ACC Appoints IAS Anoop Khinchi as CCS NIAM DG, IFoS Officer Deepa D. Nair as Coconut Development Board CEO; Rajesh Kumar Singh Gets Additional Charge of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved another round of senior-level appointments, assigning experienced officers to key leadership positions in institutions linked to agriculture, rural development and defence administration. In the latest decisions notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), IAS officer Anoop Khinchi has been appointed Director General of the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS NIAM), Jaipur, while Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Deepa D. Nair has been named the Chief Executive Officer of the Coconut Development Board, Kochi.
Alongside these appointments, the government has also entrusted Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Defence, with the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare for a temporary period. The move is intended to ensure continuity in the functioning of the department during the leave of the incumbent secretary.
The latest appointments form part of the Centre’s ongoing effort to place experienced civil servants in strategic policy and administrative positions across ministries and autonomous organisations that play a crucial role in governance and public service delivery.
IAS Officer Anoop Khinchi Appointed Director General of CCS NIAM
One of the key appointments approved by the ACC is that of Anoop Khinchi, a 2008-batch IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, who has been appointed Director General of the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS NIAM), Jaipur.
The appointment has been made at the Joint Secretary level under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
According to the DoPT notification, Khinchi will serve in Level 14 of the Pay Matrix, carrying a salary scale of ₹1,44,200 to ₹2,18,200. His tenure will be five years from the date he assumes charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The appointment places him at the helm of one of India’s premier institutions dedicated to agricultural marketing, policy research and capacity building.
CCS NIAM’s Role in India’s Agricultural Reforms
The Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS NIAM) has emerged as an important institution supporting reforms in India’s agricultural marketing ecosystem.
Headquartered in Jaipur, the institute conducts research, policy analysis, training programmes and capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving agricultural markets across the country.
It works closely with state governments, agricultural marketing boards, farmer organisations and policymakers to strengthen market access, improve supply chains and promote modern agricultural marketing practices.
As Director General, Anoop Khinchi will be responsible for guiding the institute’s academic, research and policy initiatives while supporting the government’s broader vision of improving agricultural marketing and enhancing farmers’ incomes.
His appointment comes at a time when agricultural marketing reforms, digital marketplaces, value-chain development and post-harvest infrastructure continue to receive significant policy attention.
Deepa D. Nair Named CEO of Coconut Development Board
The ACC has also approved the appointment of Deepa D. Nair, a 2001-batch Indian Forest Service (Tripura cadre) officer, as Chief Executive Officer of the Coconut Development Board, Kochi.
The appointment has been made at the Joint Secretary level under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Like the CCS NIAM appointment, her position also carries Level 14 of the Pay Matrix, with a salary ranging from ₹1,44,200 to ₹2,18,200.
She will serve for five years from the date of assuming charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Her appointment brings an experienced senior officer to one of India’s most important commodity development organisations.
Coconut Development Board to Get New Leadership
The Coconut Development Board, headquartered in Kochi, is the apex statutory organisation responsible for promoting the overall development of the coconut sector in India.
The Board works on a wide range of activities, including:
Increasing coconut productivity
Promoting scientific cultivation practices
Supporting processing and value addition
Encouraging product diversification
Expanding domestic and international markets
Promoting exports of coconut-based products
The organisation also works closely with coconut growers, farmer producer organisations, research institutions and processing industries to improve incomes and create new market opportunities.
As Chief Executive Officer, Deepa D. Nair will oversee the Board’s programmes at a time when the government is placing greater emphasis on value-added agricultural products, food processing and export promotion.
Her leadership is expected to contribute to initiatives aimed at strengthening the plantation economy and enhancing the competitiveness of India’s coconut sector in global markets.
Rajesh Kumar Singh Given Additional Charge of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Apart from the two appointments in the agriculture sector, the ACC has also approved an important administrative arrangement in the Ministry of Defence.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, who is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Defence, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare.
The additional responsibility will be effective from July 26, 2026, to August 11, 2026.
The temporary arrangement has been made during the leave period of Sukriti Likhi, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, who currently serves as Secretary of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare.
The government has made the arrangement to ensure uninterrupted functioning of the department during the absence of the regular secretary.
Department Plays Crucial Role for Veterans
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare is responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to retired armed forces personnel and their families.
Its responsibilities include welfare programmes for:
Ex-servicemen
Military veterans
War widows
Dependants of defence personnel
The department also coordinates pension-related matters, rehabilitation programmes, healthcare initiatives and various welfare schemes aimed at improving the quality of life of former members of the armed forces.
By assigning the additional charge to Rajesh Kumar Singh, the government has ensured continuity in policy implementation and administrative decision-making during the temporary vacancy.
Centre Continues to Strengthen Leadership Across Strategic Institutions
The latest ACC decisions reflect the Union Government’s continuing focus on placing experienced officers in institutions that play a significant role in national development.
The appointments span important sectors including agricultural marketing, plantation development and defence administration, all of which contribute directly to policy implementation and public service delivery.
With Anoop Khinchi taking charge of CCS NIAM, the government has appointed an experienced IAS officer to lead one of the country’s premier agricultural marketing institutions. Deepa D. Nair’s appointment to the Coconut Development Board is expected to support efforts aimed at enhancing productivity, value addition and exports in the plantation sector.
Meanwhile, Rajesh Kumar Singh’s temporary additional responsibility will ensure that the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare continues to function smoothly without any disruption during the leave of the incumbent secretary.
Together, these appointments reinforce the Centre’s broader administrative strategy of deploying seasoned officers to leadership positions across ministries and autonomous bodies, strengthening institutional capacity and supporting the effective implementation of government programmes across diverse sectors.
