RAS question
A.K. Balasubrahmanian has been appointed as the new Chairman of AERB for a tenure of how many years?
Correct answer: (B) 3 years.
A. K. Balasubrahmanian was appointed Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board for a three-year tenure from the date he assumed charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Explanation
A. K. Balasubrahmanian's appointment as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board was approved for three years from the date he assumed charge, with the qualification that it may last only until further orders if those come earlier. This makes the three-year option the exam answer. The appointment replaced D. K. Shukla, and the PIB release separately records that Balasubrahmanian took charge of AERB on January 01, 2026. The context matters because this is not a routine retirement-based posting: the cited tenure is a fixed period linked to assumption of charge. His background also fits the office, with nearly 40 years of experience in nuclear power plant design, safety assessment, construction and commissioning.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Two years is too short because the cited appointment approval states a three-year tenure from the date of assumption of charge.
- (C) Five years is not supported by the appointment report, which specifies three years rather than a longer fixed term.
- (D) The tenure is not framed as service until retirement; it is three years from taking charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Concept
This tests current-affairs governance around appointments to statutory and regulatory bodies. RAS frequently asks such items because they connect institutional roles with recent government decisions and fixed-tenure public appointments.