ACC Approves Major IAS Reshuffle: Vipin Kumar, Srikant Nagulapalli, Piyush Singh and 7 Others Get Key Central Government Appointments
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a series of senior-level appointments and administrative changes across several Union ministries and departments. The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on September 25, 2026, includes the appointment of IAS officers Vipin Kumar, Srikant Nagulapalli, Sarita Chauhan Chand, Anand Singh, P. Hemalatha, V. Ponnuraj, Piyush Singh, Mandeep K. Bhandari and Ankita Mishra Bundela to important positions in the Central Government.
The reshuffle also includes the appointment of Indian Economic Service officer Manisha Sensarma as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
The appointments cover several key administrative areas, including rural development, public expenditure, economic affairs, personnel management, steel, petroleum and natural gas, water resources, school education, higher education, and skill development. Some officers have been assigned new responsibilities in their respective ministries, while others will take charge of positions vacated by officers moving to different departments. The order also provides for the temporary upgradation of certain posts to facilitate appointments at the Additional Secretary level.
DoPT Issues Appointment Order on September 25
The official order, bearing reference number 36/02/2026-Eo(SM-I), was issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. Dated September 25, 2026, the order outlines the appointments approved by the ACC across various ministries and departments.
These changes are significant because they place experienced officers in positions that involve policy implementation, financial oversight, departmental administration and coordination of major government programmes.
The appointments also reflect the Centre’s ongoing exercise of assigning senior officers to responsibilities based on administrative requirements across different sectors.Here is a detailed look at the appointments and the responsibilities assigned to each officer.
Vipin Kumar Appointed Additional Secretary in Department of Rural Development
Shri Vipin Kumar, a 1996-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Rural Development under the Ministry of Rural Development. Before this appointment, he was serving as Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
His appointment brings an experienced civil servant from the aviation sector into the rural development administration. As Additional Secretary, he will join the senior leadership responsible for overseeing departmental work and supporting the implementation of policies and programmes related to rural development.
The move also marks a shift from his existing responsibilities in the civil aviation sector to a department dealing with rural governance, development initiatives and the implementation of government schemes.
Srikant Nagulapalli Moves to Department of Expenditure
Shri Srikant Nagulapalli, a 1998-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance. He was previously serving as Director General of Hydrocarbons in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
His new assignment places him in a key department responsible for matters relating to public expenditure and government financial management. The Department of Expenditure plays an important role in examining expenditure proposals, overseeing financial rules and supporting the Centre’s efforts to maintain fiscal discipline.
With Nagulapalli moving to the Ministry of Finance, the position of Director General of Hydrocarbons will be filled by another senior officer, ensuring continuity in the administration of the petroleum and natural gas sector.
Sarita Chauhan Chand Appointed Financial Adviser in Ministry of Steel
Ms. Sarita Chauhan Chand, a 1999-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Steel. She was previously serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Her new role combines senior administrative responsibilities with financial oversight. As Financial Adviser, she will be associated with financial planning, expenditure management and related advisory functions within the Ministry of Steel.
The appointment brings an officer with experience in administrative reforms and public grievance management into a ministry responsible for the country’s steel sector. The role of a Financial Adviser is particularly important in ensuring that financial proposals, expenditure decisions and budget-related matters receive appropriate scrutiny.
Anand Singh Appointed Additional Secretary in Department of Economic Affairs
Shri Anand Singh, a 2000-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.
His appointment places him in one of the Centre’s principal departments dealing with economic policy and financial matters. The Department of Economic Affairs handles a wide range of responsibilities connected with economic management, financial sector policy, macroeconomic developments and the preparation of the Union Budget.
The ACC has also approved a specific administrative arrangement concerning Singh’s transition to the new position. The period between the completion of his foreign assignment and his assumption of charge as Additional Secretary will be treated as compulsory wait in the Department of Personnel and Training. This provision ensures that the intervening period is formally accounted for under the applicable administrative arrangements.
P. Hemalatha Appointed Additional Secretary in DoPT
Ms. P. Hemalatha, a 2000-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Before this appointment, she was serving as Development Commissioner of the Cochin Special Economic Zone under the Department of Commerce.
Her new assignment brings her into the department responsible for several central personnel management functions, including matters concerning civil services administration, cadre management, recruitment policy and service-related rules.
To facilitate her appointment, the ACC has approved the temporary upgradation of a vacant Joint Secretary-level post in the department to the Additional Secretary level. This administrative arrangement will allow the department to accommodate the appointment at the required seniority level.
