ACC Approves 8 Senior-Level Appointments in Health, Education, Trade and Regulatory Bodies
The ACC has approved eight senior-level appointments involving the National Health Authority, National Testing Agency, IRDAI, FCI and Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved eight appointments at the Joint Secretary or equivalent level involving government departments and major public institutions responsible for health administration, higher education, foreign trade, financial regulation and food distribution.
The appointments were notified in an order dated October 10, 2026, issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Department of Personnel and Training. The order includes postings in the National Health Authority (NHA), National Testing Agency (NTA), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
The officers will assume their new responsibilities from the date they take charge. Their tenures will follow the terms specified in the order, including fixed end dates or five-year tenures, as applicable, subject to further orders.
Nikhil Varma Appointed Additional DGFT in Delhi
Nikhil Varma, an Indian Revenue Service officer of the Income Tax stream, 2005 batch, has been appointed Additional Director General of Foreign Trade (Additional DGFT) in Delhi.
The appointment falls under the Department of Commerce. Varma’s tenure will be five years from the date he assumes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Vrunda Manohar Desai, an IRS officer of the 2003 batch, as mentioned in the government order.
Tamboli Ayyaj Fakirbhai Appointed Executive Director at IRDAI
Tamboli Ayyaj Fakirbhai, an IAS officer of the 2009 Chhattisgarh cadre, has been appointed Executive Director at the Joint Secretary level in the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
The position falls under the Department of Financial Services. His combined tenure will run up to March 20, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The appointment places Fakirbhai in a senior role at the insurance-sector regulatory authority.
Rajesh Malik Appointed Executive Director at Food Corporation of India
Rajesh Malik, an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer of the 1994 batch, has been appointed Executive Director at the Food Corporation of India (FCI), New Delhi.
The post falls under the Department of Food and Public Distribution. Malik’s overall tenure will run up to February 5, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Ashutosh Joshi, an Indian Audit and Accounts Service officer of the 1994 batch.
Two Officers Appointed Joint Secretaries in Health and Family Welfare Department
The ACC has approved appointments of Mohammed Y Safirulla K and Ritu Sharma as Joint Secretaries in the Department of Health and Family Welfare. Mohammed Y Safirulla K, an IAS officer of the 2010 Kerala cadre, will serve as Joint Secretary with a combined tenure extending up to August 27, 2030, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Nikhil Gajraj, an IAS officer of the 2008 Haryana cadre.
Ritu Sharma, an IRS officer of the Income Tax stream, 2005 batch, has also been appointed Joint Secretary in the department. Her tenure will be five years from the date she assumes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Vandana Jain of the Central Secretariat Service.
Varnali Deka Appointed Joint Secretary at National Health Authority
Varnali Deka, an IAS officer of the 2009 Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the National Health Authority (NHA), under the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
Her combined tenure will run up to August 28, 2030, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Jyoti Yadav, whose cadre is recorded as UD:2009 in the order.
More Ashish Madhaorao Appointed Additional CEO of NHA
More Ashish Madhaorao, an IAS officer of the 2005 Union Territories cadre, has been appointed Additional Chief Executive Officer at the Joint Secretary level in the National Health Authority.
The position falls under the Department of Health and Family Welfare. His combined tenure will extend up to June 15, 2030, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Madhu Rani Teotia, an IAS officer of the 2008 Union Territories cadre. The two NHA appointments form part of the broader set of senior-level postings approved by the ACC across central government institutions.
Vivek Khare Appointed Joint Secretary at National Testing Agency
Vivek Khare, an Indian Telecommunication Service officer of the 1996 batch, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the National Testing Agency (NTA), under the Department of Higher Education.
His overall tenure will run up to December 2, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The order specifies that a newly created Deputy Secretary/Director-level post in the NTA will be temporarily upgraded to Joint Secretary level for an initial period of two years.
The appointment is part of the government’s latest senior-level staffing decisions involving institutions operating under different central ministries and departments.
Tenure and Implementation
The ACC order specifies that the appointments will take effect from the date each officer assumes charge. The tenure conditions differ across posts: some specify an overall or combined tenure ending on a particular date, while others provide for five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
