Centre Appoints IRPS Officer Nikhil Dhongari as Deputy Secretary in National Health Authority for Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
The Government of India has approved the central deputation of Shri Nikhil Dhongari, an Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer of the 2012 batch, who was earlier recommended by the Ministry of Railways for a posting under the Central Staffing Scheme. He has now been selected for the position of Deputy Secretary in the National Health Authority (NHA), where he will serve under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) within the Department of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.
According to the official communication, Shri Dhongari will assume charge of his new role from the date he takes over the office. His tenure as Deputy Secretary will remain co-terminus with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, meaning it will continue as long as the mission is operational. If required, his posting may further be extended up to the full permissible duration under the Central Staffing Scheme or curtailed earlier upon government orders.
The Ministry of Railways has been advised to relieve Shri Dhongari immediately so that he can assume his responsibilities in the National Health Authority without delay. The directive underscores the importance of timely joining for officers appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme.
The order also reiterates an important guideline issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), as circulated by the DoPT through Circular No. 3/4/2004-EO(MM-I) dated 17 August 2005. As per these instructions, any officer selected for a central deputation position must join within three weeks from the date of issue of the DoPT appointment order. Failure to do so will lead to the initiation of the debarment process, barring the officer from future consideration under the Central Staffing Scheme.
This appointment comes at a time when the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is expanding its digital health infrastructure across India, and the inclusion of experienced officers like Shri Dhongari is expected to strengthen its administrative and operational capacity.
