New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a fresh set of senior-level appointments and additional charge assignments across key government institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Defence. The appointments include the selection of IAS officer Anoop Khinchi as Director General of the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS NIAM), Jaipur, IFoS officer Deepa D. Nair as Chief Executive Officer of the Coconut Development Board, Kochi, and the assignment of additional charge of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The appointments were notified on Thursday by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Anoop Khinchi Appointed Director General of CCS NIAM
The ACC has approved the appointment of Anoop Khinchi, IAS (Nagaland: 2008), as Director General (Joint Secretary level) of the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS NIAM), Jaipur, under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
He has been appointed at Level 14 of the Pay Matrix (₹1,44,200–2,18,200) for a tenure of five years from the date of assuming charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
CCS NIAM is the country’s premier institute for agricultural marketing research, policy support, capacity building, and training aimed at strengthening India’s agricultural marketing ecosystem.
Deepa D. Nair Named CEO of Coconut Development Board
In another important appointment, the ACC has approved the appointment of Ms. Deepa D. Nair, IFoS (Tripura: 2001) as Chief Executive Officer (Joint Secretary level) of the Coconut Development Board, Kochi, functioning under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Like the CCS NIAM appointment, her posting carries Level 14 pay (₹1,44,200–2,18,200) and will be for five yearsfrom the date of assumption of charge or until further orders.
The Coconut Development Board is the apex statutory body responsible for promoting coconut cultivation, productivity, processing, value addition, marketing, and export promotion across the country.
Rajesh Kumar Singh Gets Additional Charge of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Separately, the Competent Authority has approved the assignment of additional charge of Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare to Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS (Kerala: 1989), who is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Defence.
He will hold the additional charge from July 26, 2026, to August 11, 2026, during the leave period of Ms. Sukriti Likhi, IAS (Haryana: 1993), Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare.
The temporary arrangement is aimed at ensuring continuity in the functioning of the department responsible for policies and welfare measures concerning ex-servicemen, war widows, and veterans.
Strengthening Leadership Across Key Institutions
The latest appointments reinforce the Centre’s focus on strengthening leadership in institutions connected with agriculture, rural marketing, commodity development, and defence administration.
While Anoop Khinchi will head one of India’s leading agricultural marketing institutions, Deepa D. Nair will steer the Coconut Development Board at a time when the government is emphasizing value addition and exports in the plantation sector. Meanwhile, Rajesh Kumar Singh’s additional charge will ensure uninterrupted administration in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare during the incumbent secretary’s absence.
The appointments come as part of the government’s ongoing exercise to place experienced officers in strategically important positions across ministries and autonomous organizations.
