New Delhi: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has approved two key appointments under the Central Staffing Scheme. IAS officer Vandana Singh (IAS:2013:UK) has been appointed Commissioner (Land Management) in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), while IA&AS officer Meena Bisht (IA&AS:2012) has been appointed Director in the Department of School Education & Literacy under the Ministry of Education.
The appointments were notified through separate orders issued by the DoPT on Tuesday (July 21, 2026).
Vandana Singh Appointed Commissioner (Land Management) in DDA
According to the DoPT order, Vandana Singh (IAS:2013:Uttarakhand) has been appointed as Commissioner (Land Management) in the Delhi Development Authority for a tenure of four years from the date she assumes charge of the post, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
She is currently serving as Additional Secretary, Planning, and Director General, Agriculture & Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand. She will take up her new assignment after being relieved by the state government.
An Officer Known for Administrative Leadership
Born on April 4, 1989, Vandana Singh belongs to the 2013 batch of the Uttarakhand cadre. She completed her B.A. (Honours) in Sanskrit from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, and entered the Indian Administrative Service after securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 8 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2012.
She reportedly cleared the examination in her first attempt without coaching, becoming an inspiration for many civil services aspirants.
Over her career, she has served in several important administrative positions, including District Magistrate and Assistant Secretary, before being appointed Director General of Uttarakhand’s Horticulture Department in October 2025.
Vandana Singh also earned recognition for her handling of the 2024 Haldwani violence while serving as the District Magistrate of Nainital, where her crisis management drew widespread attention.
Meena Bisht Appointed Director in School Education Department
In another appointment, Meena Bisht (IA&AS:2012) has been appointed as Director in the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, under the Central Staffing Scheme.
The DoPT has approved her appointment for a five-year tenure from the date of assuming charge of the post, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
She was recommended for central deputation by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
Experienced Audit and Accounts Officer
A 2012-batch Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) officer, Meena Bisht has held several important assignments in the government audit system.
Before her latest appointment, she served as Director of Training and Research at the International Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development (iCED), Jaipur. She has also worked as Senior Deputy Accountant General (Sr. DAG), gaining extensive experience in public finance, auditing, and capacity building.
Her new assignment in the Department of School Education & Literacy is expected to strengthen administrative and policy implementation within the Ministry of Education.
Strengthening Key Central Institutions
The appointments reflect the Centre’s continued efforts to place experienced officers in strategic positions across important ministries and organisations.
While Vandana Singh will oversee land management functions in one of the country’s largest urban development authorities, Meena Bisht will contribute to policy implementation and administration in the Department of School Education & Literacy.
