The official 2026 calendar of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has landed in controversy for featuring individual photographs of its two top bureaucrats, placed in the months coinciding with their birthdays. The move has raised questions about the use of official resources for personal publicity within government-owned corporations.
Calendar Details and the Birthday Coincidence
The calendar, which was distributed in Union government offices this week, primarily showcases images of Metro trains and projects. However, it deviates from this pattern for the months of April and July. For April, the calendar carries two photographs of NMRC's Managing Director, Lokesh M, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Noida Authority. Notably, the 2005-batch IAS officer's birthday falls on April 3. One photo shows him playing the sitar, while the other captures him addressing an event.
Similarly, the month of July features two pictures of Mahendra Prasad, the NMRC Executive Director and Officer on Special Duty in Noida Authority. Prasad, a 2014-batch IAS officer, celebrates his birthday on July 5. His photographs depict him walking in a corridor and speaking at a function.
Contradictory Statements from the Officials Involved
The inclusion of these solo portraits has drawn attention because other government calendars typically highlight organizational projects, artwork, or group photos from events. When questioned about the unusual choice, the two officers presented starkly different perspectives.
Managing Director Lokesh M stated that his photographs were used in the calendar without his permission. He clarified that one of the pictures was taken when he played Vande Mataram during Noida Authority's Independence Day celebration. "I issued a show-cause notice to the officials concerned as soon as I came to know about my photograph being featured in the calendar," Lokesh said. He has held the dual charge of Noida Authority CEO and NMRC MD since July 2023.
In contrast, Executive Director Mahendra Prasad defended the calendar's content. He asserted there was "nothing personal, nothing commercial" about it and that it was made in the government's interest. "It's not as if I have printed anyone's photo who does not hold an official post," Prasad remarked.
Broader Context and Corporate Profile
The NMRC is a joint venture between the Union Government and the Uttar Pradesh government, operating under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). It was established in 2014 to execute Metro projects connecting Noida, Greater Noida, and the Yamuna Expressway region.
According to MoHUA data from August 2025, the NMRC network spans 29.70 km and serves an average daily ridership of 59,648 passengers. The calendar controversy brings into focus the protocols governing publicity materials released by public sector undertakings and the fine line between profiling an organization and its individual leaders.
