The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved new Joint Secretary-level postings across Environment, Fertilizers, Defence, Health, Home Affairs, Labour, and Land Resources, ensuring continuity of governance and administrative efficiency.
As per the approval of the ACC, the following appointments of officers at the level of Joint Secretary and equivalent, with pay fixed at Level 14 of the Pay Matrix:
Shri Girish Chandrashekhar Hosur, IFoS (Himachal Pradesh: 1996), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. His tenure shall commence after 27 April 2026, upon completion of the present incumbent’s term, and will continue up to the date of his superannuation on 31 October 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. This appointment has been made by temporarily upgrading a vacant DS/Director-level post in the Department to Joint Secretary level.
Shri Chaudhari Uday Gaurishankar, IAS (Maharashtra: 2010), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. His combined tenure shall extend for five years, up to 23 June 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. This appointment has been made by temporarily downgrading a vacant Additional Secretary post in the Ministry to Joint Secretary level.
Ms. Bandana Preyashi, IAS (Bihar: 2003), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Fertilizers. Her tenure shall be for five years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, succeeding Ms. Aneeta C. Meshram, IAS (Uttar Pradesh: 1996).
Shri Venkata Nagi Reddy Kovvuri, IDES (1998), has been appointed as Executive Director (General), Food Corporation of India (FCI), under the Department of Food and Public Distribution. His tenure shall extend up to the date of his superannuation on 30 September 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, succeeding Shri Sachindra Kumar Patnaik, IRSS (1997).
Shri Muthukumar Alagumuthu, IAS (Jharkhand: 2009), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare. His combined tenure shall extend for five years, up to 4 December 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, succeeding Ms. Ankita Mishra Bundela, IAS (AGMUT: 2001).
Shri Prabhakar, IAS (Sikkim: 2007), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare. His tenure shall be for five years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, succeeding Shri Vijay Nehra, IAS (Gujarat: 2001).
Shri Mahatme Sandeep Namdeo, IAS (Tripura: 2010), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. His combined tenure shall extend for five years, up to 9 May 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, succeeding Shri Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, IAS (AGMUT: 2001).
Shri Rakesh Rathi, IPS (Bihar: 2002), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. His tenure shall be for five years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, succeeding Shri Anant Kishore Saran, CSS.
Shri Karma R. Bonpo, IAS (Sikkim: 2010), has been appointed as Director of Census Operations (DCO) and Director of Citizen Registration (DCR) (JS level), Sikkim, under the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. His combined tenure shall extend up to 25 November 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. This appointment has been made by temporarily upgrading the post held by the officer from DS/Director level to Joint Secretary level.
Shri S. Tejaswi Naik, IAS (Madhya Pradesh: 2009), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment. His combined tenure shall extend for five years, up to 14 December 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Shri Shakil Alam, ES (2001), has been appointed as Additional CPFC (Headquarters), Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. His tenure shall be for five years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, succeeding Shri Bhaskar Choradia, IRAS (2000).
Shri Parikipandla Narahari, IAS (Madhya Pradesh: 2001), has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Land Resources. His tenure shall be for five years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, succeeding Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFoS (Himachal Pradesh: 1997).
