ACC Clears Key IAS Appointments: Nivedita Shukla Verma Moves to DARPG, Chanchal Kumar Appointed I&B Secretary
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has sanctioned a set of important senior-level bureaucratic appointments aimed at strengthening administrative leadership across key ministries.
As per the official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on March 31, 2026, Ms. Nivedita Shukla Verma (IAS, Uttar Pradesh cadre, 1991 batch), who was serving as Secretary in the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has been reassigned to a crucial governance role.
She will now serve as Secretary in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). Alongside this responsibility, she has also been entrusted with the additional charge of Secretary in the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare, both functioning under the same ministry.
In another significant development, Shri Chanchal Kumar (IAS, Bihar cadre, 1992 batch), who was heading the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, has been appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
He takes over this role following the reassignment of Shri Sanjay Jaju (IAS, Telangana cadre, 1992 batch), who has been moved to serve as Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
These appointments reflect the government’s continued effort to ensure experienced leadership in critical administrative positions, facilitating smoother governance and policy execution at the highest levels.
