New Delhi: Dr. Samit Sharma, IAS officer of the 2004 Rajasthan Cadre, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) & Ground Water Department for the Government of Rajasthan. Formerly serving as Secretary to the Government, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Government of Rajasthan, Dr. Sharma brings a wealth of experience to his new role.

In addition to his administrative expertise, Dr. Samit Sharma has previously held key positions such as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd in Rajasthan. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the implementation of the “Access to Low-Cost Generic Medicines, Rajasthan” initiative. Aimed at addressing the affordability of medications, this project focused on ensuring that approximately 40% of individuals who struggled with high drug costs could access low-cost, high-quality generic drugs.

Earlier during his tenure, Dr. Sharma initiated a directive to all district government doctors, urging them to prescribe and exclusively use generic drugs. These cost-effective medicines were sourced from Government-run cooperative stores. Furthermore, awareness camps were organized to educate the public about the availability and benefits of affordable drugs. Dr. Samit Sharma’s diverse experience, spanning roles such as Sub-Divisional Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Nagar Nigam, Kota, reflects his commitment to public service and capacity for effective governance.

This story has been sourced from a press release issued by Department of Personnel, Government of Rajasthan.

New Delhi: In a significant administrative shuffle involving 40 IAS officers, Ajitabh Sharma, a bureaucrat with 27 years of experience, is set to spearhead the Industry, MSME, and Bureau of Industrial Promotion for the Government of Rajasthan. This move comes on the heels of a series of transfers within the Rajasthan Administration, bringing Sharma from his current role as Chairman & Managing Director of Jaipur City Transport Services Limited (JCTSL) to this pivotal position.

With a wealth of experience in diverse leadership roles, Ajitabh Sharma emphasizes the crucial role of public utility services in achieving sustainability goals. His extensive track record includes overseeing entities such as the state irrigation board, renewable energy corporation, metro rail corporation, and more, all dealing with essential public services and facing challenges related to governance, finance, and service-provision pricing.

Sharma’s appointment reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing efficiency and strategic management within the industrial and MSME sectors of Rajasthan.

This news has been sourced from a press release issued by Department of Personnel, Government of Rajasthan.

New Delhi: In a recent directive issued by the Department of Personnel, Government of Rajasthan, the Bhajan Lal administration, following the 2023 Assembly Election, has orchestrated a significant bureaucratic overhaul in Rajasthan. A total of 40 IAS officers have undergone transfers and new postings.

Subodh Agarwal, a 1988 batch IAS officer, who has been designated as the Chairman of the Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Institute (IGPRS), and Akhil Arora, a 1993 batch IAS officer, retaining his position as ACS for Finance, Excise, and Taxation, albeit with certain departmental changes.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Ranka, a 1994 batch IAS officer who held the position of Principal Secretary under former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, has been entrusted with the responsibility of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) for Social Justice and Empowerment.

Notably, T. Ravikant, a seasoned 1998 batch IAS officer serving as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, has now assumed the dual role of Principal Secretary for the Urban Development & Housing Department and Principal Secretary for Self-Government. The reshuffling also involves Aparna Arora, Anand Kumar, Sandeep Verma, Shreya Guha, Bhaskar Atmaram Sawant, Kunji Lal Meena, Alok Gupta, Vaibhav Galeria, Arti Dogra, Ms. Anandhi, Suchi Tyagi, Rajan Vishal, Sandesh Nayak, Sunil Sharma, Mukul Sharma, Utsah Chaudhary, Manju Rajpal, and Mahesh Sharma, each taking on distinct roles within various departments and commissions across the state.

This bureaucratic realignment marks a strategic move by the Bhajan Lal government to optimize administrative efficiency and align officials with specific portfolios in Rajasthan.

This story has been sourced from a press release issued by Department of Personnel, Government of Rajasthan.

New Delhi: The Government of India recently announced a significant overhaul in its bureaucratic structure, appointing seven Additional Directors. Among the notable changes are Anupam Kulshreshtha, Yogesh Deshmukh, Amrendra Kumar Sengar, A Sai Manohar, Puneet Rastogi, Vinayak Vineet, and Biju George Joseph K. These officers, with backgrounds in IPS from various states, have been empanelled to the Additional Director General/Additional Director General Equivalent posts.

In addition to the reshuffling, Manoj Pandey, an IRS officer from the IT cadre of 1992, who was serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has been elevated to the position of Additional Secretary in the same ministry.

Alok Pande, an IPoS officer from 1994, who was previously Joint Secretary in the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management under the Ministry of Finance, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the same department.

Further, Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, a CSS officer from 1989, who held the position of Joint Secretary in the Department of Home under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Home.

These appointments mark a significant restructuring within the Government of India, aiming to enhance administrative efficiency and leadership within key departments.

New Delhi: In a significant restructuring of the Rajasthan Administration, Gaurav Agrawal, previously the District Collector of Chittorgarh, has been appointed as the new District Collector of Jodhpur.

The reshuffle witnessed over 70 officers being transferred to different roles across the state.

