The Central government has approved the appointment of Akshay Tripathi, IAS (Uttar Pradesh:2014), as Private Secretary to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Tripathi will take up the Deputy Secretary-level assignment for a period of five years, subject to the conditions specified in the official appointment order.
The appointment has been cleared by the competent authority and communicated by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Office of the Establishment Officer. The order directs the Uttar Pradesh government to relieve Tripathi of his present duties immediately so that he can assume his new responsibilities at the Centre.
Akshay Tripathi to serve as Private Secretary to Jual Oram
According to the order, Tripathi’s appointment has been approved at the level of Deputy Secretary for a period of five years. His tenure will begin from the date on which he assumes charge of the post.
There are, however, multiple conditions attached to the appointment. His tenure will continue for five years from the date of assumption of charge, or on a co-terminus basis with the Minister, or until he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister, or until further orders, whichever occurs earliest.
This means that although the appointment carries an approved tenure of five years, it is linked to the Minister’s tenure and to Tripathi’s continuation as Private Secretary. The government can also issue further orders affecting the assignment before the completion of the five-year period.
Uttar Pradesh government asked to relieve officer immediately
The DoPT has specifically requested the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to relieve Tripathi of his existing responsibilities immediately.
The communication states that he may be relieved from his present duties with instructions to take up the new Central government assignment. This will allow the 2014-batch IAS officer to move from his state cadre responsibilities to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in New Delhi.
Tripathi belongs to the Uttar Pradesh cadre and is a 2014-batch IAS officer. His appointment as Private Secretary gives him a direct administrative role in supporting the Union Tribal Affairs Minister in the functioning of the ministry.
What the Private Secretary’s role involves
The position of Private Secretary to a Union Minister is an important assignment within the Central government administrative structure. Officers appointed to such positions generally assist the minister in managing official work, coordinating meetings and communications, tracking important matters and facilitating interaction with ministries, departments and other government authorities.
At the Deputy Secretary level, the officer is part of the ministerial office and works closely with the political executive and senior officials of the concerned ministry. The role can involve coordination on policy matters, parliamentary business, official correspondence and issues requiring inputs from different departments.
For Tripathi, the new assignment will place him in the administrative setup of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which is responsible for policies, programmes and welfare initiatives concerning Scheduled Tribes and tribal communities across the country.
Appointment comes at a key ministry
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has a broad mandate covering the social and economic development of tribal communities. Its work includes policy formulation, implementation of welfare programmes, coordination with state governments and monitoring initiatives aimed at improving education, livelihoods, infrastructure and other development indicators in tribal areas.
As Private Secretary to the Union Minister, Tripathi will be positioned close to the ministerial decision-making process. His responsibilities will involve supporting Jual Oram’s office and ensuring smooth coordination between the minister, ministry officials and other stakeholders.
The appointment therefore represents an important Central deputation assignment for the Uttar Pradesh cadre officer.
Appointment order issued by DoPT
The appointment was communicated through an official letter issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Office of the Establishment Officer, from Kartavya Bhavan-03, New Delhi.
The order bears reference number 4/22/2026-EO(MM-I) and is addressed to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow.
The communication was issued in August 2026 and conveys the approval of the competent authority for Tripathi’s appointment as Private Secretary to Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram.
The order was signed by Ajit Kumar Ranjan, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, who is listed as the concerned officer from the Establishment Officer’s office.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs asked to issue appointment notification
The DoPT has also sent a copy of the communication to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, addressed to Tanmay Kumar, Secretary.
The ministry has been requested to provide a copy of the formal notification appointing Akshay Tripathi as and when the notification is issued. This is part of the administrative process following approval of the appointment.
A copy has also been sent to Tripathi through the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, ensuring that the officer is formally informed through his parent cadre administration.
Five-year tenure with several conditions
The five-year tenure approved for Tripathi is subject to an important set of conditions. His assignment will commence from the date he assumes charge and can continue for five years, but it will automatically be linked to the tenure and functioning of the ministerial office.
The order specifies that the appointment will remain valid from the date of assumption of charge or on a co-terminus basis with the Minister, or until the officer ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister, or until further orders, whichever occurs earliest.
The co-terminus provision is particularly relevant for ministerial staff appointments. It means the officer’s tenure is not guaranteed for the full five years if the minister ceases to hold the office or if the officer is otherwise removed from the Private Secretary assignment.
Senior government offices informed
Copies of the appointment communication have also been circulated to several senior government offices. These include the Cabinet Secretariat, with Kavita Singh, Joint Secretary, named as the recipient.
The order has also been marked to the Minister of State for Personnel’s office, the Principal Staff Officer to the Secretary (Personnel), the Office of the Establishment Officer and other concerned desks within DoPT.
The Panel Desk (MM-I) and the relevant guard file have also been included in the official distribution.
Tripathi’s move from Uttar Pradesh to the Centre
The appointment marks a move for Akshay Tripathi from the Uttar Pradesh cadre administration to a Central government ministerial assignment in New Delhi. As a 2014-batch IAS officer, Tripathi has already accumulated over a decade of service and will now take up a role that involves close coordination with a Union Minister.
The DoPT’s instruction to relieve him immediately indicates that the government wants the officer to assume his new responsibilities without delay. His formal tenure, however, will begin only from the date he actually assumes charge of the Private Secretary post.
With the competent authority clearing the appointment, the next administrative steps involve his relieving by the Uttar Pradesh government, assumption of charge at the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and issuance of the corresponding appointment notification.
The latest move adds another senior IAS officer to the ministerial setup at the Centre and places a Uttar Pradesh cadre officer in a key coordinating role within the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
