IAS Prashanth Kumar CH Appointed Private Secretary to Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav; Himachal IAS Vivek Bhatia Joins Department of Youth Affairs as Director
The Central Government has strengthened its senior administrative setup by appointing two experienced Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers to important positions under the Central Staffing Scheme. In a fresh round of appointments approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), Bihar cadre IAS officer Prashanth Kumar CH has been appointed as the Private Secretary to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav, while Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS officer Vivek Bhatia has been selected as Director in the Department of Youth Affairs.
The appointments, notified through separate orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on July 23, 2026, reflect the Centre’s continued focus on bringing experienced officers from different state cadres into key policymaking and administrative positions. Both officers have built strong careers in public administration and are expected to play significant roles in their new assignments at the national level.
The latest decisions come as part of the regular process under the Central Staffing Scheme, through which officers from various state cadres are deputed to serve in ministries and departments of the Government of India. Such appointments are considered crucial because they allow the Centre to draw upon administrative experience gained across diverse regions and governance challenges.
Prashanth Kumar CH to Serve as Private Secretary to Bhupendra Yadav
Among the two appointments, Bihar cadre IAS officer Prashanth Kumar CH has been entrusted with a highly significant responsibility. The DoPT order states that the 2015-batch IAS officer has been appointed as Private Secretary to Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav at the Deputy Secretary level in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The appointment has been approved under the Central Staffing Scheme and will remain valid for five years from the date he assumes charge. It will also remain subject to the tenure of the minister, or continue until he ceases to function as Private Secretary or until further government orders are issued, whichever comes first.
The role of a Private Secretary to a Union Minister is considered one of the most sensitive assignments in the government. The position involves close coordination with the minister, handling official communication, facilitating policy-related discussions, monitoring important files, coordinating with ministries and departments, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the minister’s office.
With environmental governance becoming one of the government’s major priorities, Prashanth Kumar CH is expected to work closely with the ministry on a wide range of subjects including climate change, forest conservation, biodiversity, pollution control, environmental clearances and India’s global environmental commitments.
Strong Administrative Experience Behind the Appointment
Prashanth Kumar CH belongs to the 2015 batch of the Bihar cadre and was born on July 21, 1985. Academically, he holds an MBA degree, bringing both managerial and administrative expertise to his government career.
During his tenure in Bihar, he has served in several important administrative positions that have exposed him to education, election management, district administration and public governance.
His previous assignments include:
Project Director, Bihar Education Project Council
Additional Chief Electoral Officer
Chief General Manager
Director
Collector and District Magistrate
Assistant Secretary
Each of these roles added to his administrative experience across multiple sectors. Whether it involved managing large-scale education programmes, supervising election-related work, leading district administration or handling departmental responsibilities, Prashanth Kumar CH has steadily built a reputation as a capable administrator.
Interestingly, he had only recently assumed charge as Project Director of the Bihar Education Project Council on June 22, 2026. Barely a month later, he has now been selected for an important central assignment, highlighting the confidence reposed in his administrative abilities.
His transition from Bihar to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is expected to bring valuable field-level governance experience into the policymaking process at the Centre.
Vivek Bhatia Named Director in Department of Youth Affairs
In another significant order issued on the same day, the Central Government approved the appointment of Vivek Bhatia, a 2011-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, as Director in the Department of Youth Affairs.
Like Prashanth Kumar CH, Vivek Bhatia has also been appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme. His tenure will be five years from the date of assuming charge, or continue until further orders are issued by the government, whichever is earlier.
The DoPT has directed the Government of Himachal Pradesh to relieve him immediately so that he can join his new assignment at the Centre without delay.
The Department of Youth Affairs plays an important role in designing and implementing programmes aimed at empowering India’s young population. From youth development initiatives and leadership programmes to volunteer movements, skill enhancement and national integration activities, the department remains central to several flagship initiatives of the Union Government.
As Director, Vivek Bhatia is expected to contribute to policy formulation, programme execution, inter-ministerial coordination and administrative oversight related to youth-focused initiatives across the country.
Experienced Officer from Himachal Pradesh
Born on October 29, 1985, Vivek Bhatia has steadily built an impressive administrative career since joining the IAS.
He completed his Bachelor of Technology in Electronics from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) before entering the civil services, bringing a strong technical background into public administration.
At present, he is serving as Principal Private Secretary-cum-Special Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, Himachal Pradesh. He assumed this responsibility on October 9, 2024, and has been closely associated with the functioning of the Chief Minister’s Office, one of the most strategically important administrative positions in the state.
Before this assignment, Vivek Bhatia served in several key field and departmental roles that strengthened his administrative profile.
His earlier responsibilities include:
Deputy Commissioner
Director
Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO)
Assistant Commissioner
These assignments provided him with extensive experience in district governance, departmental administration, public service delivery and developmental planning. His move to the Department of Youth Affairs is expected to benefit from this diverse administrative exposure.
ACC Approval and DoPT Notification
Both appointments received the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), the highest authority responsible for approving appointments to senior positions in the Government of India.
Following the ACC’s approval, the Department of Personnel and Training issued the formal appointment notifications, making the postings official.
The Central Staffing Scheme continues to remain one of the most important mechanisms through which the Union Government inducts officers from various state cadres into central ministries. Officers selected under this process bring valuable experience from state administration, helping bridge the gap between policymaking and implementation.
Why These Appointments Matter
Appointments such as these are far more than routine administrative transfers. They place experienced officers in positions where they can directly influence policy coordination, programme implementation and governance at the national level.
For Prashanth Kumar CH, the assignment offers an opportunity to work closely with Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav at a time when environmental sustainability, climate resilience and ecological conservation are receiving increasing policy attention.
For Vivek Bhatia, the move opens the door to contributing to national youth policies that affect millions of young Indians through leadership programmes, volunteer initiatives, capacity-building projects and youth engagement campaigns.
Both officers carry substantial administrative experience from their respective state cadres. Their appointments also underline the Centre’s continued effort to leverage experienced civil servants for strategic roles across ministries where governance, coordination and policy execution require seasoned leadership.
As they prepare to assume their new responsibilities in New Delhi, the appointments of Prashanth Kumar CH and Vivek Bhatia mark another important step in strengthening the administrative framework of the Government of India through experienced and capable IAS officers.
