Satish Sethi Appointed Joint Secretary, Lokpal in DoPT; To Serve Up to July 2028
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Satish Sethi, IA&AS (2000), as Joint Secretary, Lokpal, under the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).
According to an order issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on August 10, 2026, Sethi will take charge of the post from the date he assumes office. His tenure has been approved for an overall period of five years, up to July 16, 2028, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Sethi, an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) belonging to the 2000 batch, will succeed Abhishek Bhagotia, IAS (AM:2007), who was serving as Joint Secretary, Lokpal.
The appointment brings a senior officer from the IA&AS into an important position associated with the Lokpal, India’s statutory anti-corruption ombudsman at the Union level. The Joint Secretary-level position involves supporting the administrative functioning of the Lokpal and coordinating matters with the concerned government departments and authorities.
The Lokpal was established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, with the objective of providing an institutional mechanism for dealing with allegations of corruption against certain categories of public functionaries. The institution has jurisdiction and powers prescribed under the legislation and functions independently within the framework established by law.
The appointment of Sethi is also notable because he comes from the IA&AS, a specialised Group A service responsible for public auditing and accounting functions under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Officers from the service bring extensive experience in financial administration, audit, accountability and government systems to senior positions across the Union government.
The ACC order specifies that Sethi’s tenure will run for an overall five-year period up to July 16, 2028, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. His tenure will formally commence from the date on which he assumes charge of the post.
The order was issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training, with the date of issue recorded as August 10, 2026.
The appointment is part of the Centre’s process of placing experienced officers in senior positions across important constitutional and statutory institutions. The Joint Secretary-level role at the Lokpal carries administrative significance as the institution deals with matters relating to complaints and corruption allegations within its statutory framework.
The ACC has also directed that the order be communicated to the concerned authorities, including the Department of Personnel & Training, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cabinet Secretariat and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, besides the officer concerned and other designated offices.
With this appointment, Satish Sethi will move into the Joint Secretary-level role at the Lokpal under DoPT, succeeding Abhishek Bhagotia. He is expected to take charge once the formal assumption-of-office process is completed.
Key Details
Officer: Satish Sethi
Service: Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS)
Batch: 2000
New Post: Joint Secretary, Lokpal
Department: Department of Personnel & Training
Parent Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Tenure: Overall five years
Tenure Up To: July 16, 2028
Effective From: Date of assumption of charge
Predecessor: Abhishek Bhagotia, IAS (AM:2007)
Approving Authority: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
Order Date: August 10, 2026
