New Delhi: In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on May 6, 2026, approved the appointment of five senior officers to key positions across major central government departments. The reshuffle, largely at the Additional Secretary level, includes notable transitions of officers currently serving in their respective state cadres.
Key Appointments Cleared by ACC
The reshuffle includes the following major appointments:
- Manish Bhardwaj (IAS: 1997: GJ) has been appointed as Adviser in the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs. He is currently serving as Secretary in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
- Saurabh Vijay (IAS: 1998: MH) has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He is presently serving in the Government of Maharashtra.
- Nilkanth S Avhad (IAS: 1999: PB) has been appointed as Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). He succeeds Manish Bhardwaj and is currently serving in the Government of Punjab.
- Priyank Bharti (IAS: 2001: PB) has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He will also hold additional charge as Director General of the National Informatics Centre (NIC). He is presently serving in the Punjab cadre.
- Richa Misra (IDAS: 1996) has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. She is currently serving in her cadre.
Focus on Officers from State Cadres
A notable aspect of this reshuffle is that four out of the five officers are currently serving in their respective state cadres, reflecting the Centre’s continued reliance on experienced field administrators for key policy and administrative roles.
Punjab cadre officers, in particular, feature prominently in this list, with multiple senior officers being assigned strategic roles at the central level.
Key Ministries and Institutions Impacted
The reshuffle impacts several crucial institutions and ministries, including:
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
- Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- National Informatics Centre (NIC)
- Department of Consumer Affairs
These changes are expected to strengthen governance, particularly in areas of disaster management, digital infrastructure, and public service delivery.
Conclusion
The latest appointments approved by the ACC reflect a targeted effort to place experienced officers in critical administrative roles. With a mix of central and state-level experience, the reshuffle is expected to enhance coordination, improve policy execution, and strengthen institutional efficiency across key sectors.
