New Delhi: In a significant development, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has clarified the posting status of IAS officer Anil Kumar Singhal (1993 batch, Andhra Pradesh cadre), resolving the confusion caused by his simultaneous postings in central deputation and state cadre roles.
DoPT Cancels Central Deputation Posting
An official order issued by the DoPT on Monday, September 29, 2025, states that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has cancelled Singhal’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA). The ACC has instead appointed Pramod Kumar Mehedra (IAS:1997:Odisha cadre), Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DoAFW), to the CEO post for a period of six months effective retroactively from July 15, 2025.
Background of Posting Confusion
The confusion began earlier this year when Singhal was repatriated to his parent cadre in Andhra Pradesh on July 2, 2025, after serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of School Education & Literacy. However, on August 25, 2025, he was once again placed on central deputation as CEO of NRAA under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Concurrently, the Andhra Pradesh government assigned him a key state-level role as Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on September 8, 2025. This overlap raised questions regarding the legitimacy and clarity of his postings.
Posting Dispute Now Settled
With the DoPT’s recent order cancelling Singhal’s central deputation appointment, the ambiguity surrounding his roles has been resolved. Singhal’s state posting as Executive Officer of TTD now stands as his official assignment.
Impact and Reactions
Officials within the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the Andhra Pradesh government welcomed the resolution, emphasizing the importance of clear and unambiguous postings for effective administration. The clarification also underlines the strict adherence to cadre management rules and the proper handling of central deputations by the DoPT.
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