Two Senior Bureaucrats — IAS Officer Amod Kumar and IDAS Officer Brajesh Kumar Pandey — Sent Back to Parent Cadres Ahead of Schedule on Personal Grounds
DoPT Sanctions Premature Repatriation with Extended Cooling-Off Clause
In a notable administrative development, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has cleared the early repatriation of two senior officers serving on central deputation — Amod Kumar (IAS:1995:UP) and Brajesh Kumar Pandey (IDAS:2006) — citing personal reasons. The decision, however, comes with the stipulation of an extended cooling-off period for both officers before they can be considered for future central assignments.
Amod Kumar Returns to Uttar Pradesh Cadre
A 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service officer belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Mr. Amod Kumar has been relieved from his current role as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and repatriated to his parent state.
As per the DoPT’s order issued on October 27, 2025, the competent authority approved his return on personal grounds.
Mr. Kumar had joined the Centre in December 2021 as Deputy Director General, UIDAI, for a five-year tenure. He was subsequently appointed as Joint Secretary in MeitY in June 2025, with his term officially scheduled to continue until December 12, 2026. However, he has now been relieved nearly a year earlier than expected.
Brajesh Kumar Pandey Repatriated from Central Information Commission
In a separate directive, the DoPT has also permitted the premature repatriation of Mr. Brajesh Kumar Pandey (IDAS:2006), who had been serving as Joint Secretary (Director-level) at the Central Information Commission (CIC).
Mr. Pandey, an officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service, was appointed to the CIC on September 15, 2021, for a tenure of five years. However, he is being relieved almost a year before the completion of that term.
The official order confirms that his return to the parent cadre has been sanctioned on personal grounds and is likewise bound by an extended cooling-off condition.
What the ‘Cooling-Off Period’ Means in Bureaucratic Terms
Under central deputation norms, an officer must ordinarily serve a minimum three-year stint in their parent cadre before being eligible again for deputation to the Centre.
When an extended cooling-off is imposed, it effectively lengthens this period, requiring the officer to serve beyond the standard term before any future central assignment can be considered.
Broader Implications of the Move
Both officers have been associated with key administrative and policy roles in their respective ministries. Their early return adds to a recent pattern of senior civil servants opting to move back to their state cadres due to personal considerations or cadre requirements.
The official repatriation orders have been issued by the Department of Personnel and Training and duly communicated to the concerned ministries and state governments for execution.
