IAS fraternity finds time to celebrate together Last week saw a colourful gathering as the IAS Officers' Wives Association organised a celebration marking regional New Year festivals, including Puthandu, Vishu, Poila Baisakh and Bihu.

Officers, dressed in traditional attire, exchanged greetings in a rare informal setting.
Chief Secretary M K Das and ACS (GAD) Anju Sharma attended as chief guests and joined the festivities with enthusiasm. The association has become increasingly active, offering bureaucrats a welcome break from formal meetings and a chance to connect more personally.​​​​​​​

BJP leans on AI edge amid heat and time crunch
With limited campaigning time and soaring temperatures, the BJP appears to be leaning heavily on digital strategy this election season. Its presence across social media platforms such as Meta and Instagram has intensified, with reels and targeted content flooding feeds.
A dedicated team of IT professionals is working to build momentum online. Party leaders, however, remain wary. Scorching heat on polling day and underlying voter discontent have kept them on edge. With little room for error, this election is shaping up to be a stern test. "Things are not as smooth as they seem," remarked a senior leader.

Hardik Shah rises to joint secretary in PMO
Hardik Shah has been promoted as joint secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, serving as private secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a co-terminus basis. A 2010-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, Shah has been with the PMO since 2019 and has served as private secretary since 2020. Known to be among the prime minister's trusted aides, Shah is often described in bureaucratic circles as his 'eyes and ears' of Modi.

Vibrant Gujarat events merged amid West Asia tensions
Citing the evolving situation in West Asia, the state government has decided to merge the remaining two Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conferences scheduled in Surat and Vadodara. The Surat event, originally planned for May 1, will now be combined with the Vadodara conference, with programmes slated across May 1 and 2.
Gujarat Foundation Day will also be celebrated in Surat, where the Prime Minister is expected to attend. The first two conferences were held in Mehsana and Rajkot. At a recent meeting of secretaries, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries and Mines) Mamta Verma and Industries Commissioner P Swaroop presented an update on the VGRC. The impact of the ongoing conflict is already visible, with confirmations so far received only from Japan and Rwanda.

'Super secretary' rewrites the rulebook
Power corridors are abuzz with talk of a 'super secretary' who seems to have rewritten the rulebook. J A Gandhi, special secretary in the Roads and Buildings department, has set a record of sorts by holding four charges post-retirement. Though junior in rank to the department's secretary, his influence and responsibilities far exceed his designation.
Gandhi currently holds three additional charges as managing director of GSRDC, chief engineer of the North Zone and chief engineer of National Highways. Sources claim he has effectively taken charge of the R&B department, clearing files and forwarding them directly to the CMO for approval. The chief minister has, on several occasions, pulled up the department over poor road quality and incomplete projects. "But it appears he has a
powerful godfather," quipped a senior official.