New Delhi: The Central Government on Thursday issued a series of appointment and additional charge notifications involving senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. The appointments include the posting of senior IPS officer Meenu Choudhary as Inspector General (IG) in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), while senior IAS officers Nidhi Khare and Nikunja Bihari Dhal have been entrusted with additional responsibilities in key Union Government departments.
The latest decisions reflect the government’s continued efforts to ensure smooth functioning of important ministries and central organisations through interim arrangements and strategic appointments.
Meenu Choudhary Appointed Inspector General in SSB
Senior IPS officer Meenu Choudhary of the 2000 AGMUT cadre has been appointed as Inspector General (IG) in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on central deputation.
A highly experienced police officer, Ms Choudhary has served in several important policing and administrative assignments during her career spanning more than two decades.
Distinguished Career in Policing and Administration
Before her appointment to the SSB, Ms Choudhary held several senior leadership positions in both state and central government organisations.
Among her notable assignments are:
- Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), Mizoram
- Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters), Delhi Police
- Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Delhi Police
- Joint Commissioner of Police, Southern Range, Delhi Police
Her experience covers law enforcement, intelligence gathering, traffic management, police administration, and public safety operations.
Experience in Central Government
Apart from field policing, Ms Choudhary has also served in key administrative roles at the Centre.
She worked as:
- Private Secretary to the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs
- Officer in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Her diverse administrative experience has provided her exposure to policymaking, governance, and inter-ministerial coordination.
Educational and Family Background
A direct recruit IPS officer, Meenu Choudhary comes from a family with a strong public service background. She is the daughter of a retired Chief Engineer of the Military Engineering Service (MES).
Known for her disciplined and professional approach, she is regarded as one of the senior women officers of the AGMUT cadre with extensive operational and administrative experience.
Nidhi Khare Given Additional Charge of Department of Food and Public Distribution
The government has also assigned additional responsibilities to senior IAS officer Nidhi Khare.
Khare, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre and currently serving as Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution.
She will hold the additional charge from June 20, 2026, to July 2, 2026, during the leave period of Sanjeev Chopra, a 1990-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer who currently heads the department.
Profile of Nidhi Khare
Nidhi Khare is among the senior-most officers in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Born on February 12, 1968, she holds:
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
She currently serves as Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, where she oversees consumer protection policies, market regulation, and consumer welfare initiatives.
Khare is proficient in both Hindi and English and has extensive administrative experience across multiple sectors of governance.
Nikunja Bihari Dhal Entrusted with Additional Charge of Department of Justice
Another key notification issued by the Centre pertains to senior IAS officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal.
Mr Dhal, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre and currently serving as Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, has been given additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice.
He will hold the additional responsibility from June 20, 2026, to June 26, 2026, during the leave period of Niraj Verma, a 1994-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer.
Extensive Administrative Experience
Born on June 20, 1969, Nikunja Bihari Dhal is one of Odisha cadre’s most experienced administrators.
He possesses:
- Master of Technology (M.Tech.)
- Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Since April 18, 2025, he has been serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Diverse Leadership Roles
Throughout his distinguished career, Dhal has held several significant positions at both state and central levels, including:
- Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister
- Chief Executive Officer and Ex-Officio Additional Chief Secretary
- Principal Secretary to Government
- Commissioner
- Joint Secretary
- Director
- State Project Director
- Managing Director
- Vice Chairman
- District Collector and Magistrate
- Sub Collector
- Under Secretary
- Transport Commissioner
His extensive administrative background spans governance, infrastructure, public administration, policy implementation, and legislative affairs.
Multilingual Administrator
Mr Dhal is proficient in:
- English
- Hindi
- Odia
His wide-ranging experience and administrative expertise have made him a key figure in both Odisha’s governance structure and the Union Government’s administrative framework.
Ensuring Continuity in Governance
The latest appointments and additional charge arrangements are aimed at ensuring continuity in the functioning of critical government departments during the temporary absence of incumbent officers.
While Meenu Choudhary’s appointment strengthens leadership within the Sashastra Seema Bal, the additional responsibilities assigned to Nidhi Khare and Nikunja Bihari Dhal will help maintain uninterrupted administrative functioning in the Departments of Food and Public Distribution and Justice, respectively.
The notifications reflect the Centre’s reliance on experienced civil servants and police officers to manage key governance responsibilities across ministries and security organizations.
