ACC Appoints IAS Astik Kumar Pandey, IRS Nalin Bilochan and Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot as Directors in Key Union Ministries
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of three senior civil servants as Directors in important ministries of the Government of India, further strengthening administrative leadership across key policy departments.
The appointments, notified on May 14, 2026, involve Astik Kumar Pandey, Nalin Bilochan and Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot, who have been posted as Directors in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Steel, respectively.
All three officers have been appointed for a tenure of five years and are expected to contribute significantly to policy implementation, institutional governance and administrative reforms within their respective ministries.
Astik Kumar Pandey Appointed Director in Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
Astik Kumar Pandey, a 2011-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been appointed as Director in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Government of India.
Born on February 7, 1985, Pandey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Defence Studies and a Master’s degree from the University of Allahabad. He is presently serving as Joint Commissioner at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a role he assumed in April 2025.
Over the course of his administrative career, Pandey has held several important assignments in Maharashtra, including District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer, Assistant Collector, Additional District Magistrate and Commissioner-level responsibilities.
Known for his administrative experience and governance expertise, he is fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi and has worked extensively in district administration and urban governance.
Nalin Bilochan Named Director in Ministry of Mines
The ACC has also appointed Nalin Bilochan, a 2011-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officer, as Director in the Ministry of Mines.
His appointment will take effect after May 19, 2026, for a five-year period.
Born on March 1, 1981, Bilochan holds a Master of Arts degree and joined the civil services in August 2011. During his career, he has served in several important tax intelligence and enforcement assignments, including postings in the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI) and the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Ahmedabad.
He was promoted to the rank of Joint Commissioner on January 1, 2024, before being selected for central deputation to the Ministry of Mines.
Officials believe his experience in revenue intelligence, taxation and enforcement will be valuable in handling regulatory and policy-related matters within the ministry.
Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot Appointed Director in Ministry of Steel
Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot, an officer of the Indian Post & Telecom Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) of the 2012 batch, has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Steel for a tenure of five years.
An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Khangarot has also undertaken advanced academic and executive programmes through Indira Gandhi National Open University, Harvard University and Georgetown University.
His professional background includes extensive experience in public finance, telecom revenue assurance, audit systems and regulatory compliance.
During his career, he has served as Deputy Controller General of Accounts in the Controller General of Communication Accounts, Director (SEA) in the Department of Telecommunications and Joint Controller in Dimapur.
Notably, during his tenure in Dimapur, his unit received the Best Field Unit of Department of Telecommunications Award for 2022–23.
Strengthening Administrative Leadership Across Ministries
The latest appointments reflect the Government of India’s continued emphasis on placing experienced officers from diverse services into strategic policymaking and administrative positions.
With backgrounds in public administration, finance, taxation, telecom regulation and governance, the three officers are expected to contribute significantly to institutional efficiency and policy execution within their respective ministries.
The appointments also underscore the important role played by senior civil servants in driving governance reforms, programme implementation and inter-departmental coordination across key sectors of the Union Government.
