New Delhi: The Government of India has issued fresh notifications regarding additional charge assignments for senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. The orders, issued in view of the temporary absence of incumbent secretaries, involve key ministries including Power, Coal, Social Justice, and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Pankaj Agrawal Assigned Additional Charge of Ministry of Coal
1992 batch IAS officer of MP Cadre, Mr Agrawal, currently serving as Secretary, Ministry of Power, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Coal.
As per the official order, he will hold the additional responsibility from May 9, 2026 to May 19, 2026, during the leave period of incumbent Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt (IAS: 1993: AGMUT).
Pankaj Agrawal has been serving as Secretary, Ministry of Power since July 1, 2023. A 1992-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, he is an alumnus of IIT Roorkee (Civil Engineering) and IIT Delhi (M.Tech in Construction Management), and also holds a Master’s in Public Management from the National University of Singapore.
Over the course of his administrative career, Agrawal has held several key positions at both state and central levels, including:
- Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence
- Roles in the Cabinet Secretariat
- Principal Secretary in Madhya Pradesh departments such as Public Health Engineering, Water Resources, and MSME
He has also recently been assigned additional responsibilities across ministries, including Road Transport and Highways and Housing and Urban Affairs.
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Sudhansh Pant Given Additional Charge of Divyangjan Affairs Department
Mr Pant (IAS: 1991: RJ), Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, has been assigned the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan).
He will hold the charge from May 9, 2026 to May 24, 2026, during the absence of incumbent Secretary V. Vidyavathi (IAS: 1991: KN).
Pant is currently serving as Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, a position he assumed in December 2025.
Born on February 14, 1967, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he holds a B.Tech (Hons.) in Electronics and Electronic Communication from IIT Kharagpur and cleared the civil services examination on his second attempt, securing AIR 45.
His distinguished administrative career includes:
- Chief Secretary, Rajasthan (Jan 2024 – Nov 2025)
- Union Health Secretary (key role during COVID-19 pandemic response)
- Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- District postings in Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu, Bhilwara, and Jaipur
Known for his technical expertise and policy-oriented approach, he has also received multiple awards from the Government of Rajasthan for excellence in financial management and governance.
Abhilaksh Likhi Given Additional Charge of Panchayati Raj Ministry
Abhilaksh Likhi (IAS: 1991: Haryana), currently serving as Secretary, Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has been given the additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
He will assume the charge with immediate effect and continue until May 20, 2026 during the leave period of Vivek Bhardwaj (IAS: 1990: West Bengal).
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is the nodal ministry for strengthening local self-governance and rural decentralisation across India.
Key Administrative Continuity Maintained Through Temporary Assignments
The latest orders reflect the government’s practice of ensuring administrative continuity by assigning additional charges to senior officers during short-term vacancies. Both assignments are temporary and aimed at maintaining smooth functioning of critical ministries without disruption.
