Senior IAS officer Amardeep Singh Bhatia has officially assumed the role of Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), according to an official statement released on Wednesday. Bhatia, a 1993 batch officer from the Nagaland cadre, takes over from Rajesh Kumar Singh, who has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the Department of Defence.
Before his new appointment, Bhatia served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, where he played a significant role in formulating trade policies and negotiating free trade agreements. His extensive experience in the central government includes key positions in the Ministries of Corporate Affairs and Health and Family Welfare. In the state government, he has held important roles in the Departments of Planning and Coordination, Health and Family Welfare, Environment and Forest, Municipalities and Local Self Government, and Home, among others.
Bhatia’s new role at DPIIT, which operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, involves overseeing the formulation and implementation of policies related to foreign direct investment (FDI), startups, ease of doing business, internal trade, and the burgeoning e-commerce sector.
In addition to Bhatia’s appointment, the central government has also announced key appointments within DPIIT. IRS officer Alok Madukar Ket (IRS-C&IT: 2008) has been selected for the post of Director in DPIIT. Previously on compulsory wait in the Ministry of Panchayat, Ket’s appointment has been approved for a tenure up to June 27, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Another notable appointment is that of IRS officer Sabiha Rizvi (IRS-IT: 2009), who has been selected as Director in DPIIT under the central staffing scheme. Rizvi, recommended for central deputation by the Department of Revenue, has been appointed for a five-year tenure, effective from the date she assumes charge of her new role.
These appointments come as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the DPIIT, which plays a pivotal role in promoting industrial growth, improving business environments, and attracting foreign investment to India. The department is also central to the government’s initiatives on startup promotion and the expansion of the e-commerce sector, both of which are crucial for sustaining India’s economic momentum.
