The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has made changes in secretary level positions in 11 departments including power, textiles, fertilizer with fresh appointments and reshuffles. The recent change in bureaucracy stands more important this time because the Budget session of Parliament is near. The Budget session is scheduled to begin on 29 January.
According to the recent order, Alok Kumar presently, a 1988 batch officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre has been appointed as secretary in the Ministry of Power. He is taking place of Nandan Sahai who retired from this position on 31 January. Bidyut Bihari Swain, Gujarat carde IAS officer has been appointed as the secretary of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. He was currently serving as special secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Along with them Upendra Prasad Singh and Alok Tandon has also been given new position. Mr. Singh who was Secretary in the Department of Water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Upendra Prasad Singh will now take charge as Secretary, Ministry of Textiles. On the other hand Alok Tandon presently in the UP cadre has been appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Mines.
Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi will take charge of the Department of Fertilisers whereas Yogendra Tripathy will become the new secretary in the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. Mr. Tripathy was presently the tourism secretary. Arvind Singh will be the new tourism secretary. Pankaj Kumar who is currently Chief Executive Officer, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has been appointed secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
G V Venugopala Sarma has been made chairman, National Authority, Chemical Weapons Convention. He was presently the Member Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority. Whereas, Otem Dai, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, will be secretary, Central Vigilance Commission.
Praveen Kumar Srivastava has been appointed secretary (coordination), Cabinet Secretariat. Mr. Kumar was Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Fertilizers Alka Tiwari, has been now appointed secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes