Babus, mantris & buzz: Despite Mecca Pact, India emerges as key arms supplier to Saudi Arabia, overtaking Pakistan
· Free Press Journal
PM Modi's Gen-Z-style swipe at Congress energises BJP rank and file
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Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent foray into Gen-Z-style digital messaging, the BJP’s revamped IT Cell has launched a coordinated social media campaign against the Congress. Under new leadership, ministers and state party handles have moved away from traditional infographics to stylised reels, rap tracks and internet slang such as “aura farming” and “FOMO”. The aggressive digital push involves national and regional allies coordinating AI-generated memes and viral templates to mock political rivals. As political discourse increasingly shifts from conventional policy debates to internet-style exchanges, the key question is whether this new digital strategy will help the BJP attract young voters.
Despite Mecca Pact, India emerges as key arms supplier to Saudi Arabia, overtaking Pakistan
Saudi Arabia has urgently sought an additional 10,000 155mm artillery shells from India to strengthen its defences amid escalating conflicts involving Iran-backed Houthi forces. The emergency procurement highlights a significant geopolitical development, with India emerging as a more practical defence partner for Riyadh than Pakistan.
Although Islamabad recently formed the trilateral "Mecca Pact" with Saudi Arabia and Turkey for collective defence, analysts point out that Pakistan remains hesitant to actively engage the Houthis and is allegedly treating the alliance primarily as a channel for Saudi financial assistance. In contrast, India's swift supply of critical ammunition demonstrates tangible support for Saudi Arabia and strengthens New Delhi's position as a reliable security partner in the Middle East, while highlighting the gap between Islamabad's rhetoric and its actions.
BUREAUCRACY
Odisha cadre IAS officer likely to be PS to Bihar CM
Sanjay Kumar Singh is likely to be appointed as PS to Samrat Chaudhary, Chief Minister of Bihar. The Bihar government has requested the Centre to approve his inter-state deputation. Singh had earlier served in Bihar on an inter-state deputation (ISD). A 1997-batch IAS officer, he is currently serving as PS, Panchayati Raj, in Odisha.
21,900 complaints of digital arrest fraud reported in India
A status report submitted by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before the Supreme Court stated that more than 21,900 complaints of digital arrest fraud, involving over Rs 647 crore, were registered between January 1 and August 31, 2026.
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia appointed new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM VM, has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, with effect from November 1, 2026.
He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the Fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on June 11, 1988. He is qualified to fly all variants of the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30 MKI aircraft.
In a career spanning nearly four decades, he has held various command and staff appointments. He has commanded a frontline fighter squadron, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), and served as Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Bareilly.
He has also undergone the Advanced Command & Staff Course in the UK and the NDC in Bangladesh. He has headed the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) of the IAF, served as Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Japan and South Korea, and was the Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command.
An avid reader, he holds three postgraduate degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies. In recognition of his distinguished service, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2018. He succeeds Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who will take over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31, 2026.
Ten Customs officers of Chief Commissioner/DG rank transferred (UPDATED)
Ten officers in the grade of Chief Commissioner/DG of Customs and Indirect Taxes have been transferred following their promotion. K M Ravichandran has been appointed as DG, Export Promotion, New Delhi, while Atul Kumar Rastogi will join as Chief Commissioner, AR CESTAT, New Delhi. Satyajit Singh has been appointed as Chief Commissioner, Panchkula, GST and Central Excise Zone.
Similarly, Ved Prakash Shukla has been posted as Chief Commissioner, Vadodara, GST & Central Excise Zone; N Sridhar as Chief Commissioner, Visakhapatnam, GST and Central Excise Zone; Jaideep P as Chief Commissioner, Chennai, GST & Central Excise Zone; Gurusharan Singh as DG, SNU-North, DGGSTI, Gurugram; Kiran Verma as DG, SNU-East, DGGSTI, Kolkata; Arvinder Singh Ranga as Chief Commissioner, Patna, Customs Preventive Zone; and Baswaraj M Nalegave as DG, SNU-South, DGGSTI, Chennai.
18 Customs officers of Deputy/Assistant Commissioner rank transferred (UPDATED)
As many as 18 officers in the grades of Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Customs and Indirect Taxes have been transferred. Prashat Kumar Jaiswal, DC, has been posted to DGEP, Delhi, while Sridhar Das, DC, and Rahul Kumar, DC, have been transferred to Mumbai GST & CX Zone.
Similarly, Dhiraj Vishwarao More, DC, will be posted to CBN, Gwalior, while Anirudh R Gangavaram has been transferred to Nagpur GST & CX Zone.
Among the Assistant Commissioners, C A Verma has been posted to Ahmedabad GST & CX Zone; S K Mazumdar to Kolkata GST & CX Zone; Muskan Khurana to DGTS, Delhi; Ankit to DGRI, Amritsar; Sivaprakash SV to DGRI, Coimbatore; Gopal Saxena to CESTAT, Allahabad; Sugumar Suresh S to DGRI, Trichy; Ashok Kumar to Panchkula GST & CX Zone; Krishna Das to Kolkata GST & CX Zone; Vishal Mehta to Lucknow GST & CX Zone; and Kushal Rawat to DGEP, Delhi.
Manoj Govil, IAS, assigned additional charge in Cabinet Secretariat (UPDATED)
The Competent Authority has approved the assignment of additional charge of Secretary (Transport & Logistics Planning) in the Cabinet Secretariat to Manoj Govil, IAS (MP: 1991), who is currently serving as Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat. He will hold the additional charge until the appointment of a regular incumbent.
Sandeep Pondrik to hold additional charge of Ministry of Heavy Industries (UPDATED)
Sandeep Pondrik, IAS (Bihar, 1993), Secretary, Ministry of Steel, has been assigned the additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, following the superannuation of Kamran Rizvi on October 31. He will hold the additional charge until the appointment of a regular incumbent.
Rajendra Kumar to hold additional charge of Secretary, ISCS (UPDATED)
The Competent Authority has approved the assignment of additional charge of Secretary, Inter State Council Secretariat (ISCS), to Rajendra Kumar, IAS (Tamil Nadu: 1992), who is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Border Management. He will assume the additional responsibility following the superannuation of Ashish Srivastava on October 31 and will hold the charge until the appointment of a regular incumbent.
Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal appointed as Deputy Secretary, Dept of Financial Services (UPDATED)
Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal, IAS (Tripura: 2016), has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Financial Services, Delhi, under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of four years.
Satyam Mohan appointed Commissioner (Housing), DDA (UPDATED)
Satyam Mohan, a 2015-batch officer of the Indian Defence Estate Service (IDES), has been selected for appointment as Commissioner (Housing) (Deputy Secretary level) in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi, under the Department of Capital Development. The appointment is under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of four years from the date he assumes charge of the post.
Rahul Eknath Karale appointed Commissioner (Personnel), DDA (UPDATED)
Rahul Eknath Karale, a 2011-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), has been selected for appointment as Commissioner (Personnel) (Director level) in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi, under the Department of Capital Development. The appointment is under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of five years from the date he assumes charge of the post.
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