@SrBachchan: T 643 -Back from another leg of promotions for Gujarat Tourism .. thank you team Tourism for your care and hard work .. its creating ripples.The photograph shows Gujarat Government's Principal Secretary Tourism Vipul Mittra in discussion with Amitabh Bachchan.Mittra is an IAS officer of 1986 batch who belongs to the Gujarat cadre.

Two IRS officers have been transferred in the grade of Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise on return from deputation. Accordingly, Mrs. Ameeta Suri has been posted to DG, HRD, Delhi (Expenditure Management Cell) and Mrs. Sungita Sharma is shifted to CX, Pune-III.

Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta (Retd.) took oath of the office of Lokayukta, Himachal Pradesh, in the presence of Governor Urmila Singh and Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, at an impressive swearing in ceremony organized at Raj Bhawan Shimla on February 3, 2012. Ms. Harinder Hira, Additional Chief Secretary read the warrant of appointment issued by the Governor, Himachal Pradesh Tulsi Ram Sharma, Speaker, Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Ravinder Singh Ravi, IPH Minister, Narender Bragta, Horticulture Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Ms. Vidya Stokes, MLA and Leader of Opposition in HP Legislative Assembly, Members of State Legislative Assembly, Justice Pritam Pal, Lokayukta, Haryana, Justice R.B. Mishra, Acting Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court, Judges of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Bhim Sen, Chief Information Commissioner, Dr. A D N Bajpai, Vice Chancellor, HP University, Dr. D S Manhas, Director General of Police, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, retired Judges of the High Court, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations, representatives of various organizations and prominent people of the town were present on the occasion.

ASSOCHAM president-elect Rajkumar Dhoot today emphasized the need for new impetus to manufacturing sector, boost in physical and social infrastructure with large doses of investments and tax relief and ensuring energy security with tax holidays for oil and gas exploration activities. At the pre-Budget discussion with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, he also called for greater interaction and coordination between the industry and the government to keep up the economic growth momentum. Dhoot institutions like India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) and Life Insurance Corporation should disburse more funds for developing infrastructure while the government coordinates effectively for timely clearances, approvals and implementation of projects. To curb the menace of black money, laws must be enacted to ensure transparent public funding during elections. Immunity should be provided to persons declaring unaccounted money so that funds stashed abroad illegally get back into the country's economic system. Dhoot said there is urgent need to improve social infrastructure and public private partnerships must be encouraged to provide education, healthcare and clean drinking water for all citizens. For the manufacturing sector which can create lakhs of new jobs, investment allowance should be introduced as deduction from profit to the extent of new investment in plant and machinery. The rate of depreciation on plant and machinery should be restored to 25 per cent from 15 per cent currently. "The increase in rate of depreciation in long run is revenue-neutral as the total amount cannot exceed the cost of assets." Tax benefits to hill states and northeastern states should be extended for two more years, said Dhoot. ASSOCHAM believes integrating excise and service tax into central Goods and Services Tax will make the Indian industry competitive. The chamber fully supported the government's initiative to widen the base of service tax and cover all services except those in the negative list.

Ms. Kamla Nagar wife of former IAS officer, O.V.Nagar and mother-in-law of Prashant Mehta, IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, passed away in Ujjain. Prashant belongs to the 1975 batch.

Ms. Sudha Sharma, who so far was DGIT Vigilance, Delhi, has taken over as Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on February 3, 2012.
(We said this in August 2011)

Dilip Sinha presently Additional Secretary at Headquarters, has been appointed as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Offices in Geneva.
(We said this on January 23)

Dr. Sudhir Krishna, Secretary, Urban Development, Government of India, inaugurated a maintenance estate office of NBCC set up at the re-development of Netaji Nagar (Part) and Moti Bagh (East) Complex recently in Delhi. On this occasion, Vishnu P Das, CMD; A K Mittal, Director (Projects) and other senior officers of NBCC were also present. This new maintenance office will provide prompt maintenance services to all the occupants of the high profile complex of the Government of ndia, being re-developed under GPRA Scheme by the Corporation.

Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Subhash Garg has been moved to the Cabinet Secretariat in the same capacity. He is 1983 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

Vikram Misri is going to succeed Pankaj Saran as Joint Secy in the Prime Minister's Office. He is 1989 batch IFS officer.