Centre Enacts Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle; Neeraj Mittal is New MoPNG Secretary

In a significant Secretary-level administrative reshuffle, the central government on Thursday (November 20, 2025) approved a series of high-level appointments and transfers of senior IAS officers across various ministries and departments.

Manoj Joshi (IAS::1989:KL), Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. He replaces Amit Agrawal (IAS:1993:CG), who has been moved to head the Department of Telecommunications.

Ms. V. Vidyavathi (IAS:1991:KN), currently Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Neeraj Mittal (IAS:1992:TN), serving as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. He replaces Pankaj Jain (IAS:AM:90), who is set to join as Member Secretary, Eighth Central Pay Commission.

Amit Agrawal (IAS:1993:CG) has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, shifting from the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

Sunil Paliwal (IAS:1993:TN), Chairperson of Chennai Port Trust, has been elevated to the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India as Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, by temporarily upgrading the post.

Srivatsa Krishna (IAS:1994:KN), currently serving in the cadre, has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, following the transfer of Ms. V Vidyavathi (IAS:1991:KN)

Atish Chandra (IAS:1994:BH), currently serving as Special Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. He will assume charge as OSD in the rank and pay of Secretary from February 1, 2026. He is scheduled to take over as Secretary after the superannuation of incumbent Devesh Chaturvedi (IAS:1989:UP) on February 28, 2026.