New Delhi: In a key administrative move, the central government on Tuesday appointed senior IAS officers Ashish Vachhani (1997 batch, Tamil Nadu cadre) and M S Srikar (1999 batch, Karnataka cadre) as Additional Secretaries in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The appointments are on a lateral shift basis and will remain in effect until the completion of their deputation tenures or until further orders.
The development comes amid ongoing restructuring within top bureaucratic positions at the Centre.
M S Srikar was recently brought back from his cadre in April to serve in the Cabinet Secretariat, replacing Puneet Kansal (1996 batch, Sikkim cadre). Meanwhile, Ashish Vachhani has been serving as Additional Secretary (Budget) in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Finance.
The two officers are expected to replace Arvind Shrivastava (1994 batch, Karnataka cadre) and Hari Ranjan Rao (1994 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre), who were recently elevated to key leadership roles—Revenue Secretary and Sports Secretary, respectively.
These appointments are seen as part of the Centre’s ongoing effort to position experienced officers in crucial policymaking and administrative roles within the PMO, ensuring continuity and efficiency at the highest levels of governance.
