NEW DELHI: In a series of administrative decisions issued around October 1 and 2, 2026, the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government have entrusted several senior IAS officers with additional responsibilities, extended deputation-related arrangements and approved a further year of re-employment for a retired officer.
The developments include the assignment of additional charge of Secretary, Inter State Council Secretariat, to 1992-batch Tamil Nadu-cadre IAS officer Rajendra Kumar; additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, to 1991-batch Karnataka-cadre officer V. Vidyavathi; and ex-post facto approval for Shyamal Misra to hold additional charge as Additional Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications.
Separately, the Centre has waived the extended cooling-off period imposed on 1998-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer Gyanesh Bharti following his premature repatriation from central deputation. In Uttar Pradesh, retired 2009-batch IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Singh-II has been granted another year of re-employment as CEO of YEIDA and Noida International Airport Limited.
Rajendra Kumar Gets Additional Charge of Inter State Council Secretariat
Senior IAS officer Rajendra Kumar (IAS:1992), Secretary, Department of Border Management, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Secretary, Inter State Council Secretariat (ISCS).
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on October 1, 2026, the competent authority approved the arrangement from October 2 to October 11, 2026.
Kumar will hold the additional charge during the period of leave of Ashish Srivastava (IAS:1992), who is the Secretary of the Inter State Council Secretariat.
The arrangement ensures continuity at the senior administrative level of the ISCS during Srivastava’s absence.
Rajendra Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, is currently serving as Secretary in the Department of Border Management. His additional assignment at the ISCS will continue only for the period specified in the order.
Gyanesh Bharti Gets Cooling-Off Waiver
In another decision dated October 2, 2026, the extended cooling-off period of Gyanesh Bharti (IAS:1998) has been waived.
The decision relates to his premature repatriation from central deputation to his parent cadre.
A cooling-off period is generally prescribed between central deputation assignments and a subsequent deputation, subject to the applicable service rules and exemptions. In Bharti’s case, the competent authority has now approved a waiver of the extended cooling-off period following his premature repatriation.
The decision clears the specified administrative restriction concerning his further service arrangements.
Shyamal Misra Gets Additional Charge in Telecom Department
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved, ex-post facto, the entrustment of additional charge of the post of Additional Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, to Shyamal Misra (IAS:1996).
The approval covers the period from April 27, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
The October 2 decision provides retrospective approval for the additional charge arrangement, covering the period during which Misra has been entrusted with the responsibilities of Additional Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications.
Misra is a 1996-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre.
V. Vidyavathi Gets Additional Charge of Minority Affairs
Senior Karnataka-cadre IAS officer V. Vidyavathi (IAS:1991), currently Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), has been given additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs.
According to the DoPT order issued on September 30, 2026, the additional charge will be held by Vidyavathi from October 5 to October 18, 2026.
She will look after the responsibilities of the Ministry of Minority Affairs during the leave period of Srivastava Krishna (IAS:1994), the serving Secretary of the ministry.
Vidyavathi, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, therefore takes on the additional responsibility alongside her existing assignment in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
The arrangement is temporary and is linked specifically to the period of absence of the incumbent Secretary.
Rakesh Kumar Singh-II Gets Another Year at YEIDA
In Uttar Pradesh, the state government has extended the re-employment of retired IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Singh-II (IAS:2009) for another year.
Singh will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) as well as CEO of Noida International Airport Limited.
According to an order issued by the Uttar Pradesh government’s Industrial Development Department on September 30, 2026, his re-employment has been extended from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.
Singh had originally retired from the IAS on September 30, 2025. Following his retirement, he was re-employed on a contractual basis for one year, allowing him to continue in both positions until September 30, 2026.
The latest order provides for a further one-year extension, meaning he will now continue in the two assignments until September 30, 2027.
Five Administrative Developments Involving Senior IAS Officers
Taken together, the orders cover different types of administrative arrangements — temporary additional charges during periods of leave, retrospective approval of an additional charge, waiver of a cooling-off requirement following premature repatriation, and contractual re-employment after retirement.
The additional-charge arrangements involving Rajendra Kumar and V. Vidyavathi are specifically tied to the absence on leave of the respective incumbent Secretaries. Shyamal Misra’s case concerns ex-post facto approval by the ACC, while Gyanesh Bharti’s case involves waiver of an extended cooling-off period after premature repatriation.
In Uttar Pradesh, the decision concerning Rakesh Kumar Singh-II allows continuity in the leadership of YEIDA and Noida International Airport Limited for another year after his retirement and earlier one-year re-employment.
