IAS Tapasya Raghav and IRTS Officer Jai Patil Appointed as Deputy Secretaries in Key Union Ministries
In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle aimed at strengthening policy implementation in crucial sectors, the Government of India has appointed two accomplished civil servants — IAS officer Tapasya Raghav and Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer Jai Patil — as Deputy Secretaries in important departments under the Union Government.
The appointments were approved through the latest personnel orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), reflecting the Centre’s continued focus on placing experienced and technically skilled officers in strategic policymaking positions.
IAS Officer Tapasya Raghav Posted to Department of Higher Education
Tapasya Raghav, a 2013-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. According to the official notification, she will serve in the post for a tenure of four years from the date of assuming charge or until further orders.
Before this appointment, Raghav was serving as Special Secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare under the Delhi Government. Over the years, she has earned recognition for handling a wide range of administrative responsibilities across multiple sectors, particularly health administration, district governance, and public service delivery.
Born on September 1, 1988, Raghav comes from a strong academic background. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from Rajasthan University of Health Sciences before entering the Indian Administrative Service.
Her administrative career has been marked by extensive field and departmental experience. She has held several important positions during her tenure, including Special Commissioner in Trade & Taxes and Health departments, Project Director of CATS, District Collector, Mission Director, Director, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Assistant Secretary, and Officer on Special Duty (OSD).
Officials believe her multidisciplinary governance experience will be valuable in the Higher Education Department, especially at a time when the Centre is pushing major reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP), digital learning initiatives, institutional expansion, and skill-based education frameworks.
Jai Patil Appointed Deputy Secretary in Department of Economic Affairs
In another key appointment, Jai Patil, a 2014-batch officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS), has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.
The appointment was cleared by the competent authority after his recommendation for central deputation by the Ministry of Railways. As per the DoPT order issued on May 13, 2026, Patil’s tenure will be effective from the date he assumes charge of the post.
Patil brings with him a blend of technical, operational, and managerial expertise. Before joining the civil services, he worked in Pune as a software executive and user interface designer, primarily dealing with financial systems and technology-driven operational solutions.
Following his selection into the civil services, he underwent foundational training at the Indian Railways Institute of Transportation Management (IRITM). During his railway career, he served in several operational roles, including Assistant Operations Manager in Mumbai and Divisional Operations Manager in Vadodara.
In these assignments, he managed large-scale freight logistics, passenger movement operations, scheduling systems, and transportation coordination in some of the country’s busiest railway divisions.
His transition to the Department of Economic Affairs is being viewed as a strategic move, given the increasing importance of infrastructure financing, logistics reforms, digital governance, and integrated economic planning within the Finance Ministry.
Focus on Experienced Officers for Key Policy Roles
The appointments of Tapasya Raghav and Jai Patil highlight the Union Government’s broader strategy of inducting officers with diverse field experience and technical expertise into high-impact policy departments.
Both officers are expected to play important roles in policy formulation, implementation, coordination between ministries, and execution of flagship government initiatives in their respective sectors.
While Raghav’s appointment strengthens administrative leadership in the higher education ecosystem, Patil’s inclusion in the Department of Economic Affairs is expected to add operational insight and technological understanding to economic policymaking and governance.
