After 1989 batch IAS officer Dr. Vivek Joshi of Haryana cadre was relieved from his role as Secretary of the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) to assume the position of Chief Secretary of Haryana, the New Delhi administration has appointed 1987 batch IAS officer Tuhin Kanta Pandey of Odisha cadre with additional responsibility as Secretary of DoPT. Pandey, who is also the Finance Secretary (designate), already oversees the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) and has held the additional charge of Secretary for the Department of Public Enterprise (DPE) since August 1, 2024. Managing four high-profile roles simultaneously makes him one of the busiest union secretaries in the central government.
DoPT has faced considerable transitions since July 1, 2024, when Radha S. Chauhan (Retd IAS: 1988: UP) retired, creating a series of interim arrangements. Initially, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla (Retd IAS: 1984: AM) temporarily led DoPT until Dr. Joshi’s appointment on August 17, 2024. After serving for just nine weeks, Dr. Joshi returned to his state cadre, leading to Pandey’s appointment on November 4, 2024, as interim secretary for DoPT. This unusual accumulation of responsibilities for a union secretary highlights the demand for stability and leadership within DoPT.
