New Delhi: The Centre has approved the appointment of two 2015-batch IAS officers, Saju Vaheed A and Himanshu Khurana, to key positions in the central government. While Saju Vaheed A has been appointed Deputy Director at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Himanshu Khurana has been appointed Deputy Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat.
According to separate orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday, 9 October 2026, both appointments have been approved for a period of four years from the date the officers assume charge of their respective posts, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The appointments bring officers from the Tripura and Uttarakhand cadres into central government roles. Before the new assignments, Saju Vaheed A was serving in Tripura’s health administration, while Himanshu Khurana was posted in the Forest Department of the Uttarakhand government.
Saju Vaheed A Appointed Deputy Director at LBSNAA Mussoorie
Mr Vaheed, a 2015-batch IAS officer of the Tripura cadre, has been appointed Deputy Director at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, at the Deputy Secretary level.
The competent authority has approved his appointment for four years from the date he assumes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The order was issued by the DoPT on 9 October 2026.
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Before this appointment, Vaheed was serving as Mission Director of the National Health Mission and Member Secretary of the National Ayush Mission in Agartala, Tripura. His responsibilities included working with key health programmes and initiatives in the state.
His new assignment at LBSNAA will place him at India’s premier training institution for civil servants. The academy plays a central role in training IAS officer trainees and conducting professional development programmes for serving civil servants.
About Saju Vaheed A
Mr Vaheed was born on 5 January 1986 and belongs to the 2015 batch of the Indian Administrative Service from the Tripura cadre.
During his administrative career, he has held various positions, including Member Secretary, Managing Director, District Magistrate and Collector, and Assistant Secretary. His experience spans district administration, organisational management and government programme implementation.
His appointment as Deputy Director at LBSNAA marks his move from state-level health administration to a central institution responsible for civil service training and capacity building.
Himanshu Khurana Appointed Deputy Secretary in Cabinet Secretariat
Mr Khurana, a 2015-batch IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre, has been appointed Deputy Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat.
The DoPT order dated 9 October 2026 states that the competent authority has approved his appointment for four years from the date he assumes charge of the post, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Khurana was serving as Additional Secretary in the Forest Department of the Uttarakhand government before his new assignment.
The Cabinet Secretariat functions under the Government of India and provides administrative support to the Cabinet and Cabinet committees. It also plays an important role in coordination among ministries and departments of the central government.
His appointment will bring his experience in state administration and the Forest Department to a central government institution.
About Himanshu Khurana
Mr Khurana is a 2015-batch IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre. He was born on 6 May 1992 and holds a BA Honours degree in Economics from the University of Delhi.
Before his appointment to the Cabinet Secretariat, he served as Additional Secretary in Uttarakhand’s Forest Department from 12 October 2025. His earlier assignments included roles as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Development Officer (CDO), Joint Magistrate and Assistant Secretary.
Khurana has also received several awards during his administrative career, including the State Award for Best Electoral Practices in 2022, the Chief Minister’s Excellence and Good Governance Award for 2021–22, the Governor’s Outstanding District Magistrate Award in 2022, and the Chief Minister’s Good Governance and Excellence Award.
His appointment as Deputy Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat represents a move from state government responsibilities to a central government assignment.
Details of the Two IAS Appointments
The key details of the appointments are as follows:
- Saju Vaheed A (IAS: 2015, Tripura cadre): Appointed Deputy Director at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, at the Deputy Secretary level. He was previously Mission Director, National Health Mission, and Member Secretary, National Ayush Mission, Tripura.
- Himanshu Khurana (IAS: 2015, Uttarakhand cadre): Appointed Deputy Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. He was previously serving as Additional Secretary in the Forest Department of the Uttarakhand government.
Both appointments have been approved for four years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
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