New Delhi: In a swift administrative move, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed Manoj Kumar Dwivedi (IAS:1997:AGMUT) as the new Chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), barely a day after he was repatriated from the Centre to his parent AGMUT cadre.
Dwivedi succeeds Keshav Chandra (IAS:1995:AGMUT), who recently vacated the post following his appointment as Secretary, Ministry of Mines, on July 23, 2026.
According to an MHA notification issued on August 5, 2026, Dwivedi’s appointment as NDMC Chairperson will take effect from the date he assumes charge and will remain valid until further orders.
Appointment Follows Repatriation to AGMUT Cadre
Earlier on Wednesday, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had announced that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Dwivedi’s repatriation to his parent AGMUT cadre at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He was serving as Additional Secretary (Establishment) in the Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions before being relieved from the Centre.
The repatriation was approved with the imposition of an extended cooling-off period, bringing his central deputation to an end before its scheduled completion.
Served as Additional Secretary in DoPT
A 1997-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi has been serving in the upgraded rank of Additional Secretary in DoPT since November 2022, after receiving an in-situ upgradation.
His tenure in the Department of Personnel and Training placed him at the centre of India’s civil services administration, where he handled key establishment and personnel matters concerning the Government of India.
His central deputation had earlier been extended till November 18, 2026.
Distinguished Career Across Centre and Jammu & Kashmir
Over nearly three decades in the civil services, Dwivedi has held several important assignments both at the Centre and in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Before joining DoPT, he served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, where he played an important role in shaping India’s international trade engagement and EXIM policies, particularly with Africa and West Asia.
He also served as the Executive Director of the Tobacco Board, overseeing key initiatives in the tobacco sector.
Played Key Role During J&K Reorganisation
Dwivedi is widely recognised for his administrative leadership during the reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir.
He played an important role in aligning the Union Territory’s administrative framework with Central Government rules following the constitutional changes in 2019. He also contributed to drafting regulations for the newly created Union Territory of Ladakh.
During his career in Jammu & Kashmir, he held several senior positions, including:
- Principal Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD)
- Commissioner/Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department
- District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner, Jammu
- District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri
- District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner, Leh
- Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (served two terms)
His contributions to governance and public administration earned him the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor’s Award in Jammu & Kashmir.
Academic Background and Other Contributions
An engineering graduate from Haryana, Dwivedi holds a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Chemical Engineering and entered the Indian Administrative Service as a direct recruit.
Apart from his administrative career, he is also an author. His book, “Decode Life”, published in 2024, reflects his perspectives on leadership, governance and personal development.
Responsibility to Lead NDMC
As Chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council, Dwivedi will head one of the country’s most prominent urban local bodies, responsible for the administration and civic infrastructure of the Lutyens’ Delhi area, which houses Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Supreme Court, Central Government ministries, diplomatic missions and several key national institutions.
His appointment comes at a time when NDMC continues to focus on urban infrastructure, smart city initiatives, sanitation, public services and maintaining civic amenities in the national capital’s most strategically important administrative district.
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