Raipur
The Chhattisgarh government has appointed former Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain as the State Chief Information Commissioner, filling a key vacancy in the State Information Commission.
In a notification issued by the General Administration Department on 10 January 2026, the state government also appointed retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Umesh Kumar Agrawal and senior journalist Dr Shirish Chandra Mishra as State Information Commissioners.
The appointments aim to balance administrative expertise with a journalistic perspective. Agrawal brings extensive experience from the state bureaucracy, while Dr Mishra offers deep insights into media and public relations.
Governor Ramen Deka approved the appointments under the powers conferred by the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The move is expected to expedite the disposal of pending RTI appeals and complaints across the state.
The service conditions, including tenure, salary, and allowances for the new appointees, will be governed by the RTI (Term of Office, Salaries, Allowances and Other Terms and Conditions of Service…) Rules, 2019. These rules, notified by the Union government on 24 October 2019, fix the tenure of commissioners at three years or until they reach the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
The State Information Commission plays a central role in ensuring transparency and accountability in government functioning. With these new appointments, the commission is now better equipped to provide citizens with timely access to information regarding government policies and decisions.
