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The Central Government has approved an extension in the Central deputation tenure of Shri Rohit Kumar, IInspS (2009), who is currently serving as Director in the Department of Science & Technology. The extension, cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), will allow him to continue in the Central Government assignment beyond October 21, 2026, and up to March 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The decision has been communicated through an Office Memorandum issued by the Office of the Establishment Officer under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India. The memorandum, bearing File No. 23/4/2021-EO (MM-I), was issued in September 2026 from Kartavya Bhawan-3, New Delhi, following a proposal submitted by the Department of Science & Technology for continuation of the officer’s tenure.
According to the memorandum, the ACC has approved the proposal for extension of Shri Rohit Kumar’s Central deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme. His present tenure was scheduled to run until October 21, 2026, but the latest decision provides for his continuation in the Department of Science & Technology for several additional months. The extension will remain effective until March 31, 2027, unless the Government issues further orders before that date.
Rohit Kumar Has Been on Central Deputation Since October 2021
Shri Rohit Kumar, IInspS (2009), has been serving on Central deputation since October 22, 2021. His current assignment in the Department of Science & Technology has therefore placed him within the Central Government’s administrative framework for nearly five years, making the latest extension a continuation of an assignment that began in 2021.
The memorandum specifically records that the officer has been on Central deputation with effect from October 22, 2021. His continuation in the Department is now set to extend beyond the original tenure period, subject to the condition mentioned in the ACC approval that the extension will operate up to March 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Central deputation is an important mechanism through which officers from different government services are brought into the Union Government to work in ministries and departments on assignments that require administrative experience and specialised institutional knowledge. Such appointments also allow the Centre to utilise the experience of officers across different organisations while giving officers an opportunity to work directly within the wider policy and administrative structure of the Government of India.
In Rohit Kumar’s case, his continuation has been approved specifically under the Central Staffing Scheme. The decision follows a formal proposal from the Department of Science & Technology, which had requested an extension of his tenure through its Office Memorandum dated August 15, 2026.
Department of Science & Technology Sought the Extension
The DoPT memorandum refers to the Department of Science & Technology’s earlier Office Memorandum, No. A-12011/07/2021-Estt.I (E-36571), dated August 15, 2026. That communication formed the basis of the proposal placed before the competent authority for consideration of Rohit Kumar’s continued Central deputation.
Following consideration of the proposal, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension. The ACC’s approval is significant in matters concerning senior-level appointments and deputation in the Central Government, particularly where continuation beyond an existing tenure requires formal approval at the appropriate level.
The latest order does not indicate any change in Rohit Kumar’s designation. He will continue as Director in the Department of Science & Technology during the approved extended period. The extension has therefore effectively ensured continuity in the officer’s existing assignment rather than announcing a fresh posting or transfer to another department.
Tenure Extended Up to March 31, 2027
The approved extension begins after the completion of the officer’s existing Central deputation tenure on October 21, 2026. He will be permitted to continue beyond that date and up to March 31, 2027, unless an earlier decision is taken by the Government.
The phrase “or until further orders, whichever is earlier” is a standard condition in government orders of this nature. It means that March 31, 2027 is the maximum period specifically approved in the present order, but the assignment could conclude earlier if a subsequent government order provides otherwise.
For the Department of Science & Technology, the extension provides additional continuity at the Director level at a time when the department continues to handle responsibilities connected with the country’s science and technology ecosystem. The memorandum, however, does not specify any particular project or policy initiative as the reason for the extension.
Formal Communication Issued by DoPT
The Office Memorandum was issued by the Office of the Establishment Officer, Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, from Kartavya Bhawan-3 in New Delhi. The communication records the ACC’s approval and formally conveys the decision regarding the officer’s Central deputation.
The memorandum was addressed to the Department of Science & Technology, with Shri Umesh V Waghmare, Secretary, mentioned in the official communication. Copies of the order were also marked to several important offices and departments, including the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Secretariat and Department of Commerce.
The distribution list also includes the PS to Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, PSO to Secretary (Personnel), and officers in the Office of the Establishment Officer and concerned sections of the Department of Personnel and Training. This circulation ensures that the relevant government offices are formally informed about the extension.
What the Order Means for Rohit Kumar
With the ACC’s approval, Rohit Kumar will continue serving as Director in the Department of Science & Technology beyond October 21, 2026. His Central deputation, which commenced on October 22, 2021, will now continue through the extended period ending March 31, 2027, unless modified by a subsequent order.
The order is specifically an extension of tenure and does not announce a new role for the officer. It also does not indicate any change in his cadre or parent organisation. The official document simply records the approval for continuation of his Central deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme.
For now, the administrative position is clear. Shri Rohit Kumar, IInspS (2009), will remain Director in the Department of Science & Technology after the expiry of his existing tenure in October 2026, with the approved extension running until March 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
The decision reflects the Government’s formal approval to retain the officer in his present Central assignment and provides the Department of Science & Technology with continuity in the post for the extended period.
