New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a major round of senior-level appointments and transfers involving nine IAS officers and one Indian Economic Service (IES) officer across several key ministries and departments of the Central Government.
The appointments were cleared through an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), bringing changes at the Additional Secretary and equivalent level in areas including rural development, expenditure, economic affairs, personnel, education, power, water management, steel and skill development.
The order, No. 36/02/2026-EO(SM-I), also provides for temporary upgradation of certain posts to facilitate some of the appointments.
Vipin Kumar Appointed Additional Secretary, Rural Development
Mr Kumar, IAS (BH:1996), currently serving as Chairman of the Airports Authority of India under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development.
His appointment shifts him from the civil aviation sector to a key department responsible for major rural development programmes of the Union Government.
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Srikant Nagulapalli Moves to Department of Expenditure
Mr Nagulapalli, IAS (AP:1998), currently Director General of Hydrocarbons in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
Following his movement, the post of Director General of Hydrocarbons will be taken over by another 2000-batch IAS officer, V. Ponnuraj.
Sarita Chauhan Chand Appointed Financial Adviser in Steel Ministry
Ms. Sarita Chauhan Chand, IAS (AGMUT:1999), who is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, has been appointed as Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Steel.
The appointment places her in a senior administrative and financial role within the Steel Ministry.
Anand Singh Gets Additional Secretary Post in Economic Affairs
Mr Singh, IAS (KL:2000), has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
The ACC has also directed that the period between completion of his foreign assignment and assumption of charge of the new post will be treated as compulsory wait under DoPT provisions.
P. Hemalatha Moves to DoPT
Ms. P. Hemalatha, IAS (KN:2000), currently Development Commissioner of the Cochin Special Economic Zone under the Department of Commerce, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training.
For the appointment, a vacant Joint Secretary-level post has been temporarily upgraded to Additional Secretary level.
V. Ponnuraj to Head Directorate General of Hydrocarbons
Mr Ponnuraj, IAS (KN:2000), has been appointed Director General of Hydrocarbons in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
He will succeed Shri Srikant Nagulapalli, who has been moved to the Department of Expenditure.
The ACC has also ordered that the period between completion of V. Ponnuraj’s foreign assignment and his assumption of charge of the new post will be treated as compulsory wait under DoPT.
Piyush Singh Appointed Mission Director, National Water Mission
Shri Piyush Singh, IAS (MH:2000), currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power, has been appointed Mission Director of the National Water Mission under the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
He will hold the post in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
Mandeep K Bhandari Appointed CBSE Chairperson
Mr Bhandari, IAS (AGMUT:2001), currently in the cadre, has been appointed Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Ministry of Education, in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
The post has been temporarily upgraded for the appointment.
His new assignment places him at the helm of the country’s central school education board, which is under the Ministry of Education.
Ankita Mishra Bundela Moves to Higher Education
Ms. Ankita Mishra Bundela, IAS (AGMUT:2001), currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
The appointment has been facilitated through temporary upgradation of a vacant Joint Secretary-level post.
Manisha Sensarma Appointed Additional Secretary in Skill Development Ministry
Ms. Sensarma, IES:1995, currently in the cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
For this appointment, a vacant Deputy Secretary/Director-level post in the ministry has been temporarily upgraded to the level of Additional Secretary.
Multiple Key Ministries See Senior-Level Changes
The latest ACC order covers a broad range of portfolios, from rural development and public administration to finance, petroleum, education, water resources, steel and skill development.
The appointments also involve movement of officers between existing central assignments and new responsibilities, while temporary upgradation of posts has been used in several cases to accommodate officers at the Additional Secretary level.
With the latest order, the Central Government has also put in place new leadership arrangements for important positions such as the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, CBSE and the National Water Mission.
The order was issued by Manisha Saxena, Secretary, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and Establishment Officer, and circulated to the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and secretaries of the concerned ministries and departments, among other authorities.
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