New Delhi: The Central Government on Friday (July 17, 2026) issued a fresh set of appointment and personnel notifications, assigning key responsibilities to senior officers across the Ministries of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Home Affairs. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) also approved the repatriation of a senior IAS officer to his parent cadre on personal grounds.
The latest orders include the appointment of IAS officer Prashant Jeevan Patil as Deputy Director General in the Directorate General of Shipping, IRAS officer Ishaan Sharma as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the repatriation of Rajesh Lakhani, Commissioner of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, to the Tamil Nadu cadre.
Prashant Jeevan Patil Appointed Deputy Director General, DG Shipping
Prashant Jeevan Patil (IAS:2011:Telangana) has been appointed as Deputy Director General (Director-level) in the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
His appointment has been made for a tenure of five years under the Central Staffing Scheme.
The Directorate General of Shipping is the country’s apex maritime administration responsible for implementing shipping policies, regulating merchant shipping, ensuring maritime safety, and overseeing the development of India’s shipping sector. As Deputy Director General, Patil will contribute to policy implementation and regulatory functions at a time when the government is focusing on strengthening the maritime economy under its port-led development strategy.
IRAS Officer Ishaan Sharma Joins Ministry of Home Affairs
In another key appointment, Ishaan Sharma (IRAS:2016) has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
He has been appointed for a period of four years under the Central Staffing Scheme.
An officer of the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS), Sharma brings experience in public financial management and government administration. His appointment to the MHA comes as the ministry continues to oversee critical areas including internal security, border management, disaster response, police modernisation, and Centre-State coordination.
Rajesh Lakhani Repatriated to Tamil Nadu Cadre
The Centre has also approved the repatriation of Rajesh Lakhani (IAS:1992:Tamil Nadu), who was serving as Commissioner (Joint Secretary level) in the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) under the Department of School Education & Literacy.
According to the notification, Lakhani has been repatriated to his parent Tamil Nadu cadre on personal grounds. The repatriation has been approved with the imposition of an extended ‘cooling off’ condition, in accordance with the applicable provisions governing central deputation.
Lakhani has held several important assignments during his distinguished administrative career and was serving in a key leadership role at the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, which administers the network of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country.
Part of Routine Senior-Level Appointments
The latest notifications are part of the Centre’s routine process of appointing officers from the All India Services and Central Services to important positions across ministries and departments through the Central Staffing Scheme. Such appointments ensure experienced officers are deployed in strategic policy and administrative roles at the Union Government level.
Key Appointments at a Glance
- Prashant Jeevan Patil (IAS:2011:TG): Appointed Deputy Director General (Director level), Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, for five years.
- Ishaan Sharma (IRAS:2016): Appointed Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, for four years.
- Rajesh Lakhani (IAS:1992:TN): Repatriated from Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to his parent Tamil Nadu cadre on personal grounds with an extended cooling-off condition.
