ACC Appoints IAS Officer Astik Kumar Pandey, IRS Officer Nalin Bilochan and IP&TAFS Officer Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot as Directors in Key Central Ministries
In a significant round of senior-level appointments aimed at strengthening policy leadership across the Union Government, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of three accomplished civil servants as Directors in key ministries of the Government of India.
The appointments, notified on May 14, 2026, place IAS officer Astik Kumar Pandey, IRS officer Nalin Bilochan, and Indian Post & Telecom Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) officer Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot in strategic positions within the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Mines, and Ministry of Steel, respectively.
The three officers bring with them a wealth of administrative, financial, regulatory, and governance experience gathered through years of service across diverse sectors. Their appointments are expected to strengthen policymaking, programme implementation, and institutional leadership in ministries that play a crucial role in India’s social and economic development agenda.
Astik Kumar Pandey Moves to Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
Among the notable appointments is that of Astik Kumar Pandey, a 2011-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, who has been named Director in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for a period of five years.
Pandey is regarded as an experienced administrator with an extensive background in district administration, urban governance, and developmental management. Born on February 7, 1985, he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Defence Studies and later completed his Master’s degree from the University of Allahabad before entering the civil services.
At present, he is serving as Joint Commissioner at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), one of India’s most influential urban planning and infrastructure development agencies. He assumed the role in April 2025 and has been associated with major development initiatives in the Mumbai metropolitan region.
Over the course of his career, Pandey has handled a variety of important assignments across Maharashtra. His administrative journey includes serving as District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer, Assistant Collector, Additional District Magistrate, and Commissioner in different capacities.
These assignments have provided him with extensive exposure to governance, public service delivery, urban management, rural development, and institutional administration. Colleagues and observers often describe him as an officer with a strong grounding in field administration and developmental governance.
His appointment to the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is expected to bring practical administrative insights to a ministry responsible for policies related to social inclusion, welfare programmes, empowerment of marginalized communities, and implementation of various social justice initiatives.
Fluent in English, Hindi, and Marathi, Pandey has built a reputation for effective leadership and policy execution during his tenure in the Maharashtra cadre.
IRS Officer Nalin Bilochan Joins Ministry of Mines
The ACC has also approved the appointment of Nalin Bilochan, a 2011-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes), as Director in the Ministry of Mines.
His appointment will take effect after May 19, 2026, and will be for a period of five years.
Born on March 1, 1981, Bilochan holds a Master of Arts degree and joined the civil services in August 2011. Over the years, he has developed considerable expertise in taxation, intelligence gathering, enforcement operations, and regulatory administration.
His professional journey includes significant assignments within some of the country’s most important tax intelligence organizations. He served in the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI), where officers are tasked with investigating tax evasion and economic offences. He later worked with the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), one of the key agencies responsible for safeguarding GST compliance and detecting revenue leakages.
Much of Bilochan’s experience has been shaped by his tenure in Ahmedabad, where he handled complex enforcement and intelligence-related assignments. His work involved investigating financial irregularities, monitoring compliance frameworks, and strengthening tax administration mechanisms.
In recognition of his performance and experience, he was promoted to the rank of Joint Commissioner on January 1, 2024.
His move to the Ministry of Mines comes at a crucial time for India’s mining sector, which is undergoing significant reforms aimed at improving mineral exploration, enhancing resource utilization, attracting investments, and supporting industrial growth.
Officials familiar with the sector believe Bilochan’s strong background in enforcement, compliance, and regulatory governance could prove valuable in a ministry that deals with critical issues involving mineral resources, licensing, policy implementation, and sectoral regulation.
Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot Takes Charge in Ministry of Steel
The third major appointment approved by the ACC involves Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot, a 2012-batch officer of the Indian Post & Telecom Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS), who has been appointed Director in the Ministry of Steel for a tenure of five years.
Khangarot brings an impressive blend of academic achievement and administrative expertise to his new assignment.
An alumnus of the prestigious St. Stephen’s College, he has pursued higher studies and executive learning programmes through institutions including Indira Gandhi National Open University, Harvard University, and Georgetown University. His educational background reflects a strong focus on public policy, governance, finance, and administrative management.
Professionally, Khangarot has built extensive experience in public finance, telecommunications administration, regulatory compliance, accounting systems, and government financial management.
His previous assignments include serving as Deputy Controller General of Accounts under the Controller General of Communication Accounts, Director (SEA) in the Department of Telecommunications, and Joint Controller in Dimapur.
One of the highlights of his career came during his tenure in Dimapur, where the unit under his leadership received the Best Field Unit of Department of Telecommunications Award for 2022–23, a recognition that reflected operational excellence and effective management.
His appointment to the Ministry of Steel comes at a time when the government is focused on expanding domestic steel production, promoting technological modernization, improving global competitiveness, and supporting infrastructure-led economic growth.
With his strong financial and administrative background, Khangarot is expected to contribute to policy formulation, programme oversight, and institutional strengthening within the ministry.
Strengthening Policy Leadership Across Government
The appointments of Astik Kumar Pandey, Nalin Bilochan, and Harshvardhan Singh Khangarot underscore the Government of India’s continued effort to bring experienced officers from diverse services into key policymaking roles.
Each of the three officers arrives with a unique professional background—ranging from district administration and urban governance to taxation intelligence, financial management, and regulatory oversight. This diversity of experience is expected to enrich decision-making processes within their respective ministries.
As Directors, they will play important roles in policy development, programme implementation, inter-departmental coordination, stakeholder engagement, and administrative leadership.
With ministries such as Social Justice & Empowerment, Mines, and Steel occupying central positions in India’s developmental agenda, the appointment of seasoned officers to these roles is expected to contribute to stronger governance outcomes and more effective execution of government priorities in the years ahead.
