New Delhi: The Centre has issued notifications for two key appointments involving Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. Nidhi Choudhari (IAS: 2012: MH) has been appointed as Director of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) under the Ministry of Culture, while Akshay Tripathi (IAS: 2014: UP) has been appointed as Private Secretary to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram.
The appointments were notified on Friday, August 7, 2026, and involve officers from the Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh cadres.
Nidhi Choudhari Appointed NGMA Director
Nidhi Choudhari, a 2012-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been appointed as Director in the National Gallery of Modern Art under the Ministry of Culture.
Her appointment follows her re-designation, with the tenure approved up to August 20, 2029. Her central deputation tenure is effective from August 21, 2024.
Choudhari is currently serving as Director at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. Her appointment gives her continued responsibility for the functioning and administration of the premier institution under the Ministry of Culture.
According to her service profile, Choudhari was born on November 5, 1984. She completed her graduation in History from MDS University, Ajmer, and subsequently pursued an M.A. and postgraduate studies in English Literature from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
Nidhi Choudhari’s Administrative Career
Before taking up her present central government assignment, Choudhari served in several administrative capacities during her career in the Maharashtra cadre.
Her previous assignments have included positions such as Director, Joint Commissioner, District Collector, Deputy Secretary, Chief Executive Officer, and Assistant Collector & Assistant Magistrate.
Her varied experience includes both field-level administration and senior government responsibilities.
Choudhari is proficient in English, Hindi, Marwari and Marathi, according to her official profile.
Her continued appointment at NGMA comes at a time when the institution remains an important part of the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to promote and preserve modern and contemporary Indian art.
Akshay Tripathi Named Private Secretary to Jual Oram
In another appointment, Akshay Tripathi (IAS: 2014: UP) has been appointed as Private Secretary to Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Tripathi has been appointed at the level of Deputy Secretary for a period of five years.
A 2014-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Tripathi is a direct-recruit officer who entered the civil services through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
His appointment will place him in a key coordinating role in the office of the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, where he will assist the minister in handling official matters and coordination related to the ministry.
Tripathi’s Current Posting in Bahraich
Prior to his central deputation, Tripathi was serving as District Magistrate and Collector of Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh. He took charge of the assignment on May 25, 2026.
His appointment record shows experience across multiple administrative assignments during his career in the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
As per his service profile, Tripathi has recorded 10 postings across eight distinct locations during his service.
He holds a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering and is currently placed at Pay Level 12 in the IAS Pay Matrix.
From District Administration to Central Government
Tripathi’s appointment as Private Secretary marks a move from district-level administration in Uttar Pradesh to the Central Government.
As District Magistrate and Collector, his responsibilities included overseeing district administration and coordinating the implementation of government programmes and policies at the local level.
His new assignment in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will provide him with exposure to policy-making and coordination at the Union Government level.
The five-year tenure at the Deputy Secretary level will also give the officer an opportunity to work closely with the Union minister and senior officials of the ministry.
Two IAS Officers Take Up Key Responsibilities
The two appointments announced on August 7 represent different but significant administrative responsibilities.
While Nidhi Choudhari will continue in a senior leadership role at the National Gallery of Modern Art under the Ministry of Culture, Akshay Tripathi will move from district administration in Uttar Pradesh to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs as Private Secretary to Minister Jual Oram.
Both appointments add to the Centre’s ongoing deployment of experienced IAS officers across key ministries and institutions.
The notifications specify the respective tenure and level of appointment, with Choudhari’s NGMA tenure extending up to August 2029 and Tripathi’s appointment as Private Secretary being for five years.
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