New Delhi: In a fresh round of central staffing appointments, the Department of Personnel and Training has appointed two Indian Administrative Service officers to important positions in the Union government, placing Kinny Singh in the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Harikesh Meena in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Both appointments were cleared through separate orders issued on Monday under the Central Staffing Scheme, reinforcing the Centre’s continued deployment of experienced state cadre officers into policy-facing ministries.
Kinny Singh Appointed Deputy Secy in Dept of Pharmaceuticals for Four Years
According to the DoPT order, Ms Singh, a 2014-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals, New Delhi.
Tenure Fixed for Four Years
Her appointment has been approved:
- For four years from date of assuming charge
- Or until further orders, whichever is earlier
The appointment follows her recommendation for central deputation by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Currently Serving in Delhi Jal Board
Before this appointment, Kinny Singh was serving as Member (Administration) in Delhi Jal Board.
She has also recently held multiple important responsibilities in the Delhi government, including:
- Special Secretary (Health)
- Secretary, Public Grievance Commission
- Project Director, Delhi State AIDS Control Society
- District Magistrate of West Delhi
Medical Background Distinguishes Her Administrative Profile
Kinny Singh has an unusual professional background among IAS officers, being medically trained before entering civil services.
Academic Qualifications
She holds:
- Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS)
- Medical training in Internal Medicine from University of Delhi
Born on December 2, 1986, she is originally from Uttar Pradesh.
Administrative Work in Arunachal Pradesh Earned National Recognition
Before Delhi postings, Kinny Singh served extensively in Arunachal Pradesh, where she gained recognition for public administration initiatives.
Prime Minister’s Award for Mission Indradhanush Performance
During her tenure as Deputy Commissioner of East Siang district:
- The district received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2019)
- Recognition came for best performance in Mission Indradhanush vaccination programme
Silluk Waste Management Initiative
She also played a key role in supporting the Swachh Silluk Abhiyan, which transformed Silluk village into a national waste-management model later referenced in academic material.
Harikesh Meena Appointed Director in Skill Development Ministry for Five Years
In another order, DoPT appointed Harikesh Meena as Director in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Five-Year Central Posting Approved
His tenure has been fixed:
- For five years from assumption of charge
- Or until further orders, whichever is earlier
The appointment has been made under the Central Staffing Scheme.
Presently Serving in Himachal Pradesh Government
Before central deputation, Harikesh Meena was serving as Special Secretary in the Youth Services and Sports Department of Himachal Pradesh.
Strong Technical and Administrative Background
Harikesh Meena belongs to the 2012 Himachal Pradesh cadre and brings both engineering and district administration experience.
IIT Kanpur Graduate
He holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Born on August 14, 1981, he comes from a rural background in Rajasthan.
Key District and Administrative Assignments in Himachal Pradesh
Over the years, Harikesh Meena has served in several important roles, including:
- Deputy Commissioner of Hamirpur
- Deputy Commissioner of Chamba
- Director (Personnel), Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited
- Special Secretary (PWD and I&PH)
- Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mandi
- SDM, Nalagarh
Two Distinct Profiles, Two Strategic Ministries
The two appointments place officers with sharply different backgrounds into sectors where domain understanding matters significantly.
Central Staffing Reflects Broader Administrative Deployment Pattern
These appointments also reflect a wider trend where officers with strong field credentials are increasingly moved into policy ministries for medium-term assignments.
