New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has cleared a series of high-level bureaucratic appointments across several Central ministries and departments, effecting a significant reshuffle in the senior administrative ranks of the Government of India.
According to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the ACC has approved the appointment of Manoj Joshi, IAS (KL:89), Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, as Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. He replaces Amit Agrawal, IAS (CG:93), who has been appointed Secretary, Department of Telecommunications.
V Vidyavathi, IAS (KN:91), currently serving as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
In another major move, Neeraj Mittal, IAS (TN:92), Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. He will take charge upon the superannuation of Pankaj Jain, IAS (AM:90), who is set to assume office as Member Secretary of the Eighth Central Pay Commission.
Following this transition, Amit Agrawal, IAS (CG:93), currently Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, succeeding Neeraj Mittal.
The ACC has also approved the appointment of Sunil Paliwal, IAS (TN:93), Chairperson, Chennai Port Trust, as Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The post has been temporarily upgraded to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India for this appointment.
Further, Srivatsa Krishna, IAS (KN:94), currently in the cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, vice V. Vidyavathi, who moves to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Additionally, Atish Chandra, IAS (BH:94), Special Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India. His appointment will be effective from February 1, 2026.
These appointments are part of the government’s periodic restructuring to ensure effective administration across key sectors including telecommunications, petroleum, social justice, tourism, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
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