal neglected to concentrate on Punjab, which is headed for elections.  

Bihar bypoll Prashant Kishor is leading according to early indicators as the Bankipur byelection counting gets underway.

In the first rounds of vote counting, newcomer Prashant Kishor overtook adversary Neeraj Kumar of the BJP. He has won five straight rounds as of 11.30 a.m.Voting for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Bihar started at 8 a.m. on Monday, August 3, 2026, in Patna. Everyone was watching to see if Jan Suraaj Party rookie Prashant Kishor would unseat the BJP.Nitin Nabin, the national president of the BJP, resigned after being elected to the Rajya Sabha in April, necessitating a by-election."The counting of votes for the Bankipur by-election began amid tight security arrangements," an official stated. Voter turnout in the July 30 bypoll was 34.30%, a decrease of about 7% from the 41.45% registered in the last Assembly elections. This time, there are 26 contenders in the race. In November 2025, Mr. Nabin defeated his closest opponent, Rekha Gupta of the RJD, by more than 50,000 votes to win the Assembly seat for the fifth time in a row. Mr. Gupta was once more nominated by the RJD for the by-election. The BJP, which has never lost the Assembly segment since 1995 when it was known as Patna West, has fielded low-key youth wing leader Neeraj Kumar Sinha, while Prashant Kishor, a former poll strategist who founded the Jan Suraaj Party a few years ago, is running in his maiden election.As early indications of the Bankipur Assembly by-election indicated founder Prashant Kishor leading, joyful Jan Suraaj Party members gathered at the party's camp headquarters. While closely monitoring the current vote count, followers of the former poll strategist-turned-politician raised slogans in favour of him and praised his impressive start in his first election.  

Kiran Thadimarri is named CFO by IndiGo parent InterGlobe Aviation, while Gaurav Negi is appointed advisor.

InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, has announced an important leadership change in its finance team. The company's Board of Directors has appointed Kiran Thadimarri as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective July 28, 2026. Before this promotion, Thadimarri served as the Deputy CFO and has been closely involved in the company's financial planning and business operations. At the same time, Gaurav Negi, who has been leading the finance function as CFO since 2022, will move into a new position as Advisor to the Managing Director. The company said this transition has been carefully planned to ensure continuity in financial leadership while allowing both executives to contribute in roles that best support IndiGo's long-term growth. The appointment comes at a significant time for IndiGo, India's largest airline, as it continues to expand its domestic and international network while also dealing with rising operating costs and increasing competition in the aviation sector. Kiran Thadimarri brings valuable experience to the role, having worked with leading organizations such as Udaan and General Electric before joining IndiGo. His understanding of the company's financial operations and strategic priorities is expected to help strengthen its financial management during a period of rapid growth. Meanwhile, Gaurav Negi will continue to play an important role by advising the Managing Director, ensuring that his knowledge and experience remain available to the company during this transition. Industry experts see this leadership change as a smooth internal succession rather than a major restructuring. Promoting an experienced executive from within the organization reflects IndiGo's focus on stability and long-term planning. The airline has recently faced pressure from higher fuel prices and reported another quarterly loss, making strong financial leadership especially important. With Kiran Thadimarri taking charge as CFO and Gaurav Negi continuing in an advisory capacity, the company aims to maintain confidence among investors, employees, and stakeholders while continuing its expansion plans and strengthening its position in India's fast-growing aviation market.  

In a significant bureaucratic reorganisation, IRS Officer Satya Pal Kumar was appointed FIU Director.

In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, Satya Pal Kumar, an officer from the Central Information and Research Service (CIRS), has been appointed as the new Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The appointment is part of the government’s latest administrative changes aimed at strengthening key financial and regulatory departments. Satya Pal Kumar brings experience in handling important government responsibilities and is expected to play a crucial role in improving FIU’s operations. The Financial Intelligence Unit works under the Ministry of Finance and is responsible for monitoring financial transactions, detecting money laundering activities, and helping agencies track illegal financial networks. His appointment comes at a time when financial security and transparency have become major priorities for the government. The FIU plays an important role in analysing suspicious transactions and coordinating with enforcement agencies to prevent financial crimes. The bureaucratic reshuffle includes changes across several departments, with new officers being given responsibilities to improve efficiency and governance. Kumar’s new role as FIU Director is expected to further strengthen India’s efforts in combating financial crimes and maintaining a secure financial system.  

Ashiss Kumar Dash is named CEO by the Infosys board.

