New Delhi (22.08.2025): In a major administrative shake-up, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Friday cleared a sweeping reshuffle of more than a dozen Secretary-rank officers across various ministries and departments. The appointments, which include several officers on special duty (OSD) who will take charge upon the superannuation of the incumbents, are aimed at bringing new leadership to key positions in the Central government.
Here is a look at the key appointments:-
- Alka Upadhyaya (IAS: 1990: MP), currently the Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, has been moved to a new role as Secretary of the National Commission for Minorities, under the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
- Rajit Punhani (IAS: 1991: BH), who was recently appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, will now take over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). He replaces Ganji Kamala V Rao (Retd IAS: 1990: KL).
- Debashree Mukherjee (IAS: 1991: AGMUT) steps into Punhani’s previous role, becoming the new Secretary for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. She was previously the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation.
- Vijay Kumar (IAS: 1992: AGMUT), the current Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. He will succeed T. K. Ramachandran (IAS: 1991: TN) when he retires on September 30, 2025.
- V. L. Kantha Rao (IAS: 1992: MP) has been laterally shifted from the Ministry of Mines to the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, taking over from Debashree Mukherjee.
- Sukriti Likhi (lAS: 1993: HY) is the new OSD in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence. She will succeed Niten Chandra (IAS: 1990: OR), who superannuates on October 31, 2025.
- Ranjana Chopra (IAS: 1994: OR) has been appointed as OSD in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. She will take over from Vibhu Nayar (IAS: 1990: TN) on October 31, 2025.
- Naresh Pal Gangwar (lAS: 1994: RJ) has been named Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, replacing Alka Upadhyaya.
- Niraj Verma (lAS: 1994: AM) will be the new OSD in the Department of Justice, succeeding Raj Kumar Goyal (lAS: 1990: AGMUT) upon his retirement on August 31, 2025.
- Atish Chandra (lAS: 1994: BH) has been elevated to the rank of Special Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
- Piyush Goyal (lAS: 1994: NL) has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Mines, replacing V. L. Kantha Rao.
- Sanjay Garg (lAS: 1994: KL) is the new OSD for the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and will take over from Pramod Kumar Tiwari (lAS: 1991: AM) on October 31, 2025.
- Roli Singh (lAS: 1994: RJ) has been named Chairperson of the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention, replacing Sukriti Likhi.
- Trishaljit Sethi (lPoS: 1990) has been appointed as Secretary of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
