IAS officer Ashutosh Niranjan (IAS:2010) has been appointed as the Private Secretary to Dr. Virendra Kumar, the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. Prior to this, Niranjan was serving as the Director of the Ministry of Micro, Small, & Medium Enterprises (MSME). His tenure in the MSME ministry was curtailed due to his new appointment.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (June 28, 2024), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the proposal for Niranjan’s appointment, which will be effective from the date he assumes charge. His tenure will last until October 11, 2028, or until he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
In a similar development, IRS officer Abhishek Narang (IRS-IT:2008) has been appointed as the Private Secretary to Chirag Paswan, the Minister for Food Processing Industries. The DoPT order issued on the same day states that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Narang’s appointment, effective from the date he assumes the post. Narang’s tenure will continue until January 31, 2025, or until he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Narang previously served as the Private Secretary to Som Prakash, the Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, from November 2022 until the end of the BJP-led NDA government’s second term.
Additionally, IAS officer Mayur Ratilal Goveka (IAS:2014) has been appointed as the Private Secretary to Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Minister for Communications & Development of the North Eastern Region, specifically in the Ministry of Communications. Goveka was previously the Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, a tenure that was also curtailed following his new appointment.
The DoPT order dated June 28, 2024, states that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Goveka’s appointment, effective from the date he assumes charge. His tenure will last until October 11, 2027, or until he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
