In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the Central Government has appointed senior IAS officers Ashish Vachhani (1997 batch, Tamil Nadu cadre) and M S Srikar (1999 batch, Karnataka cadre) as Additional Secretaries in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Both officers have been appointed on a lateral shift basis until the completion of their deputation tenure or until further orders.
Vachhani, who currently serves as Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Srikar, presently Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, are understood to be replacing Arvind Shrivastava (1994 batch, Karnataka cadre) and Hari Ranjan Rao (1994 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre), who were recently elevated as Revenue Secretary and Sports Secretary, respectively.
In another significant appointment, Dr Ajay Kumar (Retd IAS, 1985 batch, Kerala cadre) has been named Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The government has also assigned additional charge of the Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, to Rajesh Aggarwal (1989 batch, Maharashtra cadre) during the leave period of Chandra Sekhar Kumar (1992 batch, Odisha cadre) from May 14 to May 23, 2025. Aggarwal is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan).
Unmesh Sharad Wagh (IRS C&IT: 2000), Deputy Chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), will continue as Chairman, JNPA (additional charge) until August 23, 2025, or until the appointment of a regular incumbent.
The tenure of Gurjeet Singh Dhillon (IOFS: 2002), Director in the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), has been extended for one year till March 25, 2026. His central deputation has been active since March 26, 2018.
In the Department of Science & Technology, the tenure of Prof. Abhay Karandikar as Secretary has been extended by one year starting July 1, 2025.
Additional tenure extensions were also announced:
- Sanjay Garg (1994 batch, Kerala cadre), currently Additional Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education and Secretary, ICAR, will continue until August 24, 2026.
- Niraj Kumar Gayagi (IDAS: 1997), Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, received an extension for a combined tenure of six years until April 6, 2026.
- Kumar Ravi Kant Singh (2008 batch, Uttar Pradesh cadre), Joint Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, has been granted a two-year extension beyond June 1, 2025.