Major Secretary-Level Reshuffle Announced, Includes New Appointments for Defence, DoPT, MoHUA, and DFS

Major reshuffle of Secretaries at Centre was announced in a recent Development.

1. Vivek Joshi (IAS: 1989: HY) was appointed as Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT). He replaces Radha S Chauhan (Retd IAS: 1988: UP). Currently Joshi is Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS).

1. Rajesh Kumar Singh (IAS: 1989: KL) will succeed Defence Secretary Aramane Giridhar (lAS:  1988: AP) upon completion of his tenure on 31.10.2024. In the meanwhile Singh has been appointed as OSD in Ministry of Defence. Currently, he is Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). His tenure in service was also extended beyond retirement age and for a period up to 31.10.2026 or until further orders.
2. Katikithala Srinivas (IAS: 1989: KL) was appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Currently, Sriniwas is Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs. He replaces his batchmate Manoj Joshi (IAS: 1989: KL).
3. Nagaraju Maddirala (IAS: 1993: TR) was appointed as Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) in the Ministry of Finance vice Vivek Joshi (lAS: 1989: HY). Currently, Nagaraju is Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal.
4. Prashant Kumar Singh (IAS: 1993: MN) will succeed Bhupinder Singh Bhalla (lAS: 1990: AGMUT) as Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy upon his superannuation on 30.09.2024. In the meanwhile he has been appointed as OSD in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Currently, PK Singh is CEO Government e-Marketplace Special Purpose Vehicle, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
5. Chandra Sekhar Kumar (IAS: 1992: OR) was appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs vice K atikithala Srinivas. Currently, Kumar is Special Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
6. Manoj Govil (IAS: 1991: MP) was appointed as Secretary, Department of Expenditure vice Dr TV Somanathan. Currently, Govil is Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
7. Vandana Gurnani (IAS: 1991: KN), presently in the cadre, was appointed as Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat. She replaces PK Tripathi (Retd IAS: 1987: AGMUT).
8. Neelam Shammi Rao (IAS: 1992: MP) was appointed as Secretary, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India. Currently, she is Central Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees’ Provident Fund Organization, Ministry of Labour and Employment.
9. Punya Salila Srivastava (IAS: 1993: AGMUT) will succeed Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra (lAS: 1988: MH) upon his superannuation on 30.09.2024. In the meanwhile she has been appointed as OSD, Department of Health and Family Welfare. Currently, she is Special Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office.
10. Sanjeev Kumar (IAS: 1993: MH) was appointed as Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. Currently, he is Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI).
11. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee (IAS: 1993: MP) was appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Currently, she is CEO, National Health Authority. She replaces Manoj Govil.
12. Deepti Umashankar (IAS: 1993: HY) was appointed as OSD to the President of India in the rank and pay of Secretary (GoI). She will take over as Secretary to the President of India vice Rajesh Verma (lAS: 1987: OR) upon his superannuation on 31 .08.2024. Currently, she is Establishment Officer & Additional Secretary in DOPT.
13. Sukriti Likhi (IAS: 1993: HY) will succeed Mukhmeet Singh Bhatia (lAS: 1990: JH) as Chairperson, National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NCWAC) upon his retirement on 30.09.2024. She has been appointed as OSD in NCWAC in the rank and pay of Secretary Govt of India. Currently, she is Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser in Ministry of Steel.
14. Amardeep Singh Bhatia (IAS: 1993: NL) replaces RK Singh (IAS: 1989: KL) as Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Currently, he is Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce.
15. Ashok Kumar Kaluaram Meena (IAS: 1993: OR) will succeed Vini Mahajan (lAS: 1987: PB) upon her superannuation on 31.10.2024. In the meanwhile Meena has been appointed as OSD in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Currently, he is CMD, Food Corporation of India (FCCI).
16. Pankaj Kumar Mishra (IRS IT: 1989), presently in the cadre, was appointed as Member Finance, Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Atomic Energy in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India.
17. A Neeraja (IFoS: 1990: UP) will succeed Ashish Upadhyaya (lAS: 1989: MP) as Secretary, National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) upon his superannuation on 30.09.2024. In the meanwhile she has been appointed as OSD National Commission for Backward Classes in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Govt of India. Currently, she is Special Secretary, Department of Fertilizers.

In addition, two senior IAS officers were elevated (in-situ) to the level of Special Secretary in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Govt of India by temporarily upgrading the posts held by them: They are;

1. Sunil Paliwal (IAS: 1993: TN) Chairperson, Chennai Port Trust as Chairperson.
2. Vikram Dev Dutt (IAS: 1993: AGMUT) DG, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation.