New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a secretary-level reshuffle at the Centre, with senior IAS officer Narendra Bhooshan, a 1992-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre officer, being appointed Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). He will succeed Tanmay Kumar, the 1993-batch Rajasthan cadre officer who superannuates on September 30, 2026.
In another key appointment, Dilip Kumar, a 1995-batch Punjab cadre IAS officer currently serving as Director General (Training) in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has been appointed Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. He will take over the post vacated by Bhooshan.
The appointments were approved by the ACC and communicated through a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order dated September 30, 2026, bearing reference No. 36/01/2026-EO(SM-I). The communication was signed by Manisha Saxena, Secretary, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and Establishment Officer.
Narendra Bhooshan to Head Environment Ministry
Mr Bhooshan will move from the Department of Land Resources to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, taking charge as its Secretary following Tanmay Kumar’s retirement.
A senior 1992-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Bhooshan took charge as Secretary, Department of Land Resources, in April 2026. His move to the Environment Ministry comes after a long career spanning important assignments in both the Uttar Pradesh government and the Union government.
At the state level, he has held senior positions covering a wide range of sectors, including energy, technical education, public works, science and technology, infrastructure, industry, IT and electronics.
His experience in infrastructure, energy, technology and administration will now form part of his responsibilities at the Environment Ministry, which deals with areas including forests, wildlife, climate policy and environmental regulation.
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From Land Resources to Environment
IAS Bhooshan’s tenure as Secretary, Department of Land Resources, began in April 2026. In that role, he was associated with the Union government’s work relating to land reforms, modernisation and digitisation of land records, and watershed development under the Ministry of Rural Development.
The ACC’s latest order now shifts him to another major policy domain at the Centre, while creating a vacancy at Land Resources that will be filled by Dilip Kumar.
The sequence represents a closely timed succession: Tanmay Kumar retires on September 30, Bhooshan moves from Land Resources to Environment, and Dilip Kumar moves into Bhooshan’s existing department.
Education and Early Background
Bhooshan was born on March 12, 1969 and is originally domiciled in Punjab, with Bathinda as his home district.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communications, followed by a Master of Arts in Economics from Dr B.R. Ambedkar University. He also obtained a master’s degree in International Development Policy from Duke University, USA, where he studied during 2007–08.
His academic background in engineering, economics and development policy has been complemented by more than three decades of administrative experience.
Major Central Government Assignments
Before taking charge of the Department of Land Resources, Bhooshan served in several important positions at the Centre.
He has served as Deputy Director General with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), giving him experience with one of India’s largest technology-driven public-service platforms.
He has also worked as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, where his responsibilities included serving as Mission Director for the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
Another Central assignment included his tenure as Joint Secretary with the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).
These assignments have given him experience across technology, agriculture, food security and trade promotion in addition to his extensive state-government experience.
Bhooshan’s Long Administrative Career in Uttar Pradesh
A significant part of Bhooshan’s career has been spent in Uttar Pradesh, where he has handled several major departments and institutions.
He served as Additional Chief Secretary for Energy and Technical Education, overseeing areas including the state’s energy sector, renewable-energy initiatives and technical education. His responsibilities included work related to Uttar Pradesh’s energy and renewable-energy roadmap, including areas such as solar power and green hydrogen.
He has also held principal secretary-level responsibilities in departments including Public Works, Science and Technology, IT and Electronics, Infrastructure, Industry and NRI Affairs.
Among his other important state assignments was his tenure as CEO of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, where he was involved in urban and infrastructure development in the Gautam Buddha Nagar region.
He has also served as District Magistrate of Mathura and Firozabad, as well as Udham Singh Nagar, now part of Uttarakhand. In addition, he served as Managing Director of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).
Dilip Kumar Appointed Land Resources Secretary
While Bhooshan moves to the Environment Ministry, Dilip Kumar has been appointed Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
A 1995-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, Dilip Kumar has been serving as Director General (Training), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, on Central deputation since late 2025.
He had earlier been empanelled as Secretary to the Government of India and received an in-situ upgradation to the Secretary-level grade in July 2026.
His appointment to the Department of Land Resources now places him at the head of a department responsible for important areas of land administration, including land-record modernisation and watershed-related programmes.
Education and Administrative Career
Dilip Kumar was born on November 28, 1969, and his domicile state is Bihar, with Chhapra as his home district.
He holds a B.Sc. (Honours), LL.B./B.L. and M.A. in Public Administration. He is proficient in English, Hindi and Punjabi.
A direct recruit through the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Kumar was allotted to the Punjab cadre in 1995.
His career in Punjab has included senior responsibilities in areas such as NRI Affairs, Industries and Commerce, Information Technology, Employment Generation and Training.
He has also served as Joint Secretary in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Office of the Lokpal.
Earlier in his career, he held various administrative assignments in Punjab, including positions as Deputy Commissioner and Special Secretary.
Experience Across Employment, Industry and Energy
Dilip Kumar’s previous assignments have covered several policy areas. His work in employment generation and training is particularly relevant to his recent role in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
His state-level experience also includes responsibilities in industry and commerce, IT, NRI affairs, power and renewable energy, giving him exposure to both economic and administrative portfolios.
His appointment as Land Resources Secretary therefore comes after a career involving a combination of state administration and Central deputation.
Tanmay Kumar Retires After Tenure at Environment Ministry
The latest appointment follows the superannuation of Tanmay Kumar, a 1993-batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer, who has served as Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change since January 1, 2025.
Before becoming Secretary, Kumar served in the same ministry as Additional Secretary and Special Secretary.
An alumnus of IIT Delhi, he holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering and an M.Tech in Foundation Engineering.
His Central government experience also includes serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Power. In Rajasthan, he held several senior positions, including serving as Secretary to the Chief Minister.
His retirement on September 30 triggered the secretary-level succession at the Environment Ministry and set in motion the related changes at the Department of Land Resources.
Why the Appointments Matter
The changes involve two departments with significant policy responsibilities.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the Union government’s nodal ministry for environmental policy, forests, wildlife, climate-related matters and pollution regulation. The Department of Land Resources, under the Ministry of Rural Development, deals with areas including land records modernisation, land-related reforms and watershed development.
The ACC’s order therefore brings an experienced senior administrator into the Environment Ministry while placing another secretary-level officer in charge of Land Resources.
With Tanmay Kumar’s retirement, the sequence of appointments ensures continuity at both departments: Narendra Bhooshan succeeds Kumar at MoEFCC, while Dilip Kumar succeeds Bhooshan at the Department of Land Resources.
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