In a fresh round of postings under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS), the Government of India has appointed two senior officers — IAS Bhupinder Kumar and IRS Vinay Sheel Gautam — to pivotal roles in central ministries, strengthening administrative leadership at the national level.
Bhupinder Kumar (IAS) Assigned to Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
IAS officer Bhupinder Kumar (AGMUT cadre, 2011 batch) has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on November 7, 2025.
His central deputation will be for a tenure of five years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The appointment was recommended by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Prior to this posting, Kumar held multiple key positions in Jammu & Kashmir, serving as Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, and concurrently as Director of Census Operations (DCO) and Director of Citizen Registration (DCR) for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He also served as Resident Commissioner of the J&K Government in New Delhi.
IRS Vinay Sheel Gautam to Serve in Ministry of Cooperation
Simultaneously, Vinay Sheel Gautam, a 2009-batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer, has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Cooperation. His appointment, made under the same DoPT order, also carries a tenure of five years under the Central Staffing Scheme. Gautam was recommended for deputation by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
Before this central assignment, he was working as Additional Commissioner in the Delhi Region, overseeing critical functions related to tax administration and compliance.
About the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS)
The Central Staffing Scheme is a key mechanism that allows officers from the All India Services and various Central Services to be deputed to positions in the Government of India. The system aims to promote cross-service collaboration, strengthen governance, and ensure efficient policy implementation across ministries.
In essence, these new appointments highlight the Centre’s ongoing efforts to deploy experienced officers in vital policy domains such as energy and cooperative development, ensuring strong administrative leadership in sectors critical to India’s economic and social progress.