A 2013 batch IAS officer currently stationed in Rajasthan, Agrawal made history by securing AIR 1 in the UPSC exam in 2013, becoming the first in his home state to achieve this feat after initially being selected as an IPS officer in 2012.

New Delhi: Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL) is actively engaged in a multitude of projects and initiatives aimed at bolstering the energy landscape in the state. With a strong focus on clean and sustainable energy, GPCL has implemented strategic measures to promote renewable sources, contributing to Gujarat’s energy security. The corporation is addressing challenges prevalent in the power sector through innovative solutions and proactive measures.

Embracing the evolving role of technology, GPCL is at the forefront of integrating technological advancements into its operations, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in the rapidly transforming power sector. Through a combination of progressive initiatives and technological integration, GPCL stands as a key player in shaping Gujarat’s power future. In this regard, Shivani Babbar, ObserveNow, interacted with Arun Mahesh Babu, IAS, Managing Director, Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd.

Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

What strategies have Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd adopted to promote clean and sustainable energy in the state?

Gujarat has focused on a multi-prone strategy varying from setting up large-scale Solar Park to microgrids, and small solarization projects like the Modhera Solarization Project. GPCL has always adopted a strategy to explore new avenues of Renewable energy generation technologies like -the adoption of Offshore RE Windmill projects and green hydrogen projects in the state. 

To encourage the large investment, GPCL has adopted a strategy to invite private sector participation through a Memorandum of Understanding at the Global Vibrant Summit 2024.

The government of Gujarat has signed multiple MoUs for the proposed investment of INR 3,19,000 Crore in the field of Green Hydrogen. We aim to make Gujarat a preferred destination for green hydrogen and derivatives production and exports with a target of 10,000 tons per annum (TPA) green hydrogen production capacity by 2025 with the potential to reach 1 million tons per annum (MTPA) capacity by 2030 to support India’s ambition of becoming energy independent by 2047.

How has the corporation been addressing the challenges associated with the power sector, and what innovative solutions have been implemented?

The critical issue on Renewable sector requirements is that they are land-intensive projects where we require a huge chunk of land, so the challenge for GPCL is to identify such wasteland which is neither used for agriculture nor industrial purposes as well. Such challenges are being addressed through scientific studies carried out through satellite applications and studies on the ground level after taking data from various districts. GPCL has successfully identified more than 5 Lakh hectares of wasteland in the state.

GPCL is also encountering challenges in implementing new and innovative projects where we have come across technological and regulatory aspects etc. GPCL has taken a coordinated approach with concerned regulatory authorities to resolve it accordingly. The success story lies in the commissioning of solarization of Modhera Sun Temple & Town with a 6 MW connected mounted Solar PV Power Plant where GPCL has shown the way for round-the-clock renewable energy to rural areas with a mixture of solar technology with Roof-top Solar application and energy storage system through Battery based Energy Storage System (BESS) Technology.

How do you see the role of technology evolving in the power sector, and what steps is the corporation taking to embrace technological advancements? 

Evolving technology is playing a pivotal role in the power sector, especially in the Renewable energy sector. The basic characteristic of Renewable energy is characterized by its irregularity, inconsistency, and unpredictability. Hence our major challenge is to find new RE generation technologies that are dependable, consistent, and provide round-the-clock power generation at affordable rates.

Apart from that, at GPCL, we are Leveraging AI (Artificial Intelligence) and IoT (Internet of Things) to enhance the efficiency and reliability of Renewable energy distribution in the state. We have already started deploying IoT sensors across the power grid to monitor and collect data on voltage, current, power quality, and other relevant parameters. We are establishing a robust data collection and management system to handle the massive amounts of data generated by IoT sensors and other devices.  We aim to make the grid dynamically adjust voltage levels, rerouting power, and have a proper load balancer.

What collaborative initiatives or partnerships has Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd established, both at the national and international levels, to enhance the power infrastructure and expertise?

GPCL is closely working with the Ministry of Renewable Energy and leading institutes like the National Institute of Mine Energy (NIME). GPCL is also connected with the Indian Institute of Technology- Bombay, Indian Institute of Technology- Gandhinagar, Shakti Foundation, CEEW, and so on. Apart from that GPCL is planning to spread its partnership with International Institutes such as USAID and UC Berkeley as well. 

What measures is Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd taking to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in its operations?

Promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in the operations of GPCL, is crucial for building trust with stakeholders and ensuring the company operates ethically. We provide regular and comprehensive reports on financial performance, operational metrics, and sustainability initiatives, ensuring transparent accounting practices and financial reporting in compliance with relevant regulations & conducting regular independent audits of financial records to ensure compliance and accuracy.

We at GPCL, leverage technology for transparent and efficient operations, such as implementing smart grid technologies and real-time monitoring systems, and invest in training programs for employees to enhance their skills and knowledge about compliance, governance, and ethical practices.

Can you provide an overview of the current projects and initiatives that Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd is involved in?

