Negative antigen report needed for consular service in Jakarta
Visitors wishing to avail consular services at the Embassy of India in Jakarta, Indonesia will need to bring their negative antigen test report conducted during the last 24 hours before approaching the embassy. This initiative by Ambassador Manoj Kumar Bharti in Jakarta is a welcome move, considering that consular services in all Indian Missions are either being operated online or with restricted hours.
Kamran Rizvi’s stint at Centre may be longer
Kamran Rizvi, the 1991 batch IAS officer of UP cadre, may have a much longer stint at the Centre. He joined as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development and was later promoted as Additional Secretary in the Department of Rural Development.
He is presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Now, the Central Government has extended the additional charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, HUDCO, to Rizvi for a further period of six months.
Tenure extension for diplomats still rare
Tenure extensions are rare in case of Indian diplomats serving in various Indian Missions. During the current pandemic, it was expected that diplomats who have completed or are completing their tenure in postings would get a six-month extension; but that did not happen, and regular appointments are being made. The same rule is being applied to retirement.
Indian Embassy in Kuwait to outsource consular, passport and visa services
The Embassy of India in Kuwait is going to outsource its consular, passport and visa services to private companies. There is now speculation that more embassies will be asked to do the same in the coming months.
Guj HC still short of 11 permanent judges
The Gujarat High Court is operating with a shortage of 11 permanent judges, against the sanctioned strength of 52 judges. The working strength of the permanent judges in the High Court is currently 28 , as per the latest data released by the Department of Justice, Union Ministry of Law & Justice as on July 1, 2021.