Mercy Epao’s Tenure as Joint Secretary in MSME Ministry Extended for One Year
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved a one-year extension in the tenure of Ms. Mercy Epao, CSS, as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
The extension will take effect after the completion of her existing tenure on August 23, 2026, and will continue for another year, unless the government issues further orders earlier.The decision was formally conveyed through an order issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on September 15, 2026.
Mercy Epao to Continue as Joint Secretary in MSME Ministry
The approval follows a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises through its Office Memorandum dated August 7, 2026.According to the ACC order, the committee has approved the proposal of the MSME Ministry for extending the tenure of Mercy Epao, CSS, as Joint Secretary for a period of one year beyond August 23, 2026. Her extended tenure will therefore run until August 23, 2027, unless further orders are issued before that date.
The order specifies that the extension is subject to the condition “or until further orders, whichever is earlier.” This means the approved one-year period provides the outer limit of the extension, while the government retains the authority to modify the arrangement through a subsequent order.
The decision allows Epao to continue in her existing Joint Secretary-level responsibility within the MSME Ministry rather than making an immediate change to the incumbent at a senior administrative level.
ACC Clears Proposal from Ministry of MSME
The extension was not an independent administrative move but followed a formal proposal from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The ACC order specifically refers to the ministry’s Office Memorandum No. A-19013/1/2019-HR dated August 7, 2026.
After considering the proposal, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the continuation of Epao’s tenure for another year. The formal communication was subsequently issued by the Secretariat of the ACC under the Department of Personnel and Training in New Delhi.
The order is dated September 15, 2026, and was addressed to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with Secretary Bharat Harbanslal Khera named as the recipient on behalf of the ministry.
Who Is Mercy Epao?
Mercy Epao is a Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officer serving at the senior administrative level in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Her continuation as Joint Secretary keeps her in a key position within the ministry’s administrative structure for another year.
As a Joint Secretary, she forms part of the senior leadership framework through which the ministry manages policy, programmes, inter-ministerial coordination and administrative matters connected with the MSME sector. The exact portfolio or work allocation attached to the post can be assigned or changed separately by the competent authority and is not specified in the ACC order itself.
The present order is therefore focused specifically on the extension of tenure, rather than announcing any change in her designation, ministry or post. She will continue as Joint Secretary in the MSME Ministry under the terms approved by the ACC.
Extension Comes After Existing Tenure
The timing of the decision is also significant. Mercy Epao’s existing tenure was scheduled to end on August 23, 2026, and the ACC has now approved her continuation for another full year beyond that date.
The extension means that there will be continuity at the Joint Secretary level within the ministry instead of an immediate transition to another officer. For a ministry handling a wide range of programmes and policy initiatives concerning micro, small and medium enterprises, continuity at senior administrative levels can help maintain institutional familiarity with ongoing work.
At the same time, the wording of the government order makes it clear that the extension is not an unconditional appointment for a fixed period. The phrase “or until further orders, whichever is earlier” gives the competent authority flexibility to alter the arrangement before the completion of the one-year period.
MSME Ministry’s Role
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is the central ministry responsible for policy and programme-related matters concerning India’s MSME sector. The sector has a wide footprint across manufacturing, services, entrepreneurship, employment generation and local economic activity.
Senior officers at the Joint Secretary level are involved in translating government policy into administrative programmes, overseeing implementation and coordinating with various departments, state governments and other stakeholders. Their responsibilities can cover policy formulation, programme monitoring, institutional coordination and other matters depending on the portfolio assigned to them.
Against that broader administrative backdrop, the continuation of a Joint Secretary can provide stability to ongoing work within the ministry. However, the ACC communication itself does not identify a specific programme or portfolio as the reason for Epao’s extension.
Formal Government Order Issued by DoPT
The September 15 order has been issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
The document carries the reference number 27/55/2026-EO(SM-I) and records the ACC’s approval of the MSME Ministry’s proposal. It was signed by Annies Kanmani Joy, Director, with the communication carrying the telephone number of the concerned office.
As part of the standard circulation process for senior-level appointment and tenure orders, copies have been sent to a number of important government offices and officials. These include the Prime Minister’s Office, the office of the Home Minister and Minister of State for Personnel, the Cabinet Secretariat and the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training.
A copy has also been marked to the officer concerned, along with senior officials in the Department of Personnel and Training and the Senior Technical Director of the National Informatics Centre, DoPT.
One-Year Continuation Approved
The latest decision effectively gives Mercy Epao another year in the Joint Secretary role. Her extended tenure is approved beyond August 23, 2026, and will remain valid for one year unless a subsequent government order brings it to an earlier end.
For the MSME Ministry, the decision means that an existing senior CSS officer will continue in the Joint Secretary position rather than the ministry having to make an immediate transition. The move also reflects the ACC’s approval of the ministry’s request after consideration of the proposal submitted in August.
The September 15, 2026 order is concise, but its administrative implication is clear: Mercy Epao will continue as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, for another year beyond August 23, 2026, subject to further orders.