Gujarat has unveiled its renewable energy policy focusing on leveraging the state’s potential of 36 GW of solar and 143 GW of wind capacity to enable a cost-effective and reliable power supply. Since the beginning of the Renewable Era in 2009, GPCL, as designated Nodal agency for solar and other renewable energy by the Government of Gujarat is leading from the front and is well committed to achieving the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s objectives to fight climate change and mitigating to Zero Carbon Emissions by 2070. 

In 2009, having few KWs off-grid RE, now the State’s Renewable power generation capacity stands at 22,435 MW as of today, to become a global hub for the Renewable Power sector and has laid out an ambitious plan for hydrogen manufacturing in the State. Out of total installed power generation, approximately 46.24 % is Renewable Energy which makes ~12.5% of India’s total Installed Renewable Energy capacity (including large hydro).

GPCL was a pioneer in setting up Asia’s biggest and first ever Solar Park in Charanka at a single location with a capacity of 215MW in 2011 and currently expanding to 730 MW. This park has become the flex of India’s national mission for setting up large-scale solar parks in the country.  This integrated “Charanka Solar Park” has spread in 5384 acres of land, and state-of-the-art infrastructure with provision to harness rainwater besides power evacuation at the doorsteps. As of now 730 MW Solar Projects have been commissioned by 36 developers. Further, projects of 20 MW power capacities are under implementation. Solar Park also can generate 4.2 MW of Wind Power and already two Windmills, each of 2.1 MW have been commissioned to make the Park.

Apart from the above, GPCL has successfully commissioned the following parks and innovative RE Projects: 

Dholera Ultra Mega Solar Park (UMSP): It is fully owned by the Dholera Special Investment Region Authority with a Total Capacity of 1000 MW in Phase-1, In Phase-2 the project aims to expand to an impressive 4,000 MW with a procurement agreement in place with SECI. This park is set up in the coastal area in the Gulf of Khambat.

Raghanesda Solar Park:  It is a 700+ MW Ultra Mega Solar Power Project (UMSPP) on government wasteland having an area of about 1,392 hectares at village- Raghanesda, District- Banaskantha. At present total of 600 MW Solar Power Projects commissioned, and 100 MW work is under progress. This park is set up on 100% wasteland near the desert area.

Modhera Sun Temple and Town:  The outcomes of the Modhera solarization project are truly impressive, with the Hon’ble Prime Minister recognizing Modhera as “India’s First 24 X 7 Solar Powered and BESS based Village Modhera – Suryagram.” The village’s ability to export surplus green energy and generate revenue demonstrates the project’s success in promoting clean energy and its financial viability. The Modhera Sun Temple, a cultural and historical treasure, now stands as a symbol of modern sustainability with free solar power. This project serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, showcasing the potential of solar energy storage technology, electric vehicle charging stations, and smart demand response systems. 

30 GW RE Park, Khavda, Kachchh: Now GPCL is instrumental to set-up World Biggest RE Park at Khavda in Kutch, with expected Renewable power generation capacity of 30GW by December 2026, this will be first of its kind park known as “30GW Khavda RE Park” which will have multiple energy generation sources mainly Wind, Solar and in future, it will be equipped with Battery Based Energy Storage systems (BESS). Under Govt waste land policy, a large-scale land is identified, near the International Border in Kutch district. Approx. 72,400 hectares of land for 27,700 MW RE capacity has been allotted to 6 Developers.

Offshore Wind Power Projects: GPCL has planned futuristic offshore wind energy development as a significant step towards Gujarat’s commitment to clean energy and India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. GPCL will play a pivotal role in facilitating offshore wind development, coordinating with national agencies, and serving as a central point of contact. The successful completion of the initial study near port of Pipavav, highlighting its 36 GW offshore wind potential, further solidifies Gujarat’s position as a key hub for renewable energy in India.

Nearshore wind Project: A pioneering Near Shore Wind Project with a capacity of 10-50 MW, strategically located within 1000 meters from the beautiful seashores of Dist. Bhavnagar is also planned. This visionary project demonstrates our commitment to sustainable energy generation, environmental stewardship, and technological innovation. GPCL’s Near Shore Wind Project not only harnesses the power of the wind to generate clean electricity but also showcases our dedication to setting new standards in offshore energy generation.

New Delhi: According to an official order released, Dr Hanif Qureshi IPS (Haryana 1996) presently Joint Secretary- Ministry of Heavy Industries has been appointed as Additional Secretary- Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Dr Hanif Qureshi, a distinguished Indian Police Service officer, brings a wealth of experience to his new role, encompassing criminal investigations, traffic management, intelligence operations, police training, and maintaining law and order. Apart from his impressive academic background, including B.Tech., M.Tech., MBA, and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati, USA, Dr. Qureshi is renowned as a TEDx speaker.

His active involvement in research is evident through publications in American, Indian, and international journals and books. His research interests encompass critical areas such as police legitimacy, crimes against women, organizational citizenship behaviors, and criminal justice system reforms.

These strategic appointments underscore a deliberate restructuring of key bureaucratic positions, aligning with the government’s commitment to enhance efficiency and leverage specialized expertise in key sectors.