Union Cabinet approves appointment of Joint Secretary level officers

Srinagar, Oct 25: The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India (GoI) has approved the appointments of 28 officers at the Joint Secretary level and equivalent. The appointments will be effective upon the assumption of charges by the officers.

As per the order, Chauhan Sarita Chand, IAS, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances. She will serve in this role for a tenure of five years, until April 25, 2028, or until further orders. She will take over from N.B.A. Rajput.

Deepak Agarwal, IAS, has been appointed as Managing Director (Joint Secretary level) at the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. His term will extend for five years, ending on October 11, 2027, or until further orders, replacing Rajbir Singh Panwar.

The order states that Rama Shankar Sinha will take on the role of Joint Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying until his superannuation on November 30, 2027, or until further orders. He will replace O.P. Chaudhary.

Monalisa Dash has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of AYUSH, with a five-year tenure up to October 11, 2026, or until further orders. She will replace Bishwajit Kumar Singh.

Kesang Yangzom Sherpa will join as Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce for a five-year term ending on October 14, 2025, or until further orders. She takes over from Indu C. Nair.

As per the order, Mohit Yadav has been appointed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Joint Secretary level in the Department of Commerce for a three-year term or until further orders, replacing Srikar K. Reddy.

Premjit Lal has been appointed Executive Director of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under the Department of Commerce, until his superannuation on June 30, 2028, or until further orders. He succeeds Rajat Agarwal.

The order states that Balamurugan D. will serve as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for a tenure of five years up to May 8, 2028, or until further orders, taking over from Manoj Pandey.

Garima Bhagat has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production, where she will serve for five years or until further orders, replacing Anurag Bajpai.

Niraj Kumar has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, with a five-year tenure or until further orders. He replaces Monalisa Dash.

Manmeet Kaur Nanda will continue as Joint Secretary in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities with an extended central deputation for one year beyond November 10, 2024, succeeding Rajesh Kumar Yadav.

Rajat Agarwal has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, for a five-year tenure until February 13, 2028, filling a vacant Joint Secretary position.

As per the order, Ved Prakash Mishra will join the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as Joint Secretary, with a five-year tenure up to March 31, 2026, through an upgraded Director position.

1. Shikha has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Food & Public Distribution, with a five-year tenure or until further orders, succeeding N. Gulzar.

Sangeet has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Food and Public Distribution until March 12, 2025, through an upgraded Director position.

Ravi Kumar has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries, serving a combined tenure of seven years up to January 10, 2026, following the cancellation of the previous appointment of Sudhanshu Panwar.

Raj Kumar has been appointed as Director (Finance) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with a five-year tenure or until further orders, taking over from Dhananjay Kumar.

The order issued by the Union Cabinet committee states that Praveen Kumar Rai has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, with a seven-year term until August 16, 2026, succeeding Ashish Kumar.

Rakesh Kumar Pandey has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs until May 13, 2025, replacing Shyamal Misra.

Rajesh Gupta has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, with a five-year term ending on April 15, 2026, succeeding Sumant Singh.

The order states that Ajoy Sharma has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment for a five-year term by downgrading an Additional Secretary position.

Dinesh Mahur will serve as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Mines until his superannuation on December 31, 2029, replacing Veena Kumar Dermal.

The order further states that P. Bala Kiran has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training for a five-year tenure ending on February 28, 2026, succeeding Rajat Kumar.

Anjan Kumar Mishra will serve as Secretary for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, with a five-year term or until further orders. He has replaced Vandana Sharma.

Mukesh Mangal has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways until his superannuation on November 30, 2028, succeeding Sushi Kumar Singh.

Gumeet Tej has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, with a five-year term or until further orders, replacing Balamurugan D.

Abhilasha Jha Misra has been appointed Member Secretary (Joint Secretary level) for the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) under the Department of School Education and Literacy, with a four-year term or until further orders, succeeding Kesang Yangzom Sherpa.

As per the order, Amit Nirmal has been appointed as Joint Secretary at the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for a five-year term, replacing K. Touthang, CSS.

Bhavna Saxena has been appointed CEO of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development for a five-year tenure ending on February 15, 2027, or until further orders.