V. Ponnuraj to Take Over as Director General of Hydrocarbons
Shri V. Ponnuraj, a 2000-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, has been appointed as Director General of Hydrocarbons in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. He will hold the position in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
Ponnuraj will succeed Srikant Nagulapalli, who has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance. The change is part of the broader set of appointments approved by the ACC on September 25.
The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons plays an important role in the administration and regulation of exploration and production activities in India’s oil and gas sector. Its responsibilities include matters related to the exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources, along with monitoring relevant contractual and technical aspects of petroleum operations.
The ACC has also approved that the period between the completion of Ponnuraj’s foreign assignment and his assumption of charge as Director General of Hydrocarbons will be treated as compulsory wait in DoPT.
Piyush Singh Appointed Mission Director of National Water Mission
Shri Piyush Singh, a 2000-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been appointed as Mission Director of the National Water Mission under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
He was previously serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power. In his new assignment, Singh will hold the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
The National Water Mission is one of the initiatives associated with India’s efforts to improve water management, promote water conservation and encourage the more efficient use of water resources. Its work involves coordination across different areas of water governance and the implementation of measures aimed at addressing water-related challenges.
Singh’s appointment shifts his responsibilities from the power sector to water resources management, an area requiring coordination among government departments, institutions and stakeholders.
Mandeep K. Bhandari Appointed CBSE Chairperson
Shri Mandeep K. Bhandari, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under the Ministry of Education.
According to the order, Bhandari is presently serving in his cadre. He will take charge of the CBSE leadership position in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India. The ACC has approved the temporary upgradation of the post to facilitate his appointment at the Additional Secretary level.
The CBSE is one of India’s principal school education boards, responsible for conducting examinations, prescribing curricula and carrying out several academic and administrative functions for affiliated schools. The Chairperson’s office is central to the board’s administration and coordination of its educational responsibilities.
Ankita Mishra Bundela Moves to Department of Higher Education
Ms. Ankita Mishra Bundela, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education.
Before the appointment, she was serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Her transfer places her in the higher education administration, where responsibilities include matters relating to higher educational institutions, academic development, policy implementation and coordination of government initiatives in the sector.
To facilitate her appointment, the ACC has approved the temporary upgradation of a vacant Joint Secretary-level post in the Department of Higher Education to the Additional Secretary level. The arrangement will enable the department to accommodate her at the designated rank.
Manisha Sensarma Appointed Additional Secretary in Skill Development Ministry
The ACC has also approved the appointment of Ms. Manisha Sensarma, a 1995-batch officer of the Indian Economic Service (IES), as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Sensarma is presently serving in her cadre. Her appointment will be facilitated by temporarily upgrading a vacant Deputy Secretary/Director-level post in the ministry to the Additional Secretary level.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is responsible for coordinating policies and programmes aimed at improving vocational training, developing workforce skills and promoting entrepreneurship. Its work is closely connected with efforts to enhance employability and equip individuals with skills relevant to changing labour market requirements.
Sensarma’s appointment adds an experienced economic service officer to the ministry’s senior administrative leadership. The temporary upgradation of the vacant post will allow her to assume responsibilities at the Additional Secretary level.
ACC Approves Administrative Arrangements for Transition Periods
Alongside the appointments, the ACC has approved an administrative provision concerning Anand Singh and V. Ponnuraj. The period between the completion of their respective foreign assignments and their assumption of charge in the newly assigned posts will be treated as compulsory wait in the Department of Personnel and Training.
The provision applies to Singh’s appointment in the Department of Economic Affairs and Ponnuraj’s appointment as Director General of Hydrocarbons. Both officers will move to their new responsibilities after completing their foreign assignments.
The order also specifies the distribution of official communications to senior government functionaries, including the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, secretaries to the President and Vice President, secretaries of both Houses of Parliament, Union government secretaries, concerned ministers and chief secretaries of all states.
The communication was issued under the signature of Manisha Saxena, Secretary to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and Establishment Officer. Copies were also marked to the Cabinet Secretariat, the Press Information Bureau, DoPT’s National Informatics Centre and other concerned offices for information and necessary action.
A Broad Administrative Reshuffle Across Key Ministries
The September 25 order brings together appointments across several important areas of the Central Government, from finance and rural development to education, water management, petroleum and skill development. It also involves changes in the senior leadership of the CBSE and the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons.
The reshuffle includes officers moving between ministries, officers taking charge of positions vacated by colleagues, and appointments supported by the temporary upgradation of existing posts. These arrangements are intended to facilitate the placement of senior officers at the required administrative level.
With the ACC’s approvals now formally communicated through DoPT, the concerned ministries and departments will proceed with the necessary administrative formalities for the officers to assume their respective responsibilities.
