NEW DELHI: In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of 48 officers at the Joint Secretary and Joint Secretary equivalent level across various ministries and departments of the Government of India. All appointments are at Level 14 of the Pay Matrix, reinforcing key administrative positions across sectors.
The large-scale reshuffle reflects the Centre’s continued efforts to strengthen governance by placing experienced officers in strategic roles across ministries including defence, finance, infrastructure, social sectors, and policy institutions.
Key IAS Movements and Notable Changes
Among the prominent movements:
- Pankaj Kumar (UP cadre) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power
- Kajal (UP cadre) joins DPIIT as Joint Secretary
- K Balaji (UP cadre) appointed Joint Secretary, Department of Telecommunications
- Sakshi Mittal (AGMUT cadre) moves to Department of Economic Affairs as Joint Secretary
- Harmeet Singh Pahuja (Manipur cadre) appointed Joint Secretary in DoPT
Complete List of All 48 Appointments
Agriculture & Allied Sectors
Kapil Meena (IAS, SK:2010) – MD, National Horticulture Board
Chemicals & Petrochemicals
G Venkatesh (ICOAS, 1997) – Joint Secretary
Civil Aviation
Priyanka Das (IAS, MP:2009) – Joint Secretary
Commerce & Exports
Jawahar Packirisamy (IAS, UT:2007) – Chairman (JS level), MPEDA
Defence Sector
- Preeti Meena (IAS, TG:2010) – Joint Secretary
- Shailesh Kumar Chourasia (IAS, MN:2007) – Joint Secretary
- Vinod Kumar (IRSME, 1998) – Joint Secretary
- Ajeet Kumar Srivastava (IRAS, 1999) – Additional FA & JS
Development of North Eastern Region
Vipul Aggarwal (IPS, GJ:2001) – Joint Secretary
Economic Affairs
- Sakshi Mittal (IAS, AGMUT:2010) – Joint Secretary
- Laya Madduri (IAS, AM:2010) – Joint Secretary
Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Vikas Singh (IAS, TR:2010) – Joint Secretary
Girish Chandrashekhar Hosur (IFoS, HP:1996) – Joint Secretary
Environment, Forest & Climate Change
Chaudhari Uday Gaurishankar (IAS, MH:2010) – Joint Secretary
Fertilizers
Bandana Preyashi (IAS, BH:2003) – Joint Secretary
Food & Public Distribution
Venkata Nagi Reddy Kovvuri (IDES, 1998) – Executive Director (General), FCI
Health & Family Welfare
- Muthukumar Alagumuthu (IAS, JH:2009) – Joint Secretary
- Prabhakar (IAS, SK:2007) – Joint Secretary
Home Affairs
- Mahatme Sandeep Namdeo (IAS, TR:2010) – Joint Secretary
- Rakesh Rathi (IPS, BH:2002) – Joint Secretary
- Karma R Bonpo (IAS, SK:2010) – DCO/DCR (JS level), Sikkim
Labour & Employment
- S Tejaswi Naik (IAS, MP:2009) – Joint Secretary
- Shakil Alam (IES, 2001) – Addl CPFC, EPFO
Land Resources
Parikipandla Narahari (IAS, MP:2001) – Joint Secretary
Legal Affairs
Ramesha G (IRS IT, 2005) – Incharge (JS level), Central Agency Section
Mines
Kulveer Singh Yadav (IOFS, 2002) – Joint Secretary
Minority Affairs
Mohammad Afzal (CPES, 1995) – Joint Secretary
New & Renewable Energy
Anupam Kumar (IAS, BH:2003) – Joint Secretary
NITI Aayog
Pradeep Singh (IFoS, GJ:2005) – Adviser (JS level)
Training & Administration (LBSNAA & DoPT)
- Shanmuga Priya Mishra (IAS, MP:2010) – Joint Director (JS level), LBSNAA
- Ganesh Shankar Mishra (IAS, MP:2010) – Joint Director (JS level), LBSNAA
- Harmeet Singh Pahuja (IAS, MN:2010) – Joint Secretary, DoPT
Ports, Shipping & Waterways
- Venkatesapathy S (IAS, KL:2009) – Joint Secretary
- Praveen P Nair (IAS, TN:2010) – Joint Secretary
Power
Pankaj Kumar (IAS, UP:2002) – Joint Secretary
Prime Minister’s Office
Hardik Satishchandra Shah (IAS, GJ:2010) – Private Secretary to PM (JS level)
DPIIT (Industry & Trade)
- Kajal (IAS, UP:2008) – Joint Secretary
- Sumeet Kumar Jarangal (IAS, PB:2009) – Joint Secretary
Public Enterprises
Rohan Chand Thakur (IAS, HP:2009) – CEO (JS level), NLMC
Revenue
Shankar Lal Kumawat (IAS, TN:2010) – Joint Secretary
Road Transport & Highways
Udit Agrawal (IAS, GJ:2008) – Joint Secretary
Social Justice & Empowerment
Sanjay Chilwarwar (IRSSE, 1997) – Joint Secretary
Space
Saravanan M (IAS, BH:2002) – Joint Secretary
Telecommunications
K Balaji (IAS, UP:2010) – Joint Secretary
Textiles
Alaknanda Dayal (IAS, PB:2000) – Joint Secretary
Tourism
Suvasish Das (IFoS, AM:2005) – Joint Secretary
Tribal Affairs
Pratima Satish Kumar Verma (IAS, BH:2002) – Commissioner (JS level), NESTS
Water Resources / Clean Ganga
Rashi Sharma (IPoS, 2003) – Executive Director (Admin), NMCG
Focus on Governance Strengthening
The appointments reflect a strategic move by the Central Government to place experienced officers in critical roles across sectors such as defence, finance, infrastructure, social welfare, and environment. Several positions have been upgraded or adjusted—either temporarily or structurally—to accommodate administrative requirements.
This large-scale reshuffle underscores the Centre’s focus on policy continuity, efficient administration, and sector-specific expertise at the Joint Secretary level, which plays a crucial role in decision-making and implementation.
