New Delhi: The Centre has issued a set of bureaucratic orders involving senior IAS officers and a central staffing appointment, with Sudhansh Pant (IAS: 1991: RJ) being entrusted with additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan).
Pant, who is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, will hold the additional charge of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) from September 12 to October 4, 2026.
The additional responsibility has been assigned to him during the period of absence on leave of V Vidyavathi (IAS: 1991: KN), who is the Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Sudhansh Pant to Hold Additional Charge of Disability Empowerment Department
According to the order, Sudhansh Pant will take over the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, from September 12, 2026.
Pant is a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre and is presently heading the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment as its Secretary. With the latest arrangement, he will oversee the functioning of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in addition to his existing responsibilities.
His additional charge will remain effective until October 4, 2026, covering the period during which V Vidyavathi will be away on leave.
The temporary arrangement ensures continuity in the administrative functioning of the department dealing with matters concerning the empowerment and welfare of persons with disabilities.
Read also: IAS Sudhansh Pant Gets Additional Charge of NCSC and NCBC Secretaries | Know His Career
V Vidyavathi on Leave
V Vidyavathi (IAS: 1991: KN) is presently serving as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
During her absence on leave, the additional charge of the Secretary-level post has been entrusted to Sudhansh Pant. The arrangement is scheduled to remain in force from September 12 through October 4, after which the regular administrative arrangement is expected to resume.
P I Sreevidya Empanelled for Joint Secretary-Level Posts at Centre
In another significant bureaucratic development, P I Sreevidya (IAS: 2010: KN) has been empanelled for holding the posts of Joint Secretary or equivalent at the Centre.
The empanelment makes the 2010-batch Karnataka cadre officer eligible for consideration for Joint Secretary-level assignments in the Central Government under the applicable central staffing framework.
The empanelment of IAS officers for Joint Secretary or equivalent positions is an important step in their consideration for senior roles at the Centre, where officers are assigned responsibilities across various ministries and departments based on administrative requirements.
Sumit Kumar Re-designated as Director in Ministry of Heavy Industries
In another order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Sumit Kumar (ISupplyS: 2012), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries, has been re-designated as Director in the Ministry.
The DoPT order issued on September 9, 2026, stated that the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Kumar as Director as a measure personal to him.
The re-designation will take effect from the date of assumption of charge of the re-designated post.
Tenure to Continue Up to December 2028
Following the re-designation, Sumit Kumar’s tenure in the Ministry of Heavy Industries will continue up to December 31, 2028.
The order specifies that the tenure will complete the total admissible tenure of five years under the Central Staffing Scheme.
Kumar had assumed charge as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries on January 1, 2024. His re-designation as Director therefore comes during his ongoing central deputation.
The latest order provides him with the Director-level designation while allowing his tenure in the Ministry to continue until the end of December 2028.
The three developments form part of the Centre’s continuing administrative arrangements involving senior officers, central deputation and the allocation of additional responsibilities across key ministries and departments.
