New Delhi: The Central Government on Tuesday issued notifications regarding key appointments and central deputation tenure extensions of senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, as per orders released by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Vibha Chahal Appointed Director, Department of Food & Public Distribution
Senior IAS officer Vibha Chahal (IAS: 2012: Uttar Pradesh cadre) has been appointed as Director in the Department of Food & Public Distribution under the Central Staffing Scheme.
According to the DoPT order dated January 6, 2026, Chahal’s appointment will be effective from the date she assumes charge and will continue until June 7, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The tenure corresponds to the balance period of her five-year central deputation.
Career Background
Current Status: Chahal was on compulsory wait at DoPT following the curtailment of her tenure as Private Secretary (PS) to the Minister of State for MSME, Shobha Karandlaje, on December 15, 2025.
Previous Assignments: She served as PS to Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, the then Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, from June 7, 2022, until her ministerial reassignment in July 2024.
Central Deputation: Chahal’s central deputation was originally approved for five years, scheduled to end on June 7, 2027.
Her appointment as Director in the Department of Food & Public Distribution enables her to resume active central deputation duties after her wait period, contributing to policy implementation in India’s food security and distribution ecosystem.
Abhishek Dev’s Central Deputation Tenure at APEDA Extended
The Centre has extended the tenure of senior IAS officer Abhishek Dev (IAS: 2007: AGMUT cadre) as Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for one year beyond February 8, 2026.
As per the DoPT order issued on January 5, 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the Department of Commerce’s proposal for the extension, effective until further orders.
Career Background and APEDA Role
Initial Appointment: Dev was appointed as Director in the Department of Commerce on January 20, 2021, assuming charge on February 8, 2021, for a five-year term.
APEDA Chairmanship: He took charge as APEDA Chairman in July 2023 and has since overseen India’s agricultural export promotion initiatives.
APEDA Mandate: APEDA is a statutory body under the Department of Commerce tasked with promoting agricultural and processed food exports, facilitating market access, supporting policy implementation, and boosting India’s agri-export ecosystem.
The extension ensures continuity of leadership at APEDA, critical for strategic planning and promotion of India’s agricultural exports.
Significance of the Appointments
Vibha Chahal: Her appointment stabilizes leadership in the Department of Food & Public Distribution, which manages India’s essential commodities, public distribution, and food security programs.
Abhishek Dev: Extending his APEDA tenure supports policy continuity and implementation in India’s growing agricultural export sector.
These notifications highlight the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional leadership through central deputation and maintain efficiency in critical economic and food security departments.