The board of Infosys has appointed Ashiss Kumar Dash as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Designate, marking a planned leadership transition at one of India's largest IT services companies. Dash, who currently serves as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Services, Utilities, Resources, Energy & Enterprise Sustainability, will assume the role of CEO and Managing Director from April 1, 2027, subject to the necessary approvals. Current CEO Salil Parekh will step down on March 31, 2027, after leading Infosys since January 2018. During his nearly nine-year tenure, Parekh oversaw the company's digital transformation strategy, expansion of cloud and artificial intelligence services, and consistent financial performance. He became the longest-serving non-founder CEO in Infosys' history. Ashiss Kumar Dash brings more than three decades of experience in technology consulting and enterprise transformation. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, he has led several global industry portfolios at Infosys and has played a key role in driving AI-led transformation, sustainability initiatives, and large-scale digital modernization projects for Fortune 500 companies. He also represents Infosys on several international industry forums and serves on the boards of multiple Infosys group companies. The leadership announcement came alongside Infosys' first-quarter FY27 earnings. The company reported year-on-year growth in revenue and profit, while also outlining its long-term succession plan well ahead of the transition. Analysts view the early appointment of Dash as a move to ensure continuity in strategy and leadership as Infosys continues to expand its AI, cloud, and digital engineering businesses.  

Harjeet Grewal: Who Is He? The explanation of the new chairman of the National Minorities Commission

The Central Government has appointed Harjit (Harjeet) Singh Grewal as the new Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). His appointment fills the top post in the Commission, which had been vacant since the completion of former chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura's tenure. Grewal will serve a three-year term from the date he assumes office, or until further orders. Along with him, Munawari Begum has been appointed as Vice-Chairperson and Glenn E. Souza Ticlo as a Member of the Commission. Harjeet Grewal is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Punjab and a long-time party organiser. He joined the BJP in the 1980s after working with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Over the years, he has held several important organisational positions, including roles in the BJP Kisan Morcha and the party's national executive. He became well known during the 2020–21 farmers' protest as one of the BJP's prominent Sikh leaders. The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Its main responsibility is to safeguard the rights and interests of India's notified minority communities, monitor the implementation of constitutional and legal safeguards, investigate complaints, and advise the Central Government on minority welfare policies. Grewal's appointment is considered significant because it restores full leadership to the Commission after a prolonged vacancy. It also marks the third time a Sikh leader has headed the National Commission for Minorities, reflecting the government's effort to strengthen the functioning of the statutory body responsible for protecting minority rights in India.  

MHA requests input from stakeholders and suggests a CEO and more CEO positions for I4C.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has invited comments from stakeholders on a proposal to create new senior leadership positions in the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). The proposal includes one Chief Executive Officer (CEO) post and three Additional Chief Executive Officer (Additional CEO) posts to strengthen India's cybercrime prevention and response system. According to the draft recruitment rules, the CEO post will be at Pay Matrix Level-15 (equivalent to Additional Secretary rank), while the three Additional CEO posts will be at Pay Matrix Level-14 (Senior Administrative Grade). These positions will function under the Cyber and Information Security (CIS) Division of the MHA and are expected to improve strategic planning, coordination, and administration within I4C. The MHA has asked all stakeholders to submit their suggestions and comments by August 14, 2026. After reviewing the feedback, the ministry will finalize the recruitment rules. The appointments will be made on a deputation basis under the Non-Central Staffing Scheme and will not come under the jurisdiction of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Instead, the appointments will be approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) based on recommendations from a Search-cum-Selection Committee headed by the Union Home Secretary. The proposed eligibility criteria require candidates to have a bachelor's degree along with significant experience in areas such as cyber security, cybercrime investigation, cyber forensics, information and communication technology (ICT), or internal security. The move is intended to strengthen I4C's leadership structure and enhance India's capacity to tackle the growing threat of cybercrime through better coordination and expert management.  

Indias New Ambassador to North Korea is Sanjeev Jain.

The Government of India has appointed Sanjeev Jain as the country's next Ambassador to the North Korea. The appointment was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on 7 July 2026. Jain is expected to assume his new diplomatic responsibilities in Pyongyang shortly.Sanjeev Jain is a 2008-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Before this appointment, he was serving as India's Ambassador to the Cabo Verde. During his diplomatic career, he has handled several important international assignments, giving him extensive experience in foreign policy, bilateral relations, and multilateral diplomacy.His appointment comes at an important time for India's engagement with North Korea. Although India maintains limited diplomatic and economic relations with Pyongyang because of international sanctions and security concerns, New Delhi has continued to keep diplomatic communication channels open through its embassy in the North Korean capital.India's embassy in Pyongyang resumed normal diplomatic activities after a prolonged disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. The appointment of a new ambassador reflects India's intention to maintain a regular diplomatic presence while carefully balancing its broader strategic interests in the Korean Peninsula.The Ministry of External Affairs stated that Sanjeev Jain will take up the assignment shortly. His role will include managing India's diplomatic relations with North Korea, monitoring regional developments, assisting Indian interests, and representing India on political and humanitarian issues wherever required.India continues to support peace, stability, and the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula while maintaining stronger economic and strategic partnerships with South Korea. The appointment of Sanjeev Jain underscores India's commitment to sustaining diplomatic engagement with all countries in the region despite complex geopolitical challenges.  

Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary, Receives a One Year Extension

The Central Government has approved a one-year extension for Vikram Misri as India's Foreign Secretary, allowing him to continue in office until July 14, 2027. The decision was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) under the provisions of Fundamental Rule 56(d), which permits extensions for select senior government officials in the national interest. Vikram Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, assumed charge as Foreign Secretary in July 2024. During his tenure, he has overseen India's diplomatic engagements on several critical global issues, including relations with neighboring countries, strategic partnerships with major powers, and India's participation in multilateral forums. His extension reflects the government's confidence in his leadership and diplomatic experience. Before becoming Foreign Secretary, Misri served as Deputy National Security Adviser and held ambassadorial assignments in China, Spain, and Myanmar. He is particularly recognized for his expertise on China and played a significant role in managing diplomatic engagement following the India-China border tensions after the Galwan Valley clashes. His long diplomatic career has earned him a reputation as one of India's most experienced foreign policy experts. One of the unique aspects of Misri's career is that he has served as Private Secretary to three Prime Ministers—I. K. Gujral, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi. This rare distinction highlights the trust successive governments have placed in his administrative and diplomatic capabilities. The extension comes at a time when India is navigating an increasingly complex international environment marked by geopolitical competition, regional security concerns, and expanding global partnerships. Maintaining continuity in the leadership of the Ministry of External Affairs is expected to help sustain ongoing diplomatic initiatives and negotiations across multiple regions.  

The CBDT has reappointed Ravi Agrawal as chairman, extending his term to December 2026.

The Union Government has reappointed Ravi Agrawal as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), extending his tenure until December 31, 2026. The decision was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), ensuring that Agrawal will continue to lead India's apex direct tax administration body for another six months on a contractual basis. Ravi Agrawal, a 1988-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, first assumed charge as CBDT Chairman on July 1, 2024. Although he had reached the age of superannuation, the government has continued to retain his services through successive extensions, highlighting its confidence in his leadership and experience. The CBDT plays a crucial role in formulating direct tax policies, administering the Income Tax Department, strengthening tax compliance, and improving taxpayer services. Under Agrawal's leadership, the department has focused on expanding digital tax administration, simplifying compliance procedures, and enhancing transparency in tax collection. The latest extension comes at a time when the government is working to sustain strong growth in direct tax collections and improve the efficiency of tax administration. Retaining the existing leadership is expected to ensure continuity in ongoing reforms, including the use of technology, data analytics, and taxpayer-friendly initiatives. Officials believe that extending Agrawal's tenure will help maintain stability in policymaking as the government pursues broader fiscal and revenue objectives. His continued leadership is also expected to support the implementation of pending tax reforms and strengthen coordination between the CBDT and the Ministry of Finance. The reappointment reflects the Centre's emphasis on continuity and experienced leadership in one of India's most important financial institutions. With his tenure now extended until the end of December 2026, Ravi Agrawal will continue to oversee the country's direct tax administration and contribute to policies aimed at improving tax compliance, boosting revenue collection, and enhancing taxpayer services.  

Siddaramaiah became a member of the CWC

New Delhi: Siddaramaiah, the departing chief minister of Karnataka, was named a member of the Congress Working Committee on Tuesday night by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. His appointment occurred just one day before his replacement, DK Shivakumar, took the oath of office as chief minister of Karnataka, indicating the party leadership's desire to make fun of him.Siddaramaiah's record-long tenure of more than eight years across two terms as chief minister came to an end mere days after he resigned. On the eve of DK Shivakumar, his longtime competitor and now-former deputy, taking the oath of office as the new chief minister, he was also appointed as a member of the CWC. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah engaged in a protracted internal conflict over the position, frequently making subtle jabs at one another.  

The Supreme Court will now have 37 judges after adding five new members

additional Delhi: The Supreme Court will now have 37 judges, one less than the revised sanctioned strength of 38, with the appointment of five additional judges on Monday.Senior Supreme Court lawyer Venkita Subramani Mohana, Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar of the Bombay High Court, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, and Chief Justice Arun Palli of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court have all been promoted as top court judges, according to separate notifications released by the Union Law Ministry's Department of Justice on Monday morning. Last month, the government issued an order that amended a law to boost the supreme court's sanctioned strength from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India. Although there were already two open positions, the apex court now has six open positions after the sanctioned strength was expanded.The nominations were made in four days after the Supreme Court Collegium suggested the five candidates on May 27. PTI