DoPT Announces Three Key Bureaucratic Changes: Anurag Goyal Gets ITLA Charge, Ekta Vishnoi’s Tenure Extended, Namrata Gandhi Moves to Ayush Ministry
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved three significant personnel decisions involving senior IRS and IAS officers. While 1994-batch IRS officer Anurag Goyal has been assigned additional charge as MD and CEO of the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA), Ekta Vishnoi’s central deputation in the Department of Biotechnology has been extended by one year. Meanwhile, 2013-batch IAS officer Namrata Gandhi has been appointed Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Ayush.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued three important orders concerning the appointments, extensions and new responsibilities of senior officers belonging to the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The decisions, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), were communicated through separate orders dated November 6, 2026. The latest developments involve Anurag Goyal, IRS (Income Tax), 1994 batch; Ekta Vishnoi, IRS (Income Tax), 1999 batch; and Namrata Gandhi, IAS, 2013 batch.
The orders cover three distinct administrative decisions: the assignment of additional charge in a central authority, an extension of central deputation and a lateral transfer to another Union Ministry.
- Anurag Goyal Gets Additional Charge as MD and CEO of ITLA
The ACC has approved the assignment of additional charge of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) to Anurag Goyal, a 1994-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax).
According to the DoPT order dated November 6, 2026, Goyal is currently serving as Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog. He will assume the additional responsibility of heading ITLA alongside his existing assignment. The order was issued by Ajit Kumar Ranjan, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, under the Department of Personnel and Training.
Who Is Anurag Goyal?
Anurag Goyal is a 1994-batch IRS officer of the Income Tax cadre. He is currently serving as Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog, where he has been associated with the institution’s work relating to industry and related policy matters. His central deputation to NITI Aayog dates back to 2021.
His latest assignment places him in an additional leadership role at the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority, alongside his responsibilities at the government’s premier public policy think tank.
- Ekta Vishnoi’s Central Deputation Extended by One Year
In another significant decision, the ACC has approved a one-year extension of the central deputation tenure of Ekta Vishnoi, a 1999-batch IRS officer of the Income Tax cadre. Vishnoi is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The extension will take effect beyond November 5, 2026, for a further period of one year or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The approval follows a proposal submitted by the Department of Biotechnology through an Office Memorandum dated October 14, 2026.
Who Is Ekta Vishnoi?
Ekta Vishnoi is a 1999-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) and currently holds the position of Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology. Before her present assignment, she served with the Sports Authority of India, where she was associated with major government initiatives, including the Khelo India programme and the Fit India Movement. During her career in the Income Tax Department, she has handled responsibilities in investigation, assessment and headquarters divisions.
Vishnoi has an impressive academic background. She holds a B.Sc. (Honours) in Chemistry, an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). She is also a gold medallist in Organic Chemistry from the University of Delhi. During her IRS training, she received the Finance Minister’s Gold Medal for being adjudged the best officer trainee.
Her deputation extension will allow her to continue serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology for another year, subject to the conditions specified in the government order.
- Namrata Gandhi Appointed Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Ayush
The third decision concerns Namrata Gandhi, a 2013-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, who has been appointed Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Ayush.
Gandhi is currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. Her appointment to the Ministry of Ayush has been approved under the Central Staffing Scheme on a lateral-shift basis.
According to the DoPT memorandum issued on November 6, 2026, her tenure will continue up to March 5, 2029, corresponding to the balance period of her four-year deputation tenure at the Deputy Secretary level, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The appointment follows the recommendation of the Civil Services Board (CSB).
Who Is Namrata Gandhi?
Namrata Gandhi is a 2013-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre who entered the service through the Civil Services Examination. She has held several administrative responsibilities at both district and state levels, gaining experience in district administration, rural development, technical education and public policy implementation.
Before moving to the Centre, she served as Collector and District Magistrate of Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh. She has also worked as Director in the state’s Department of Ayush. Gandhi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
She was appointed Deputy Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat in February 2025 under the Central Staffing Scheme. Her latest appointment shifts her to the Ministry of Ayush while retaining her Deputy Secretary-level designation.
Three DoPT Orders Bring Changes Across Central Government Departments
The three decisions announced on November 6, 2026, involve different aspects of central government administration and officer deployment.
The key developments are:
- Anurag Goyal (IRS: 1994): Assigned additional charge as MD and CEO of the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority while continuing as Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog.
- Ekta Vishnoi (IRS: 1999): Granted a one-year extension of central deputation as Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology.
- Namrata Gandhi (IAS: 2013): Appointed Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Ayush on a lateral-shift basis, with tenure up to March 5, 2029, subject to the terms of the order.
Together, the three orders reflect the Centre’s continuing exercise of administrative adjustments involving senior officers across key ministries, departments and government institutions.
