NEW DELHI: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued a series of important appointment notifications and order modifications involving officers from the Indian Forest Service (IFoS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS).
The key developments include the appointment of Takhat Singh Ranawat as Private Secretary to Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, a clarification regarding Sonal Swaroop’s posting, and the appointment of Vineetha Ottapurakkal Kallada as Deputy Secretary in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Takhat Singh Ranawat Appointed PS to H D Kumaraswamy in Ministry of Heavy Industries
Mr Ranawat, a 2007-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the Karnataka cadre, has been appointed as Private Secretary to H D Kumaraswamy in the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
The appointment takes effect from the date he assumes charge and will continue until November 24, 2026, which marks the balance period of his five-year tenure as Private Secretary, or on a co-terminus basis with the Minister, whichever is earlier.
Ranawat had previously been serving as Private Secretary to Kumaraswamy in the Ministry of Steel since June 2024.
Before that, he was appointed as Private Secretary to Shobha Karandlaje in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on November 24, 2021, when he came on central deputation.
DoPT Clarifies Sonal Swaroop Appointment Is on Additional Charge Basis
The DoPT has modified its earlier order relating to Sonal Swaroop, a 2012-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre.
The revised order clarifies that her appointment as Director of Census Operations and Director of Citizen Registration (Director-level) for Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya is on an additional charge basis under the Central Staffing Scheme.
She will hold the assignment for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The earlier notification had mentioned the three-year tenure but omitted the fact that the posting was on an additional charge basis.
Vineetha Ottapurakkal Kallada Appointed Deputy Secretary in NHRC
Vineetha Ottapurakkal Kallada, professionally known as Vineetha O.K., has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the National Human Rights Commission under the Ministry of Home Affairs for a tenure of four years.
A 2014-batch officer of the Indian Statistical Service, she hails from Kerala and holds a postgraduate degree in Statistics.
Academic and Professional Journey
Vineetha cleared the Indian Statistical Service examination after narrowly missing the cut-off in her first attempt. She also qualified the Reserve Bank of India officer examination before choosing a career in the Indian Statistical Service.
She was among only two candidates selected from Kerala in her batch.
Key Assignments
During her career, Vineetha has served in several important positions, including:
- Deputy Director in the Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME)
- Joint Director (Minor Irrigation Statistics) in the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
- Various analytical and policy roles under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
On October 16, 2024, she was promoted to the Junior Administrative Grade (JAG). Her deputation to the NHRC marks another significant milestone in her administrative career.
Significance of the Appointments
The latest notifications reflect the Centre’s continued efforts to place experienced officers in key administrative and policy positions across ministries and statutory bodies.
The appointments span sectors including heavy industries, census operations and human rights administration, highlighting the diverse roles played by officers from different All India and Central Services.
