New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has issued fresh orders revisiting the Secretary-level reshuffle announced on July 23, bringing about a series of lateral shifts and new appointments across key Union ministries and departments.
The latest changes affect several senior IAS officers and come at a time when the Centre is recalibrating leadership across important portfolios, including water resources, higher education, corporate affairs, youth affairs, official language and inland waterways.
Among the prominent changes, V. L. Kantha Rao (IAS:1992) has been moved out of the Department of Water Resources, while Deepti Gaur Mukerjee (IAS:1993) and Pallavi Jain Govil (IAS:1994) have swapped key Secretary-level responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Sunil Paliwal (IAS:1993) has been appointed Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, and Archana Varma (IAS:1995) will take charge of the Department of Water Resources.
In another significant move, Sushil Kumar Lohani (IAS:1995) has been appointed Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), with the post temporarily upgraded to Secretary rank and pay.
V. L. Kantha Rao Shifted to Official Language Department
V. L. Kantha Rao (IAS:1992), currently serving as Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, has been given a new assignment as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Department of Official Language, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The post has been assigned to him in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India.
Kantha Rao will subsequently take over as Secretary of the Department of Official Language after the superannuation of Ansuli Arya (IAS:1989) on September 30, 2026.
The move effectively gives the senior Madhya Pradesh-cadre officer a transition period before he formally assumes the Secretary-level charge.
Archana Varma to Head Water Resources Department
With Kantha Rao moving out, Archana Varma (IAS:1995) has been appointed Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
Varma is currently serving as Mission Director, National Water Mission, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Her elevation to the Secretary-level department places her at the helm of a ministry portfolio dealing with some of the Centre’s most important priorities, including water conservation, river development, irrigation-related issues and management of the country’s water resources.
Her experience with the National Water Mission is also directly relevant to the responsibilities of the department.
Sunil Paliwal Appointed Youth Affairs Secretary
Sunil Paliwal (IAS:1993) has been appointed Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, succeeding Pallavi Jain Govil.
Paliwal is moving to the department after his tenure at the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
His new assignment puts him in charge of a department responsible for policy and programmes concerning youth development, participation and engagement.
The move also creates a vacancy at the top of IWAI, which has subsequently been filled by another senior IAS officer.
Deepti Gaur Mukerjee Moves From Corporate Affairs to Higher Education
Deepti Gaur Mukerjee (IAS:1993) has been shifted from her current position as Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, to become Secretary, Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Education.
She succeeds Vineet Joshi in the department.
Mukerjee’s new assignment comes with responsibility for one of the Centre’s key education portfolios, covering higher education policy and administration.
Her move also sets off another Secretary-level change, with Pallavi Jain Govil taking over the Corporate Affairs Ministry.
Pallavi Jain Govil Moves to Corporate Affairs
Pallavi Jain Govil (IAS:1994), currently Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
She succeeds Deepti Gaur Mukerjee.
The move means Govil will now oversee a ministry dealing with India’s corporate regulatory framework, including company law, corporate governance and related administrative matters.
Her shift from Youth Affairs to Corporate Affairs is among the key lateral movements announced in the latest round.
Sushil Kumar Lohani Gets IWAI Chairman Post
In another significant development, Sushil Kumar Lohani (IAS:1995) has been appointed Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
Lohani had recently been attached to the Cabinet Secretariat as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
His earlier posting as Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, had been kept on hold.
With the latest order, Lohani has now been given a fresh senior-level assignment at IWAI.
The post of IWAI Chairman has been temporarily upgraded to the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India for Lohani.
He will succeed Sunil Paliwal, who has now moved to the Department of Youth Affairs.
A Chain of Interlinked Secretary-Level Changes
The latest orders have created a series of interconnected movements among senior officers.
Kantha Rao’s shift from Water Resources has paved the way for Archana Varma to take charge of the department. Paliwal’s move from IWAI to Youth Affairs has resulted in Lohani’s appointment as IWAI Chairman.
Similarly, Mukerjee’s move from Corporate Affairs to Higher Education has led to Govil’s appointment at Corporate Affairs.
The changes demonstrate how a single Secretary-level movement can trigger multiple adjustments across the Central government bureaucracy.
Why the Fresh Reshuffle Matters
The latest orders come barely weeks after the Centre’s July 23 Secretary-level reshuffle, indicating that the government is continuing to fine-tune its senior administrative structure.
The changes affect several strategically important sectors, including water management, higher education, corporate regulation, youth affairs and inland waterways.
For some officers, the latest orders provide new opportunities and larger administrative responsibilities, while others have been shifted to different portfolios or placed in transition roles before taking over their new assignments.
The changes also underline the government’s preference for using the experience of senior IAS officers across different sectors and ministries.
Full List of Key Changes
The major appointments and lateral movements announced in the latest round are:
- V. L. Kantha Rao (IAS:1992): OSD, Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs, in Secretary rank and pay; to take over as Secretary after Ansuli Arya retires on September 30, 2026.
- Sunil Paliwal (IAS:1993): Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs.
- Deepti Gaur Mukerjee (IAS:1993): Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
- Pallavi Jain Govil (IAS:1994): Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
- Archana Varma (IAS:1995): Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
- Sushil Kumar Lohani (IAS:1995): Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India, with the post upgraded temporarily to Secretary rank and pay.
The latest Secretary-level changes are expected to take effect as per the respective orders and further formal notifications.
