In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle aimed at boosting administrative efficiency and sectoral governance, the Central Government has appointed 41 senior officers to crucial Joint Secretary-level roles across various ministries and departments.
The appointments, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were announced through an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The reshuffle includes officers from diverse services such as IAS, IRS, IFS, and IA&AS, and spans critical sectors including defence, elections, agriculture, healthcare, finance, and digital technology.
Key Appointments Across Ministries
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Bhanu Prakash Yeturu, a 2003-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed as Deputy Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India.
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Anbalagan P and Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, both senior IAS officers, have been named Joint Secretaries in the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, where they will spearhead agricultural reforms and welfare initiatives.
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Manisha Chandra and Meera Mohanty have assumed the role of Joint Secretaries in the Department of Defence Production, focusing on strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
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Ishita Ganguli Tripathy has been appointed as Joint Secretary and Additional Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Defence, reinforcing financial oversight in the defence sector.
Strategic Sectoral Assignments
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Ashish Madhaorao will serve as Joint Secretary in the Department of Financial Services, a key role amid ongoing financial sector reforms.
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Anshul Mishra, a 2004-batch IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre, has been appointed Additional Director at AIIMS, New Delhi, marking a major administrative shift at India’s premier medical institution.
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Vrunda Manohar Desai, a senior IRS (Income Tax) officer, takes charge as Additional Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in Delhi, playing a crucial role in India’s global trade strategy.
Appointments in Technology and Media
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Ajit Kumar and Amod Kumar have been posted as Joint Secretaries in the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, supporting the country’s digital governance and cybersecurity framework.
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Krishna Kumar Nirala, a 2005-batch IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, contributing to media policy and communication reforms.
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Vyasan R has been named Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, where he will support economic reforms and fiscal policymaking.
Broader Governance Goals
This wide-ranging reshuffle is part of the Centre’s continued efforts to revitalize key ministries with experienced administrators. It aligns with the government’s agenda of expediting flagship schemes and reforms across priority areas such as healthcare, defence, agriculture, and digital infrastructure.
Most of the officers have been appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme and are expected to serve a tenure of five years or until further notice.
