In a major administrative development, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has greenlit the appointment and reassignment of 18 senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers to Secretary and equivalent-level posts across key ministries and departments.
This sweeping bureaucratic reshuffle is aimed at enhancing governance, strengthening policy implementation, and driving efficiency across various sectors.
Highlights of the Key Appointments:
- Meeta R. Lochan (IAS: MH-1990) has been appointed as Secretary, National Commission for Backward Classes, replacing A. Neeraja (IFoS: UP-1990), who is set to retire on May 31, 2025.
- K. Moses Chalai (IAS: MN-1990) takes over as Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Finance.
- Manoj Govil (IAS: MP-1991) has been designated Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat, succeeding Vandana Gurnani (IAS: KN-1991), who moves to the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
- Rajit Punhani (IAS: BH-1991) will head the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, replacing Atul Kumar Tiwari (IAS: KN-1990).
- Ashish Srivastava (IAS: MP-1992) has been promoted to Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Vumlunmang Vualnam (IAS: MN-1992) takes over as Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
- Nikunja Bihari Dhal (IAS: OR-1993) has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
- Pallavi Jain Govil (IAS: MP-1994) will serve as Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs.
- Nidhi Chhibber (IAS: CG-1994) has been named Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
- Arvind Shrivastava (IAS: KN-1994) has been appointed Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
- Vivek Aggarwal (IAS: MP-1994) assumes charge as Secretary, Ministry of Culture.
- Santosh Kumar Sarangi (IAS: OR-1994) has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
- Rajesh Agarwal (IAS: MN-1994) takes over as Secretary, Department of Commerce, replacing Sunil Barthwal.
- Anuradha Thakur (IAS: HP-1994) has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Department of Economic Affairs, and will subsequently take over from Ajay Seth (IAS: KN-1987).
- Rakesh Kumar Verma (IAS: PB-1993) has been named Director General, India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management.
- Hari Ranjan Rao (IAS: MP-1994) will now serve as Secretary, Department of Sports, replacing Sujata Chaturvedi (IAS: BH-1989).
- Rajesh Kumar Sinha (IAS: KL-1994) has been elevated to the rank of Special Secretary.
- Ranjana Chopra (IAS: OR-1994) has also been promoted to the position of Special Secretary.
This reshuffle comes at a time when the government is intensifying its focus on economic reforms, youth development, infrastructure, and digital governance.
