New Delhi, September 13, 2025 – In a significant move to strengthen administrative leadership, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has green light a comprehensive set of 35 appointments at the Joint Secretary or equivalent level, with remuneration aligned to Level 14 of the Pay Matrix.
These strategic postings, spanning critical departments from atomic energy and finance to disaster management and tribal affairs, aim to infuse fresh expertise and continuity into India’s governance framework. The decisions, effective from the date of charge assumption, underscore the government’s commitment to efficient policy implementation amid evolving national priorities like sustainable development, economic resilience, and public welfare.
The appointments reflect a balanced mix of seasoned Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, alongside specialists from services such as Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Central Secretariat Service (CSS). Most tenures are set for five years or until further orders, with some extended to superannuation dates to ensure long-term stability.
Notable among them is the dual assignment for Ms. Nidhi Pandey, highlighting inter-service mobility to address specialized needs.
Energy and Environment:
• Ms. Nidhi Pandey (IPoS, 1991) takes over as Joint Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy for a seven-year combined tenure until July 19, 2027, filling a vacancy by temporary downgrading.
• Shri Ashim Kumar Modi (IRS-IT, 2000) appointed as Joint Secretary & Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Coal for five years.
• Shri Tarun Kumar Pithode (IAS-MP, 2009) as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change until September 8, 2029.
Culture, Defence, and Water Resources:
• Ms. Meenakshi Jolly (CSS) as Additional Director General (JS level) at the National Museum under the Ministry of Culture until her superannuation on September 30, 2027.
• Ms. Avita Sinha (IRPS, 2003) as Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College (Department of Defence) for five years.
• Ms. Aishvarya Singh (IAS-SK, 2008) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation until February 5, 2026, focusing on vital rural sanitation initiatives.
Economic and Financial Oversight: • Shri Amit Singla (IAS-UT, 2003) to Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs for five years.
• Ms. Shalini Pandit (IAS-OD, 2001) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Financial Services for five years.
• Ms. Ekroop Caur (IAS-KN, 2001) handling fiscal controls as Joint Secretary in the Department of Expenditure for five years.
• Shri Krishna Kant Pathak (IAS-RJ, 2001) appointed to the Department of Fertilizers for five years, aiding agricultural productivity.
Home Affairs and Urban Development:
• Shri Arvind Khare (IDAS, 2000) as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs for five years.
• Shri Madhup Vyas (IAS-UT, 2000) as Executive Director of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) until March 27, 2030, enhancing India’s disaster preparedness.
• Shri Chetan P S Rao (IRS-IT, 2002) as Member (Finance) at the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for five years, crucial for the capital’s urban planning.
Legal, Justice, and Policy Think-Tank:
• Ms. Garima Singh (CSS) as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for five years.
• Shri Surosh Kumar (CSS) to Department of Justice until May 31, 2027.
• Shri Ajay Gupta (IRSS, 1993) and Shri Phool Chand Prasad (CSS) as Joint Secretaries in the Department of Legal Affairs, with tenures until August 31, 2026, and February 28, 2027, respectively—bolstering legal reforms.
• Ms. Archana Mittal (IRSME, 1996) as Adviser (JS level) at NITI Aayog for five years, driving policy innovation.
Personnel, Training, and Capacity Building:
• Another posting for Ms. Nidhi Pandey (IAS-MH, 2001) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Official Language for five years.
• Shri Sushil Kumar Patel (IAS-NL, 2009) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Personnel & Training until August 20, 2029, via temporary upgrade.
• Shri Dinesh Kumar Verma (CSS) as Secretary (JS level) at the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) until February 28, 2029.
• Ms. Chhavi Bhardwaj (IAS-MP, 2008) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Personnel & Training with additional charge as CEO of Karmayogi Bharat until July 17, 2027—pivotal for civil service skilling.
Health, Infrastructure, and Science:
• Shri Satyaprakash TL (IAS-HY, 2002) and Shri Aman Sharma (IPoS, 2002) as Joint Secretaries in the Department of Pharmaceuticals for five years each, supporting India’s pharma sector growth.
• Shri Shreeshail Malge (IRAS, 2002) as Joint Secretary & FA in the Department of Posts until February 26, 2029.
• Shri Chetna Nand Singh (IRSEE, 1994) to Ministry of Road Transport & Highways for five years, aiding infrastructure expansion.
• Shri Nishant Verma (IFoS-UD, 1999) as Joint Secretary at Anusandhan National Research Foundation (Department of Science & Technology) for five years, fostering R&D.
Social Sectors and Specialized Roles:
• Shri Harikishore S (IAS-KL, 2008) as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism for five years.
• Shri Rajamurugan Muthukalathi (IPS-MN, 1996) as Managing Director of TRIFED (Ministry of Tribal Affairs) until November 30, 2029, via temporary downgrading—empowering tribal economies.
• Ms. V Lalithalakshmi (IAS-WB, 2008) as Joint Secretary in the Vice President’s Secretariat until February 28, 2027.
• Ms. Shilpa Sachin Shinde (IAS-UT, 2006) as CMD (JS level) of WAPCOS under the Department of Water Resources for five years.
• Shri Sumant Narain (IA&AS, 2000) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Water Resources until January 2, 2028, via temporary downgrading.
• Shri Ajeet Kumar (IAS-MP, 2002) and Ms. Radhika Jha (IAS-UD, 2002) as Joint Secretaries in the Ministry of Women & Child Development for five years, advancing gender and child welfare programs.
• Shri Mansoor Hasan Khan (IDAS, 2002) as Joint Secretary & FA in the Department of Youth Affairs for five years.
These appointments, approved under the stewardship of Cabinet Secretary Manisha Saxena, who also serves as Establishment Officer, are expected to streamline operations in key ministries. By integrating domain experts, the reshuffle positions the bureaucracy to tackle pressing challenges like climate action, digital governance, and inclusive growth. Readers can track further updates on our portal for impacts on policy delivery. (Appointments effective from charge assumption; tenures subject to earlier relief or orders. Source: Official ACC Notification)
