(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has cleared a series of significant appointments and administrative reshuffles across various ministries and departments of the Government of India. The following changes have been approved:

– Meeta R. Lochan, IAS (MH:90), currently Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, has been appointed as Secretary, National Commission for Backward Classes, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. She will replace A. Neeraja, IFOS (UP:90), upon her superannuation on 31.05.2025.

– K Moses Chalai, IAS (MN:90), presently Secretary, Inter State Council Secretariat, will now serve as Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance.

– Manoj Govil, IAS (MP:91), Secretary, Department of Expenditure, will move to the Cabinet Secretariat as Secretary (Coordination), succeeding Vandana Gurnani, IAS (KN:91), who has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment.

– Rajit Punhani, IAS (BH:91), Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He replaces Atul Kumar Tiwari, IAS (KN:90), who retires on 30.06.2025.

– Ashish Srivastava, IAS (MP:92), currently Advisor in the Inter State Council Secretariat, takes over as Secretary of the same, replacing K Moses Chalai.

– Vumlunmang Vualnam, IAS (MN:92), Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been appointed Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, succeeding Manoj Govil.

– Nikunja Bihari Dhal, IAS (OR:93), currently in the cadre, has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, replacing Umang Narula, IAS (AGMUT:89), who retires on 30.06.2025.

– Rakesh Kumar Verma, IAS (PB:93), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti, has been appointed Director General, Indie International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, with a temporary upgrade of the post.

– Anuradha Thakur, IAS (HP:94), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has been named Officer on Special Duty, Department of Economic Affairs. She will succeed Ajay Seth, IAS (KN:87), as Secretary upon his superannuation on 30.06.2025.

– Rajesh Agarwal, IAS (MN:94), Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, is elevated as Special Secretary and will eventually take over as Secretary, Department of Commerce, succeeding Sunil Barthwal, IAS (BH:89), on 30.09.2025.

– Arvind Shrivastava, IAS (KN:94), Additional Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

– Vivek Aggarwal, IAS (MP:94), Additional Secretary, Department of Revenue, has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Culture.

– Santosh Kumar Sarangi, IAS (OR:94), Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

– Pallavi Jain Govil, IAS (MP:94), Director General of Hydrocarbons, will be appointed Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, replacing Meeta R. Lochan on 31.05.2025. Until then, she will continue in her current role with the upgraded rank.

– Nidhi Chhibber, IAS (CG:94), Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog, will take over as Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, succeeding Subrata Gupta, IAS (WB:90), on 31.05.2025.

– Samir Kumar Sinha, IAS (AM:94), Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, replacing Vumlunmang Vualnam.

– Hari Ranjan Rao, IAS (MP:94), Additional Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, will become Secretary, Department of Sports, replacing Sujata Chaturvedi, IAS (BH:89), upon her retirement on 30.06.2025.

In addition, the ACC has approved in-situ upgradation of the following officers to the level of Special Secretary:

– Rajesh Kumar Sinha, IAS (KL:94), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, has been upgraded as Special Secretary in the same ministry.

– Ranjana Chopra, IAS (OR:94), Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Culture, has been upgraded as Special Secretary & Financial Advisor.

Lastly, the tenure of Bharat Lal, IFOS (GJ:88) (Retd.), as Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission, has been extended for one year beyond 30.06.2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He will continue in this role on a contract basis under standard terms and conditions.