Cabinet Committee Approves 48 New Joint Secretary Appointments
Synopsis
In a significant move, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has greenlit the appointments of 48 officers to Joint Secretary positions across key ministries, enhancing governance and operational efficiency at the Centre.
Key Takeaways
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved 48 appointments.
Positions include Joint Secretaries in multiple ministries.
Key ministries involved are Defence, Agriculture, and Civil Aviation.
Appointees will receive pay at Level 14 of the pay matrix.
This move aims to enhance governance efficiency.
New Delhi, April 13 (NationPress) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has sanctioned the selection of 48 officials for positions equivalent to Joint Secretary across various ministries, including Civil Aviation, Defence, Agriculture, Home, Petrochemicals, Shipping, and Ports. These appointments come with a remuneration at Level 14 of the central government’s pay matrix.
This list features notable names such as Hardik Satishchandra Shah, IAS (GJ:2010), appointed as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (at Joint Secretary level), in the Prime Minister’s Office; Ms. Kajal, IAS (UP:2008), as Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade; Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, IAS (PB:2009), also as Joint Secretary in the same department; Priyanka Das, IAS (MP:2009), as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; and Shailesh Kumar Chourasia, IAS (MN:2007), as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence.
Kapil Meena, IAS (2010 batch), has been designated as Managing Director of the National Horticulture Board, under the Department of Agriculture; G Venkatesh, ICoAS (1997), as Joint Secretary in the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals; while Jawahar Packirisamy, IAS (J&K:2007), has been authorized as Chairman (Joint Secretary level) of the Marine Products Exports Development Authority, Department of Commerce.
Other appointments include Preeti Meena, IAS (TG:2010), as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence; Vinod Kumar, IRSME (1998), also as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence; and Ajeet Kumar Srivastava, IRAS (1999), as Additional Financial Adviser and Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence. Furthermore, Vipul Aggarwal, IPS (GJ:2001), has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region; Sakshi Mittal, IAS (J&K:2010), as Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs; and Laya Madduri, IAS (AM:2010), also as Joint Secretary in the same department.
Additional names include Vikas Singh, IAS (TR:2010), appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities; Girish Chandrashekhar Hosur, IFoS (HP:1996), also as Joint Secretary in the same department; Chaudhari Uday Gaurishankar, IAS (MH:2010), as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Bandana Preyashi, IAS (BH:2003), as Joint Secretary in the Department of Fertilisers.
Venkata Nagi Reddy Kovvuri, IDES (1998), has been appointed as Executive Director (General) of the Food Corporation of India, under the Department of Food and Public Distribution; Muthukumar Alagumuthu, IAS (JH:2009), as Joint Secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare; Prabhakar, IAS (SK:2007), as Joint Secretary in the same department; and Mahatme Sandeep Namdeo, IAS (TR:2010), as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Rakesh Rathi, IPS (BH:2002), has been designated as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs; Karma R Bonpo, IAS (SK:2010), as Director of Census; S Tejaswi Naik, IAS (MP:2009), as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment; Kulveer Singh Yadav, IOFS (2002), as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Mines; Anupam Kumar, IAS (BH:2003), as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; Harmit Singh Pahuja, IAS (MN:2010), as Joint Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training; Venkatesapathy S, IAS (KL:2009), as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; and Pankaj Kumar, IAS (UP:2002), as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Power.
Point of View
The recent appointments of 48 officers to Joint Secretary positions is a strategic step towards enhancing administrative efficiency. This move reflects a commitment to bolster governance across essential sectors, ensuring that the machinery of government operates smoothly in addressing the needs of the public.
NationPress
2 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of these appointments?
These appointments are crucial for enhancing operational efficiency in various ministries, ensuring effective governance.
Who are some notable appointees?
Notable appointees include Hardik Shah as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister and Preeti Meena in the Department of Defence.
What level of pay do these positions offer?
The appointed officials will receive remuneration at Level 14 of the Central government's pay matrix.
Which ministries are affected by these appointments?
Key ministries include Civil Aviation, Defence, Agriculture, Home, and Petrochemicals.
How many officers have been appointed?
A total of 48 officers have been approved for Joint Secretary or equivalent level positions.
