New Delhi: The Government of India has approved the appointment of Ajit Kumar Ranjan, a 2015-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Nagaland cadre, as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), New Delhi. His appointment has been made under the prestigious Central Staffing Scheme (CSS), which facilitates the deputation of state cadre officers to the central government for mid- and senior-level leadership roles.
Tenure Confirmed Until June 30, 2028
According to an official order issued by the DoPT on September 16, 2025, Ranjan’s tenure will commence from the date he assumes charge of the position. The appointment will remain effective until June 30, 2028, or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
As per the norms under the CSS, this term will be considered a combined four-year tenure at the Deputy Secretary level, which includes both ex-cadre deputation and central deputation time.
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DoPT Requests Immediate Relief from State Duties
To facilitate a smooth transition, the Department of Personnel & Training has formally written to the Government of Nagaland, requesting that Ranjan be relieved from his current state-level responsibilities at the earliest. This will allow him to take up his new central posting without administrative delay.
Key Responsibilities in the Role
As Deputy Secretary at DoPT, Ranjan will be responsible for a range of critical administrative and policy-related functions. These include:
- Cadre management of All India Services
- Personnel policy and service rules
- Central Staffing Scheme coordination
- Training and capacity building of civil servants
- Digital governance and HR reforms within civil services
His appointment comes at a time when the DoPT is focusing on streamlining recruitment, enhancing transparency, and modernizing human resource management across ministries and departments.
Significance of the Appointment
This central deputation represents a career milestone for Ranjan and aligns with the Centre’s strategy of involving capable and experienced IAS officers from various state cadres in national policymaking.
Such appointments are crucial to building cross-cadre expertise, enabling officers to apply their regional governance experience to broader national challenges and contribute meaningfully to India’s evolving administrative framework.
About Ajit Kumar Ranjan
Ajit Kumar Ranjan has served in various important administrative roles within the Nagaland state government, gaining experience in public service delivery, development administration, and institutional governance. His professional background is expected to be an asset in handling the personnel and training portfolio at the central level.
About the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT)
The DoPT, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, is the nodal agency for personnel management in the Government of India. It oversees recruitment, service conditions, training, career planning, and the staffing of senior-level positions across ministries. Deputation to the DoPT is seen as a high-responsibility posting that provides exposure to the heart of India’s bureaucratic machinery.
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