In a significant bureaucratic development, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment and reassignment of 18 senior IAS officers to Secretary and equivalent-level positions across various ministries and departments. This major reshuffle aims to enhance administrative efficiency and streamline governance mechanisms across sectors.
Key Appointments:
- Meeta R. Lochan (IAS: MH-1990) – Appointed Secretary, National Commission for Backward Classes, replacing A. Neeraja (IFoS: UP-1990), who superannuates on May 31, 2025.
- K. Moses Chalai (IAS: MN-1990) – Appointed Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance.
- Manoj Govil (IAS: MP-1991) – Appointed Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat, replacing Vandana Gurnani (IAS: KN-1991), now Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment.
- Rajit Punhani (IAS: BH-1991) – Appointed Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, succeeding Atul Kumar Tiwari (IAS: KN-1990).
- Ashish Srivastava (IAS: MP-1992) – Promoted as Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Vumlunmang Vualnam (IAS: MN-1992) – Appointed Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
- Nikunja Bihari Dhal (IAS: OR-1993) – Appointed Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
- Pallavi Jain Govil (IAS: MP-1994) – Appointed Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs.
- Nidhi Chhibber (IAS: CG-1994) – Appointed Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
- Arvind Shrivastava (IAS: KN-1994) – Appointed Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
- Vivek Aggarwal (IAS: MP-1994) – Appointed Secretary, Ministry of Culture.
- Santosh Kumar Sarangi (IAS: OR-1994) – Appointed Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
- Rajesh Agarwal (IAS: MN-1994) – Appointed Secretary, Department of Commerce, succeeding Sunil Barthwal.
- Anuradha Thakur (IAS: HP-1994) – Appointed OSD, Department of Economic Affairs; to take over from Ajay Seth (IAS: KN-1987).
- Rakesh Kumar Verma (IAS: PB-1993) – Appointed Director General, India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management.
- Hari Ranjan Rao (IAS: MP-1994) – Appointed Secretary, Department of Sports, replacing Sujata Chaturvedi (IAS: BH-1989).
- Rajesh Kumar Sinha (IAS: KL-1994) – Upgraded to the rank of Special Secretary.
- Ranjana Chopra (IAS: OR-1994) – Upgraded to the rank of Special Secretary.
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Extension:
- Bharat Lal (IFoS: GJ-1988, Retd.) – Tenure extended as Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission, for one year beyond June 30, 2025.
This large-scale reshuffle is seen as a strategic move to harness the experience of seasoned bureaucrats as the government intensifies its development and reform agendas across key sectors.
