Postings across Home Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Corporate Affairs, Culture, Road Transport and Highways, Water Resources & Women and Child Development Ministries
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved 26 senior-level appointments across central government departments, including Home Affairs, Health, Culture, Corporate Affairs, NITI Aayog and other key organisations.
The Government of India has announced a major round of senior-level appointments across central ministries, departments and public institutions, with the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approving a series of postings at the Joint Secretary and equivalent levels.
The order covers appointments across a broad range of portfolios, including Home Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Corporate Affairs, Culture, Road Transport and Highways, Water Resources, and Women and Child Development.
Sonia Pant Appointed Adviser at NITI Aayog
Sonia Pant, an Indian Economic Service (IES) officer of the 2001 batch, has been appointed Adviser at the Joint Secretary level in NITI Aayog. Her tenure will be five years from the date she assumes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Surender Mehra, an Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer of the 1999 Union Territories cadre.
Nitin Kumar Appointed Additional Secretary at CVC
Nitin Kumar of the Central Secretariat Service has been appointed Additional Secretary at the Joint Secretary level in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), under the Department of Personnel and Training. His tenure will be five years from the date he assumes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Ajay Kumar Kanoujia of the Central Secretariat Service.
C. Murugan Appointed Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Murugan, an IAS officer of the 2007 West Bengal cadre, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. His combined tenure will run up to September 15, 2030, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Kamlesh Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service officer of the 1988 Madhya Pradesh cadre.
Rajneesh Kumar Tomar Appointed CEO of NHLML
Rajneesh Kumar Tomar, an IRSME officer of the 1998 batch, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer at the Joint Secretary level of National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. His overall tenure will extend up to November 2, 2030, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Rajesh Malik, an IRSME officer of the 1994 batch.
Nishtha Tiwari Appointed CEO of DWBDNCs
Nishtha Tiwari, an IRS officer of the 2005 batch, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer at the Joint Secretary level of the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs). The organisation falls under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. Her combined tenure will run up to December 9, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Apparao Veerelli, an IRSS officer of the 1993 batch.
Manisha Trighatia Appointed Joint Secretary, Department of Urban Development
Manisha Trighatia, an IAS officer of the 2002 Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Urban Development. Her tenure will be five years from the date she assumes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Roopa Mishra, an IAS officer of the 2004 Odisha cadre.
Avinash Jain Appointed Joint Secretary, Department of Water Resources
Avinash Jain, an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (Civil) officer of the 2001 batch, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. His overall tenure will run up to February 6, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Subodh Yadav, an IAS officer of the 1999 Karnataka cadre.
Pawan Kumar Appointed Joint Secretary, National River Conservation Directorate
Pawan Kumar, an Indian Revenue Service officer (Customs and Indirect Taxes) of the 2005 batch, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. His tenure will be five years from the date he assumes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Anand Mohan, an Indian Forest Service officer of the 1996 Rajasthan cadre.
Anita Shah Akella Appointed Joint Secretary, National Commission for Women
Anita Shah Akella, an Indian Audit and Accounts Service officer of the 1996 batch, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the National Commission for Women (NCW), under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Her overall tenure will extend up to May 25, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Radhika Chakravarthy B, an Indian Postal Service (IPoS) officer of the 1996 batch.
Key Takeaways from the ACC Appointment Order
The appointments cover a wide range of government functions. Several postings are concentrated in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the health administration, while others extend to economic and corporate administration, election management, legal affairs, infrastructure, water resources, social justice and women’s welfare.
The order also includes leadership changes in major public institutions and agencies, including the NHA, NTA, IRDAI, FCI, NHLML and NITI Aayog. Tenures vary by post, with the order specifying fixed end dates for several officers and five-year or seven-year terms for others, subject to the stated conditions.
