New Delhi: In a fresh round of senior bureaucratic appointments approved by the Centre, three IAS officers from different state cadres have been appointed to important positions in Union ministries under the central staffing scheme. The appointments include Krishna Bajpai as Director in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Arindam Chaudhary as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Steel, and Neha Giri as Director in the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
The appointments were approved by the competent authority and notified through separate orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Krishna Bajpai Appointed Director in Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
Five-Year Central Deputation Approved
Krishna Bajpai, a 2010-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, has been appointed as Director in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Delhi, for a period of five years.
According to the DoPT order, his appointment will remain effective for five years from the date he assumes charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
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Present Posting in Karnataka
At present, Krishna Bajpai is serving in Karnataka as Managing Director of Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited.
His current assignment places him in charge of one of Karnataka’s important electricity distribution utilities, where he has been handling power sector administration and service delivery.
Role in Social Justice Ministry
The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is a key arm of the Union government dealing with welfare policies for disadvantaged communities, social defence programmes, and empowerment initiatives for vulnerable groups.
As Director, Krishna Bajpai is expected to contribute to policy implementation and administrative coordination in one of the Centre’s important social sector departments.
Arindam Chaudhary Appointed Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Steel
Four-Year Tenure Under Central Staffing Scheme
Arindam Chaudhary, a 2014-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Steel, Delhi, for four years.
The DoPT order states that his tenure will begin from the date he takes charge and continue for four years or until further orders.
Present Assignment in Himachal Pradesh
Currently, Arindam Chaudhary is serving as Director (Personnel and Finance) in Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited.
In this role, he has been managing personnel administration and financial matters in the state power utility.
Importance of Ministry of Steel Posting
The Ministry of Steel plays a critical role in industrial planning, public sector steel enterprises, raw material coordination and sectoral policy.
As Deputy Secretary, Arindam Chaudhary will be involved in administrative and policy-level responsibilities linked to one of India’s major industrial sectors.
Neha Giri Appointed Director in Ministry of Minority Affairs
Five-Year Appointment Cleared by Centre
Neha Giri, a 2010-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Minority Affairs for a period of five years.
Her appointment has also been approved under the central staffing scheme.
Present Posting in Rajasthan
At present, she is serving as State Mission Director of Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad, widely known as Rajeevika.
In this role, she has been associated with rural livelihood promotion, women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation initiatives in Rajasthan.
Role in Minority Affairs Ministry
The Ministry of Minority Affairs handles policy initiatives related to educational empowerment, scholarship schemes, skill development and welfare programmes for minority communities.
As Director, Neha Giri is expected to play an important role in programme execution and policy coordination.
DoPT Continues Key Central Staffing Placements
Strategic Mid-Level Bureaucratic Appointments
These appointments reflect the continued movement of experienced officers from state cadres to central ministries under the central staffing framework.
Such postings are considered important for strengthening inter-governmental administrative experience and bringing field-level governance exposure into policy ministries.
Diverse Sectoral Representation
Interestingly, all three officers come from varied functional backgrounds:
• Power sector administration
• Finance and personnel management
• Rural livelihood and social development
This diversity is often considered valuable in central ministry assignments where cross-sector administrative understanding is required.
Administrative Significance
With these appointments, the Centre has placed experienced officers in three socially and economically important ministries, covering welfare, industrial policy and minority affairs
