ACC Clears Major Bureaucratic Changes: Rohit Kumar, Sajjan Singh Yadav Repatriated; Anuradha Thakur Gets Additional Charge of Expenditure Secretary
The ACC has approved key bureaucratic changes, including the repatriation of senior IAS officers Rohit Kumar and Sajjan Singh Yadav to their parent cadres, while Anuradha Thakur has been given additional charge as Secretary, Department of Expenditure.
In another significant round of senior-level bureaucratic appointments and transfers, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a series of important administrative decisions affecting key institutions of the Central Government, including NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance.
The decisions, formally notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), involve the premature repatriation of two senior IAS officers to their parent cadres and the assignment of an additional charge to one of the Government of India’s most senior serving secretaries.
The latest changes impact policymaking and administration across crucial sectors such as public expenditure management, economic affairs, governance reforms, and state administration. The officers involved bring decades of experience in public administration, and their movements are expected to influence both state and central governance structures in the coming months.
Rohit Kumar Returns to Rajasthan Cadre Ahead of Schedule
One of the most notable decisions approved by the ACC is the premature repatriation of senior IAS officer Rohit Kumar to his parent Rajasthan cadre.
Kumar, a 1997-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, was serving as Additional Secretary in NITI Aayog, the government’s premier public policy think tank. His return has been approved following a request from the Rajasthan Government.
Interestingly, Kumar’s central deputation had recently been extended by one year. He was originally scheduled to complete his extended tenure on September 24, 2026. However, with the latest order, he will leave his central assignment nearly three months before the completion of that tenure.
The ACC has also approved an extended cooling-off period as part of the repatriation arrangement.
His departure comes at a time when NITI Aayog continues to play a central role in shaping India’s long-term economic strategy, cooperative federalism initiatives, sustainable development goals, and policy reforms across sectors.
A Distinguished Career in Policy and Governance
Rohit Kumar’s administrative journey spans nearly three decades and includes several significant assignments both in the Central Government and within the Rajasthan administration.
Before joining NITI Aayog as Additional Secretary in July 2025, Kumar served in the Cabinet Secretariat, one of the most influential institutions in the Government of India.
His tenure in the Cabinet Secretariat began as Joint Secretary and later progressed to Additional Secretary-level responsibilities from May 2022 onwards.
During that period, he was involved in high-level coordination across ministries, policy implementation monitoring, and governance-related initiatives.
Prior to the Cabinet Secretariat, Kumar served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Rural Development, beginning in September 2018.
In that role, he worked on various rural development programmes and governance initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods, strengthening rural infrastructure, and enhancing the effectiveness of welfare delivery mechanisms.
His return to Rajasthan is expected to strengthen the state’s senior administrative leadership, although the specific assignment he may receive upon arrival has not yet been officially announced.
Sajjan Singh Yadav Repatriated to AGMUT Cadre
The ACC has also approved the premature repatriation of another senior IAS officer, Sajjan Singh Yadav, to his parent AGMUT cadre.
Yadav was serving as Special Secretary in the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance at the time of his repatriation.
The decision follows a request made by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which functions as the cadre-controlling authority for AGMUT cadre officers.
A 1995-batch IAS officer, Yadav is regarded as one of the most experienced officers in public financial administration and expenditure management.
His return marks the conclusion of a long and influential stint within the Finance Ministry, where he handled several important assignments relating to fiscal policy, expenditure oversight, and financial governance.
Nearly Seven Years in the Department of Expenditure
Sajjan Singh Yadav’s association with the Department of Expenditure began in August 2019 when he joined as Joint Secretary.
Over time, his responsibilities expanded significantly as he rose through successive ranks following empanelment for higher-level positions.
He subsequently served at Additional Secretary and Secretary-equivalent levels, becoming one of the senior-most officers involved in government expenditure management.
The Department of Expenditure occupies a critical position within the Ministry of Finance.
It is responsible for:
Monitoring government expenditure
Financial approvals and controls
Budget implementation
Public financial management reforms
Resource allocation across ministries
Fiscal discipline and expenditure efficiency
During his tenure, Yadav was associated with several initiatives aimed at improving expenditure monitoring and strengthening financial accountability mechanisms within the government.
Before moving to the Finance Ministry, he served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, where he worked on programmes relating to child welfare, women’s empowerment, and social sector policy implementation.
His repatriation is expected to bring an experienced administrator back into the AGMUT cadre, where officers serve across Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Lakshadweep.
Anuradha Thakur Gets Additional Charge of Expenditure Secretary
Alongside the repatriation decisions, the ACC has approved an important temporary arrangement within the Ministry of Finance.
Senior IAS officer Anuradha Thakur, currently serving as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), has been entrusted with the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Expenditure.
The arrangement will remain in effect from June 4 to June 14, 2026, during the leave period of Vumlunmang Vualnam, who currently heads the Department of Expenditure.
The decision ensures continuity in leadership and policy execution within one of the government’s most important ministries.
Who Is Anuradha Thakur?
Anuradha Thakur is among the most senior bureaucrats currently serving in the Government of India.
As Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, she oversees a wide portfolio covering:
Economic policy formulation
Budget-related matters
Capital markets
External financing
Multilateral economic engagement
Financial sector coordination
Her appointment to additionally oversee the Department of Expenditure places two of the Finance Ministry’s most critical departments under her supervision for a temporary period.
The move reflects the government’s confidence in her administrative capabilities and experience in handling complex financial matters.
Why the Additional Charge Matters
The dual responsibility assigned to Anuradha Thakur carries considerable significance.
The Department of Economic Affairs and the Department of Expenditure together form the core of India’s financial administration architecture.
While the Department of Economic Affairs focuses on macroeconomic management, investment policy, economic reforms, and financial sector coordination, the Department of Expenditure oversees government spending, fiscal discipline, budget implementation, and financial approvals.
Managing either department independently requires extensive expertise. Handling both simultaneously, even for a limited period, represents a substantial administrative responsibility.
Officials indicate that the temporary arrangement has been designed to ensure uninterrupted decision-making, especially at a time when multiple expenditure-related and economic policy matters require continuous oversight.
Another Round of High-Level Administrative Adjustments
The latest ACC decisions form part of a broader pattern of senior-level administrative adjustments taking place across the Central Government.
Such movements are routine within the higher bureaucracy, but they often carry strategic importance because of the key positions involved and the institutional knowledge that senior officers bring to their assignments.
The repatriation of Rohit Kumar and Sajjan Singh Yadav returns two highly experienced officers to their parent cadres, while Anuradha Thakur’s temporary dual role ensures continuity in the management of critical financial functions at the Centre.
Collectively, these decisions underscore the government’s ongoing efforts to align administrative leadership with evolving governance priorities, maintain continuity in policymaking, and deploy experienced officers where their expertise is most needed.
As these changes take effect, their impact is likely to be felt across important institutions ranging from NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance to state administrations and the AGMUT cadre structure, shaping governance and policy implementation in the months ahead.
