August 2019 Persons in News

Sakshi Education

Rajiv Gauba takes over as new Cabinet Secretary
Senior IAS officer Rajiv Gauba on 30 August, 2019 took over as the new Cabinet Secretary after the superannuation of PK Sinha.

Mr Gauba, a 1982 batch officer belonging to Jharkhand Cadre of Indian Administration Service, has held important assignments including Union Home Secretary, Secretary of Ministry of Urban Development and Chief Secretary of Jharkhand.

He has also represented India at the International Monetary Fund.
Three new judges appointed for Telangana High Court
3 advocates were appointed judges of the Telangana High Court.

The President has appointed lawyers Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar, Annireddy Abhishek Reddy and Kunuru Lakshman judges of the HC in that order of seniority.

A notification to this effect was issued recently.

With this, the total strength of the Telangana HC judges rose from 11 to 14.
Karnataka CM Yediyurappa appointed 3 deputy CMs
Karnataka CM Yediyurappa appointed Govind Makthappa Karajol, Ashwath Narayan CN and Laxman Sangappa Savadi as the deputy CMs.

Deputy Chief Minister Govind Makthappa Karajol has been allocated the Public Works Department.

Ashwath Narayan CN has been allocated the department of higher education, IT and BT, and science and technology departments.
Shavendra Silva appointed as comander of Sri Lankan Army
Sri Lankan field commander appointed the new Army Commander, the President's office announced

Lt Gen Shavendra Silva, 55 take charge as incumbent Army chief Lt Gen Mahesh Senanayake's service. President Maithripala Sirisena's office announced that Lt Gen Shavendra Silva named as the new army commander.Silva headed the Army's 58th Division in the final battle against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in the final stages of the civil war in 2009.

Silva's name was mentioned in the resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2013.

Critics say Silva's appointment as the Army chief may strain Sri Lanka's cooperation in UN Peacekeeping operations and the defence cooperation between the US and Sri Lanka.

After the brutal civil war ended, Silva served in New York as Sri Lanka's Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN Mission.

According to a United Nations report, some 45,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the last months of the war alone.

The United Nations and human rights groups have urged the Sri Lankan government to establish a war crimes tribunal to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity, both by the military and the Tamil militant groups.Sri Lankan governments have resisted attempts to establish an international probe, saying it is an internal issue of the island nation.

The promotion of Lieutenant-General General Silva severely compromises Sri Lanka's commitment to promote justice and accountability.
Ajay Kumar appointed as Defence Secretary
The government has appointed Ajay Kumar as Defence Secretary.

Ajay Kumar, is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre and is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Defence Production.

He will succeed Sanjay Mitra, upon completion of his term. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the appointments.

Brij Kumar Agarwal has been appointed as Secretary to the Lokpal and Subash Chandra as Secretary of Department of Defence Production.
Rajiv Gauba appointed new Cabinet Secretary
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba will be the new Cabinet Secretary.

Mr Gauba who is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre will replace P.K. Sinha, The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr Gauba as the Cabinet Secretary with a tenure of two years from 30th August, 2019.

It has also approved the appointment of Mr Gauba as Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat from the date of his assumption of charge till he takes over as Cabinet Secretary.
Chandrima Shaha to head INSA
Chandrima Shaha is set to be the 1st woman president of the Indian National Science Academy.

Her tenure will begin from January 2020.

Chandrima Shaha was formerly the Director of the National Institute of Immunology, Delhi.

She has been a vice-captain of West Bengal’s first women’s cricket team and also the first woman cricket commentator for All India Radio.
Veteran BJP Leader, Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passes away
Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passed away in New Delhi last night after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. She was 67.

The country has lost a much loved leader who epitomised dignity, courage and integrity in public life. The President said, she will always be remembered for her service to the people of India.

Swaraj was an excellent administrator, outstanding Parliamentarian and a remarkable orator.

India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering lives of the poor. Prime Minister described her death as a personal loss.

An excellent administrator,Swaraj set high standards in every ministry she handled.

Sushma Swaraj was a seasoned Parliamentarian and widely respected cutting across the party lines.

Sushma Swaraj was a truly endearing public figure who treated every person with empathy.
IPS officer VK Johri appointed as next Director General of Border Security Force
IPS officer VK Johri has been appointed as the next Director General of Border Security Force. Mr Johri, a 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, is presently serving as the Special Secretary in RAW, under the Cabinet Secretariat.

He will take over the charge of the BSF from incumbent Rajni Kant Mishra, who retires on 31st of this month. The official order, issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, also stated that Mr Johri has been appointed as an Officer on Special Duty in the Union Home Ministry with immediate effect.
Senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar appointed as new Finance Secretary
Senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar will be the new Finance Secretary. An official order said, the approval was given by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Mr Kumar, a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Jharkhand cadre, is presently serving as Secretary in the Department of Financial Services.
Yogesh Bhattarai appointed as Nepals Tourism Minister
Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has inducted Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai as a new Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Mr. Bhattarai is a ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker from Taplejung.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed minister in Kathmandu on 31 July, 2019 evening.

Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and other dignitaries were also present at the swearing-in ceremony.

The post of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister was lying vacant after Rabindra Adhikari died in a helicopter crash in February 2019.

Since then, the ministry's portfolio was with the Prime Minister.