New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved 27 appointments of officers at the Joint Secretary or equivalent level across various Central Government ministries, departments and organisations. The appointments were notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in an order.
The appointments cover several key areas, including health and family welfare, home affairs, corporate affairs, culture, urban development, road transport and highways, water resources, and social justice. The order also includes appointments to organisations such as the National Health Authority (NHA), National Testing Agency (NTA), NITI Aayog, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Food Corporation of India (FCI), and the Election Commission of India.
Most appointments will take effect from the date the officers assume charge of their respective posts. The order specifies different tenure periods, generally five years, with some appointments carrying a seven-year combined tenure or a defined tenure ending on a specified date.
List of Officers Appointed to Joint Secretary-Level Posts:
Brijesh Panday, IAS (TR:2004), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Capital Development for a tenure of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will succeed Thara D, IAS (GJ:1995).
Nikhil Varma, IRS (IT:2005), has been appointed Additional Director General of Foreign Trade (Addl. DGFT) in the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Delhi, under the Department of Commerce. He will replace Vrunda Manohar Desai, IRS (IT:2003), for a tenure of five years or until further orders.
Tanvi Sundriyal, IAS (MP:2010), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for a combined tenure up to August 25, 2030, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Rahul Jain, IAS (MP:2005).
Inderjeet Singh, IAS (RJ:2010), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture for a combined tenure up to August 26, 2030. He will succeed Amita Prasad Sarbhai, IRAS (1993).
Prakash Rajpurohit, IAS (RJ:2010), has been appointed Deputy Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India for a combined tenure up to April 8, 2030. He will replace Sanjay Kumar, IAS (AGMUT:2008).
Tamboli Ayyaj Fakirbhai, IAS (CG:2009), has been appointed Executive Director at the Joint Secretary level in the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), under the Department of Financial Services. His appointment carries a combined tenure up to March 20, 2029.
Rajesh Malik, IRSME (1994), has been appointed Executive Director in the Food Corporation of India (FCI), New Delhi, under the Department of Food and Public Distribution. His overall tenure will run up to February 5, 2029. He will succeed Ashutosh Joshi, IA&AS (1994).
Appointments in Health, Education and Home Affairs:
Mohammed Y Safirulla K, IAS (KL:2010), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare for a combined tenure up to August 27, 2030. He will replace Nikhil Gajraj, IAS (HY:2008).
Ritu Sharma, IRS (IT:2005), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare for a tenure of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Vandana Jain, CSS.
Varnali Deka, IAS (AM:2009), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the National Health Authority (NHA), under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, for a combined tenure up to August 28, 2030. She will replace Jyoti Yadav, IAS (UD:2009).
More Ashish Madhaorao, IAS (UT:2005), has been appointed Additional Chief Executive Officer (Addl. CEO) at the Joint Secretary level in the National Health Authority. His tenure will run up to June 15, 2030. He will succeed Madhu Rani Teotia, IAS (UT:2008).
Vivek Khare, ITS (1996), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the National Testing Agency (NTA), under the Department of Higher Education, for an overall tenure up to December 2, 2029. The appointment involves the temporary upgradation of a newly created Deputy Secretary/Director-level post to Joint Secretary level for an initial period of two years.
The ACC has also approved four appointments in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Ravi Shanakar, IAS (GJ:2007), will serve as Joint Secretary for a combined tenure up to July 31, 2028, succeeding M Ramachandrudu, IAS (BH:2009).
Chittaranjan Dash, IRS (UT:1999), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs for an overall tenure up to January 11, 2028. He will replace Praveen Kumar Rai, IDAS (2003).
P Manoj Kumar, ISS (1998), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs for an overall tenure up to December 1, 2027, succeeding Parthasarathi Gurrala, CSS.
Abhishek Bhagotia, IAS (AM:2007), has also been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. His appointment carries a combined tenure up to April 3, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will replace Nishtha Tiwari, IRS (IT:2005).
Appointments in Legal Affairs, NITI Aayog and Other Departments:
Navin Agarwal, IRPS (1997), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Legal Affairs for an overall tenure up to March 14, 2027. He will succeed Ajay Gupta, IRSS (1993).
M Ramachandrudu, IAS (BH:2009), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Minority Affairs for a combined tenure up to August 26, 2029. He will replace Ram Singh, IAS (AM:2008).
Sonia Pant, IES (2001), has been appointed Adviser at the Joint Secretary level in NITI Aayog for a tenure of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will succeed Surender Mehra, IFoS (UD:1999).
Nitin Kumar, CSS, has been appointed Additional Secretary at the Joint Secretary level in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), under the Department of Personnel and Training. His tenure will be five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will replace Ajay Kumar Kanoujia, CSS.
C. Murugan, IAS (WB:2007), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for a combined tenure up to September 15, 2030. He will succeed Kamlesh Chaturvedi, IFoS (MP:1988).
Rajneesh Kumar Tomar, IRSME (1998), has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Joint Secretary level of National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. His overall tenure will run up to November 2, 2030. He will replace Rajesh Malik, IRSME (1994).
Nishtha Tiwari, IRS (IT:2005), has been appointed CEO at the Joint Secretary level of the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs), under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. Her tenure will run up to December 9, 2027. She will succeed Apparao Veerelli, IRSS (1993).
Manisha Trighatia, IAS (UP:2002), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Urban Development for a tenure of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. She will replace Roopa Mishra, IAS (OD:2004).
Avinash Jain, IRSE (Civil:2001), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation for an overall tenure up to February 6, 2029. He will succeed Subodh Yadav, IAS (KN:1999).
Pawan Kumar, IRS (C&IT:2005), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, for a tenure of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will replace Anand Mohan, IFoS (RJ:1996).
Anita Shah Akella, IA&AS (1996), has been appointed Joint Secretary in the National Commission for Women (NCW), under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, for an overall tenure up to May 25, 2027. She will succeed Radhika Chakravarthy B, IPoS (1996).
The order was issued by Manisha Saxena, Secretary of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and Establishment Officer, on October 10, 2026.
