New Delhi, September 25: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a series of senior-level appointments involving 10 officers across key ministries and departments, including civil aviation, finance, education, petroleum, water resources, steel and skill development.
Several of the appointments carry the rank and pay of Additional Secretary, with some existing positions being temporarily upgraded to accommodate officers at the appropriate level.
Key Appointments
Vipin Kumar, IAS (1996, Bihar cadre) has been appointed Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI). He was serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Srikant Nagulapalli, IAS (1998, Andhra Pradesh cadre), currently Director General of Hydrocarbons, has been appointed Additional Secretary, Department of Expenditure. V. Ponnuraj, IAS (2000, Karnataka cadre) will succeed him as Director General of Hydrocarbons with the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
Anand Singh, IAS (2000, Kerala cadre) has been appointed Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs. The ACC order states that the period between the completion of his foreign assignment and assumption of charge will be treated as compulsory waiting.
In the education sector, Mandeep K. Bhandari, IAS (2001, AGMUT cadre) has been appointed Chairperson, CBSE, in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary through temporary upgradation of the post.
Ankita Mishra Bundela, IAS (2001, AGMUT cadre) has been appointed Additional Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, through temporary upgradation of a vacant Joint Secretary-level post.
Hemalatha, IAS (2000, Karnataka cadre), Development Commissioner, Cochin Special Economic Zone, has been appointed Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).
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Other Appointments
Piyush Singh, IAS (2000, Maharashtra cadre), Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power, has been appointed Mission Director, National Water Mission, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
Manisha Sensarma, IES (1995) has been appointed Additional Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, following temporary upgradation of a vacant DS/Director-level post.
Sarita Chauhan Chand, IAS (1999, AGMUT cadre) has been moved from the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances to serve as Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Ministry of Steel.
The appointments involve movement across ministries, changes in administrative responsibilities and temporary upgradation of posts. Senior appointments requiring ACC approval are processed through the Establishment Officer mechanism of the Department of Personnel & Training.