CC Approves Tenure Extensions for 4 Officers: IAS Saumya Gupta Gets 2 Years, Vijay Mittal, Gopal Singh and Rohit Kumar Also Continue
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a set of important tenure extensions and continuation of additional responsibilities involving four officers serving in key positions under the Central Government.
The decisions, conveyed through orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on September 19, 2026, cover four different departments and ministries – the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Coal and Department of Science & Technology.
The officers covered by the latest decisions are Saumya Gupta, IAS (TR:2004), Joint Secretary in the Department of Higher Education; Vijay Mittal, IOFS (1991), Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries; Gopal Singh, IFoS (BH:2003), Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal; and Rohit Kumar, IInspS (2009), Director in the Department of Science & Technology.
The nature and duration of the extensions vary from officer to officer. While Saumya Gupta has been granted a two-year extension of central deputation, Vijay Mittal will continue in his present assignment until June 2027. Gopal Singh has been allowed to continue holding the additional charge of Commissioner of the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO), while Rohit Kumar’s deputation has been extended up to March 31, 2027.
Saumya Gupta Gets Two-Year Extension in Higher Education Department
Among the four decisions, the longest extension approved by the ACC is for IAS officer Saumya Gupta (IAS:2004), who is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Higher Education.
The ACC has approved the proposal of the Department of Higher Education to extend Gupta’s tenure of central deputation for another two years beyond November 28, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Gupta was appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Higher Education in November 2021. Her initial tenure was fixed for five years and was consequently scheduled to come to an end on November 28, 2026.
With the latest approval, she will continue in the department for an additional two years, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the relevant government order.
Her continuation comes at a time when the Department of Higher Education is handling a wide range of policy and administrative responsibilities involving higher education institutions and programmes at the national level.
Vijay Mittal to Remain Joint Secretary in Heavy Industries Till June 2027
Vijay Mittal (IOFS:1991), presently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries, has also received an extension of his central deputation.
The ACC has approved the Ministry of Heavy Industries’ proposal to extend Mittal’s tenure from March 4, 2027, up to June 30, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Mittal has been serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries since March 4, 2022. His original appointment to the post was for a period of five years, which meant that his tenure was due to end on March 4, 2027.
The latest decision effectively allows him to continue in the ministry for nearly four additional months beyond the original tenure period.
The extension keeps the senior IOFS officer in place through June 30, 2027, unless the government issues further orders before that date. As with the other decisions, the continuation remains subject to the terms specified in the ACC-approved order.
Gopal Singh to Continue as Additional Commissioner of CMPFO
The ACC has also approved the continuation of an additional charge being held by Indian Forest Service officer Gopal Singh (IFoS:2003).
Singh is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal. Alongside his regular assignment, he has been holding the additional charge of Commissioner at the Joint Secretary level in the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO).
The Ministry of Coal had proposed continuation of this additional charge, and the ACC has approved its extension for another six months with effect from August 17, 2026.
The arrangement will remain in force until a regular incumbent is appointed to the post, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
This means that Singh will continue to shoulder the additional responsibility of CMPFO Commissioner while simultaneously performing his duties as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal.
The six-month extension provides continuity at the senior administrative level in an organisation responsible for managing provident fund-related matters for employees covered under the coal mining sector.
Rohit Kumar’s Science & Technology Deputation Extended
The fourth decision concerns Rohit Kumar (IInspS:2009), who is currently working as Director in the Department of Science & Technology.
The ACC has approved the proposal to extend his central deputation beyond October 21, 2026, and up to March 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Kumar’s existing tenure was scheduled to reach its end on October 21, 2026. The latest approval therefore allows him to continue as Director in the Department of Science & Technology for several additional months.
Under the approved arrangement, he will remain in the post up to March 31, 2027, unless an earlier change is ordered by the government.
The extension is part of the latest set of ACC decisions covering officers from different organised services and departments working in senior positions at the Centre.
Four Officers, Four Different Tenure Arrangements
The latest ACC decisions involve four officers, but the nature of each administrative arrangement is different.
Saumya Gupta has received the most substantial extension, with her central deputation being extended by two years beyond November 28, 2026. Vijay Mittal’s tenure in the Ministry of Heavy Industries has been extended from March 4, 2027, to June 30, 2027.
In the case of Gopal Singh, the decision does not concern an extension of his regular posting as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal. Instead, it relates specifically to his additional charge as Commissioner, CMPFO, at the Joint Secretary level. That additional responsibility has been extended for six months from August 17, 2026, or until a regular incumbent is appointed, whichever comes first.
Rohit Kumar, meanwhile, will continue as Director in the Department of Science & Technology beyond October 21, 2026, with the approved extension running up to March 31, 2027, unless further orders are issued earlier.
Taken together, the decisions reflect the Centre’s latest administrative approvals for maintaining continuity in four senior-level assignments spread across higher education, heavy industries, coal and science and technology.
