ACC Approves Major Joint Secretary-Level Reshuffle; 21 Senior Officers Appointed Across Key Ministries and Departments
ACC Approves Major Joint Secretary-Level Reshuffle; 21 Senior Officers Appointed Across Key Ministries and Departments
In a major bureaucratic reshuffle aimed at strengthening governance and ensuring leadership continuity across crucial sectors, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of 21 senior officers at the Joint Secretary and Joint Secretary-equivalent level in various ministries, departments, and autonomous bodies of the Government of India.
The latest appointments cover a wide range of strategic and administrative sectors including Home Affairs, Defence Production, Commerce, Coal, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Health Research, Fisheries, Social Justice, Drinking Water and Sanitation, and institutional finance bodies.
The reshuffle is being viewed as part of the Centre’s ongoing
administrative restructuring exercise designed to place experienced officers in critical policymaking and implementation roles across the Union government.
Key Appointments in Cabinet Secretariat and Security
Among the important appointments, Deepa Chawla (IRAS: 1998) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Office of Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat. Her tenure will continue up to December 28, 2028. The position holds significance in matters related to high-level security coordination and sensitive administrative functions under the Cabinet Secretariat.
Major Changes in Coal, Commerce and Cooperation Ministries
Gopal Singh (IFoS: 2003, Bihar cadre) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal. The ministry plays a central role in India’s energy and mining sector reforms.
In the Department of Commerce, Amit Kumar (IAS: 2010, Jharkhand cadre) has been appointed as Joint Secretary with tenure extending up to May 4, 2030. His appointment comes at a time when India is focusing heavily on trade expansion, exports, and global market competitiveness.
Shiv Pal Singh (IFoS: 1997, Uttar Pradesh cadre) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation up to March 15, 2029. The ministry has gained increasing importance following the Centre’s push for strengthening the cooperative movement nationwide.
National Archives and Defence Sector Appointments
Neha Bansal (IAS: 2010, AGMUT cadre) has been appointed as Additional Director General, Records Management, in the National Archives of India, New Delhi. The role involves overseeing archival modernisation, records preservation, and digitisation initiatives.
In the strategic defence sector, Vijay Namdeorao Zade (IAS: 2002,
Punjab cadre) and Prakash Rajpurohit (IAS: 2010, Rajasthan cadre) have been appointed as Joint Secretaries in the Department of Defence Production. Rajpurohit’s tenure will continue up to April 8, 2030.
The Department of Defence Production is currently central to the government’s push for indigenous manufacturing and defence self-reliance under the “Make in India” framework.
Important Appointment in Home Ministry
M. Ramachandrudu (IAS: 2009, Bihar cadre) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs up to August 26, 2027. The ministry handles critical issues related to internal security, border management, disaster response, and Centre-state coordination.
Justice, Water and Scientific Ministries Strengthened
Ajay Kumar Nema (ITS: 1994) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Justice till his superannuation on July 31, 2030.
In the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, D. Senthil Pandiyan (IAS: 2002, Uttarakhand cadre) has been appointed as Joint Secretary. The department oversees implementation of major sanitation and drinking water schemes across rural India.
Sreenivasa Rao Gangi Reddy (IRPS: 2004) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, while Surabhi Rai (IFoS: 2005, AGMUT cadre) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Fisheries.
Health Research and Medical Administration Appointments
Manisha Saxena (IRS C&IT: 2000) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Health Research, a key institution involved in medical innovation, public health policy, and disease research.
Additionally, Vivek Kumar Daksh (IPoS: 2002) has been appointed as Senior Deputy Director General (Administration) in the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India’s premier medical research organisation.
Finance and Institutional Roles
In another key appointment, P. Praveen Siddharth (IRS-IT: 2001) has been named Member (Finance) in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), one of the country’s largest urban planning and housing bodies.
J. Saravanan (IRS-IT: 2005) has been appointed as Financial Adviser in the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Mumbai. KVIC plays a major role in promoting rural employment and traditional industries.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Appointments
The ACC has also approved several important appointments in rural governance sectors.
Amit Agarwal (IRSE Civil: 2002) and Palka Sahni (IAS: 2004, Bihar cadre) have been appointed as Joint Secretaries in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
In the Department of Rural Development, Jayasree M.G. (ISS: 1998) and S. Sasikumar (IFoS: 2002, West Bengal cadre) have been appointed as Joint Secretaries.
These departments are central to implementation of rural infrastructure, poverty alleviation, local governance, and village development programmes across India.
Social Justice Ministry Gets New Joint Secretary
Sandeep Rewaji Rathod (IAS: 2009, Tripura cadre) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment up to February 23, 2030.
The department is responsible for welfare programmes related to socially disadvantaged groups, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and marginalised communities.
The latest ACC reshuffle reflects the Centre’s continued emphasis on administrative restructuring and deployment of experienced officers in strategic governance positions. The appointments are expected to strengthen policy execution, inter-departmental coordination, and implementation efficiency across several critical ministries and national institutions.
