MIDHANI Appoints 2005-Batch IAS Officer Meera Mohanty as Government Nominee Director, Replaces Prakash Rajpurohit
Ministry of Defence nominates Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS officer Meera Mohanty to the MIDHANI Board with effect from September 17, 2026; her appointment will continue until further orders
The Ministry of Defence has appointed 2005-batch IAS officer Meera Mohanty as Government Nominee Director on the Board of Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), marking a change in the government-nominated representation on the defence public sector undertaking’s board.
Mohanty, an Indian Administrative Service officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, joined the MIDHANI Board with effect from September 17, 2026. The appointment was made by the Ministry of Defence, which is the administrative ministry for the company.
MIDHANI disclosed the appointment to the stock exchanges through a filing under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
Her appointment also marks the end of the tenure of Prakash Rajpurohit, who had been serving as Government Nominee Director on the MIDHANI Board in his capacity as Joint Secretary (DIP).
Meera Mohanty Takes Charge on September 17
According to the company’s regulatory disclosure, Meera Mohanty has been appointed Government Nominee Director on the MIDHANI Board with effect from September 17, 2026.
The appointment has been made by the Ministry of Defence and will remain effective from the date of her appointment until further orders from the Administrative Ministry.
The latest board-level change is therefore an administrative nomination by the Ministry of Defence rather than an appointment for a fixed tenure. Mohanty’s position will continue until the ministry issues further directions regarding the government nominee. The company has formally communicated the appointment to the stock exchanges in accordance with the applicable disclosure requirements.
Prakash Rajpurohit’s Tenure Comes to an End
The appointment of Meera Mohanty also brings the tenure of Prakash Rajpurohit as Government Nominee Director on the MIDHANI Board to an end.
Rajpurohit had been serving as Joint Secretary (DIP) and was the government’s nominee on the company’s board. His tenure as Government Nominee Director ceased on September 17, 2026, the same day Mohanty’s appointment took effect.
The change consequently creates a direct transition in the government-nominated position on the MIDHANI Board. While the outgoing nominee’s tenure has ended, the Ministry of Defence has now placed Mohanty in the role with effect from the same date.
Who Is IAS Officer Meera Mohanty?
Meera Mohanty is a 2005-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service belonging to the Himachal Pradesh cadre.
She is currently serving as Joint Secretary (Personnel & Coordination) in the Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production. Her present assignment places her within the ministry that oversees MIDHANI, making her latest board appointment an additional responsibility alongside her existing government role.
Mohanty’s administrative career has also included a significant stint in the Prime Minister’s Office, where she served as Joint Secretary.
Her experience therefore includes assignments at both the PMO and the Ministry of Defence, in addition to her responsibilities as a government nominee on the board of another major defence public sector undertaking.
Mohanty Also Serves on Bharat Electronics Board
The MIDHANI appointment is not Meera Mohanty’s first government-nominated board responsibility in the defence public sector. She is also serving as a Government Nominee Director on the Board of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), another important defence PSU.
Her latest appointment at MIDHANI means that she will now have government-nominated board responsibilities at two major public sector companies associated with India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
MIDHANI informed the stock exchanges about Mohanty’s appointment through a disclosure made under Regulation 30 of the SEBI LODR Regulations, 2015. As part of the disclosure, the company also provided information concerning her eligibility to serve as a director. According to the filing, Mohanty is not related to any of the other directors on the MIDHANI Board.
The company further stated that she has not been debarred from holding the office of director by SEBI or any other regulatory authority. The disclosure also records that she is not disqualified from appointment as a director under Section 164 of the Companies Act, 2013. Her appointment has been made for the period beginning September 17, 2026, and will remain in effect until further orders from the Administrative Ministry.
What Is Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited?
Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited, widely known as MIDHANI, is a Government of India defence public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence. The company operates in the specialised materials sector and manufactures materials required for strategic and high-technology applications.
Its product portfolio includes special steels, superalloys and titanium alloys, among other strategic materials. These materials are used across areas such as defence, aerospace, space and other critical applications.
MIDHANI’s activities are therefore linked to the country’s broader strategic manufacturing and indigenous defence capabilities. The company supplies specialised materials that are required for applications where material performance and technical specifications are particularly important.
Government Nominee Role at MIDHANI
The appointment of a Government Nominee Director provides representation of the government on the board of the public sector undertaking. In Mohanty’s case, the nomination has been made by the Ministry of Defence, the company’s administrative ministry. Her appointment takes effect from September 17 and continues until further orders.
The transition follows the conclusion of Prakash Rajpurohit’s tenure in the same government-nominated position. For MIDHANI, the change means that the government-nominated seat on the board will now be occupied by a senior IAS officer who is already serving in the Ministry of Defence’s Department of Defence Production.
A New Board Responsibility for a Senior IAS Officer
Meera Mohanty’s appointment adds another board-level responsibility to her existing administrative profile. As a 2005-batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS officer, she has served in senior government positions, including Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office and her current role as Joint Secretary (Personnel & Coordination) in the Ministry of Defence.
She also holds a Government Nominee Director position at Bharat Electronics Limited. With effect from September 17, 2026, she has now joined the Board of MIDHANI as Government Nominee Director, replacing Prakash Rajpurohit in the position. The appointment will remain in force until further orders of the Administrative Ministry, according to the company’s regulatory disclosure.
