New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a series of decisions concerning senior civil servants, including the single empanelment of 1991-batch IAS officer Manish Kumar Gupta for Secretary or Secretary-equivalent posts at the Centre.
The latest decisions also include additional charge of the Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation to Home Secretary Govind Mohan, curtailment of the Central Staffing Scheme tenure of IAS officer Arunkumar Khembhavi, extension of CBI deputation for IPS officer Nitin Deep Blaggan and extension of tenure for CSS officer Mercy Epao.
Manish Kumar Gupta Gets Single Empanelment for Secretary-Level Posts
In an unusual move, the ACC has approved the single empanelment of Manish Kumar Gupta (IAS:1991:AGMUT) for holding posts of Secretary or Secretary equivalent at the Centre.
The decision was taken on September 15, 2026.
Gupta belongs to the 1991 batch of the Indian Administrative Service and is from the AGMUT cadre. The approval makes him eligible for consideration for Secretary-level or equivalent assignments at the Centre.
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The empanelment is described as a single empanelment, making the decision notable among the latest ACC approvals concerning senior-level bureaucracy.
Govind Mohan Gets Additional Charge of Cooperation Ministry
The Competent Authority has also approved the assignment of additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation to Mr Govind Mohan (IAS:1989:SK).
IAS Mohan, the Union Home Secretary, will hold the additional responsibility from September 17 to September 26, 2026.
The arrangement has been made during the period of leave of Shri Ashish Kumar Bhutani (IAS:1992:AM), the Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation.
During this nine-day period, he will handle the responsibilities of Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation in addition to his existing duties as Home Secretary.
The temporary arrangement will remain in force from September 17, 2026, to September 26, 2026, unless modified through further orders.
Arunkumar Khembhavi’s Central Deputation Tenure Curtailed
The ACC has also approved the proposal for curtailment of the Central Staffing Scheme tenure of Shri Arunkumar Khembhavi (IAS:2011:AM), Director in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
The proposal was submitted by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation through its Office Memorandum dated August 21, 2026.
Khembhavi, a 2011-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is currently serving as Director in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
The ACC has approved the proposal to curtail his tenure under the Central Staffing Scheme.
Nitin Deep Blaggan’s CBI Deputation Extended for One Year
The ACC has approved the proposal of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for extension of deputation tenure of Shri Nitin Deep Blaggan (IPS:2003:RJ), Joint Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
His deputation has been extended for one year beyond October 8, 2026, which will take his tenure into its eighth year, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The extension has been approved in relaxation of the IPS tenure policy.
Blaggan is a 2003-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre and is currently serving as Joint Director in the CBI.
The decision allows him to continue in the central agency beyond the existing tenure limit, subject to the approved terms of the extension.
Mercy Epao’s Tenure as Joint Secretary Extended
The ACC has also approved the proposal of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for extension of tenure of Ms Mercy Epao, CSS, Joint Secretary in the Ministry.
Her tenure has been extended for one year beyond August 23, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Epao belongs to the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and is serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
The extension will allow her to continue in the post for another year under the terms approved by the ACC.
Five Key Decisions in the Latest ACC Orders
The latest set of ACC decisions covers different aspects of senior-level government appointments and deputations:
- Manish Kumar Gupta (IAS:1991:AGMUT) has received single empanelment for Secretary or Secretary-equivalent posts at the Centre.
- Govind Mohan (IAS:1989:SK), Home Secretary, will hold additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation from September 17 to September 26 during Ashish Kumar Bhutani’s leave.
- Arunkumar Khembhavi (IAS:2011:AM), Director, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, has received approval for curtailment of his Central Staffing Scheme tenure.
- Nitin Deep Blaggan (IPS:2003:RJ), Joint Director, CBI, has received a one-year extension of deputation beyond October 8, 2026, in relaxation of the IPS tenure policy.
- Mercy Epao, CSS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, has received a one-year tenure extension beyond August 23, 2026.
ACC Decisions Cover Empanelment, Additional Charge and Deputation
Taken together, the decisions involve several different forms of personnel management at the senior level of the Union government.
While Gupta’s case concerns empanelment for Secretary or equivalent posts, Govind Mohan’s case involves temporary additional charge during the incumbent Secretary’s leave.
The decisions concerning Khembhavi and Blaggan relate to central deputation — one involving curtailment of tenure and the other an extension beyond the prescribed period with a relaxation of the IPS tenure policy.
Mercy Epao’s case involves continuation in her existing Joint Secretary-level assignment through a one-year tenure extension.
The approvals reflect the ACC’s role in taking decisions concerning senior appointments, empanelment, deputation and tenure arrangements across the Central government.
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