New Delhi: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has approved two key changes involving senior government officials, with SK Jha (CSS) receiving an extension as Joint Secretary in the Department of Revenue and senior bureaucrat Alok Pande (IPoS:1994) being prematurely repatriated from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) to his parent cadre.
The decisions were approved by the competent authorities and the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), with the respective orders issued on October 5 and 6, 2026.
SK Jha Gets Extension Till Retirement
The tenure of SK Jha (CSS), serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Revenue, has been extended until his retirement.
According to a DoPT order issued on October 6, 2026, the ACC approved the proposal of the Department of Revenue to extend Jha’s tenure beyond August 28, 2026, until October 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
With the latest approval, Jha will continue as Joint Secretary in the Department of Revenue until October 31, 2027, which is also the date of his retirement, unless an earlier order is issued.
The extension will allow him to continue in the key Revenue Department assignment for the remainder of his service tenure.
Alok Pande Repatriated From DIPAM
Meanwhile, senior bureaucrat Alok Pande (IPoS:1994) has been prematurely repatriated from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance, to his parent cadre.
Pande, who was serving as Additional Secretary in DIPAM, is being repatriated to avail the benefit of his promotion to the Higher Administrative Grade Plus (HAG+).
According to a DoPT order issued on October 5, 2026, the competent authority approved his premature repatriation to the parent cadre in accordance with Para 17.11 of the Central Staffing Scheme, which provides for repatriation in such circumstances to enable an officer to avail promotion in the parent cadre.
Pande was promoted from HAG to HAG+ on September 22, 2026, and appointed as Member (Financial Services), Postal Services Board. His appointment is effective from October 1, 2026, or the date he assumes charge, whichever is later.
His repatriation follows nearly seven years of central deputation.
Pande Served Nearly Seven Years in DIPAM
Pande joined DIPAM in November 2019 as Joint Secretary. He was subsequently granted in-situ upgradation to the level of Additional Secretary in January 2024.
At the time of his in-situ upgradation, he was also granted a two-year extension in DIPAM beyond his initial five-year central deputation tenure. His extended tenure was scheduled to continue until November 2026.
With his promotion to HAG+ and appointment to the Postal Services Board, Pande has now been repatriated to his parent cadre to avail the benefit of the promotion.
The latest order specifically approves the repatriation of Alok Pande, IPoS:1994, Additional Secretary, DIPAM, Ministry of Finance, to his parent cadre under the provisions of the Central Staffing Scheme.
