I&B Ministry
Paradigm shift in I&B Ministry to digitise: Arun Jaitley
NEW DELHI: Information & Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley today said there has been a paradigm shift to digitise various Government Publications in order to reach out to online readers globally.
Releasing the print and digital versions of India 2016 and Bharat 2016, the Minister said digital version of the books will be 25 per cent cheaper than print versions and will also help in saving paper consumption. Jaitley also stated that Annual Reference Book was an asset and a repository of information for all stakeholders.
Additionally, the Minister launched the online payment service and subscription of popular journals and Employment News of the Publications Division through Bharat Kosh, Non Tax Receipt portal of the Finance Ministry.
While launching the online subscription service, he said that the objective of technology was to provide solutions to complicated issues. He mentioned that Bharat Kosh portal would enable direct transfer of money received from the sale of journals to the Consolidated Fund of India.
Jaitley also launched the service of sale of printed version of the prominent books of the division through e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart. The Reference Book India 2016 along with 49 other important titles would now be available on Flipkart.
I&B Secretary Sunil Arora said that India Reference Book was a signature book brought out by Publications Division. It was a ready reference for academicians and students preparing for various competitive examinations and should be a must read for anyone who wanted authentic and credible information about India.
The digital versions of the Publications Division books would be available on Kobo for online readers.
I&B Ministry
Devinder Kumar appointed Prasar Bharati chief vigilance officer
Senior IOFS officer to serve three-year term with Level-13 pay scale
MUMBAI: The Centre has appointed Devinder Kumar as the chief vigilance officer of Prasar Bharati, formalising a key oversight role within India’s public broadcasting network.
The appointment was cleared through an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Kumar, a senior Indian Ordnance Factory Service officer, will initially serve a tenure of three years or until further government orders, whichever comes earlier.
As chief vigilance officer, Kumar will be responsible for overseeing vigilance and compliance functions within Prasar Bharati, ensuring transparency and accountability across the organisation’s operations.
The role carries a Level-13 pay scale under the central government structure, translating to a salary range between Rs 1,23,100 and Rs 2,15,900. The compensation aligns the position with other senior administrative roles across government departments.
Kumar’s appointment follows due process, including a recommendation from the Central Vigilance Commission, which vets candidates for such critical oversight positions.
Currently serving under the Department of Defence Production, Kumar has been directed to be relieved of his existing duties with immediate effect to assume his new role.
The move comes as Prasar Bharati continues to strengthen its governance framework, with the CVO position playing a central role in maintaining institutional integrity. Kumar’s appointment is expected to bolster internal oversight at a time when accountability remains firmly in focus across public sector organisations.
