ACC approves appointment of 20 officers as Joint secretaries, equivalent level posts

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Friday (July 24, 2026) approved the appointment of 20 officers as Joint Secretaries and Joint Secretary-equivalent level officers in various Ministries, Departments and organisations of the Government of India.

The appointments are as follows:

1. Avanish Kumar Mishra (ISS:2000) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, from the date of assumption of charge of the post, for an overall tenure of five years up to November 18, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
2. Abhijit Phukon (IFS:2004) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for a tenure of five years, vice Neha Verma (IFoS:2005).
3. Anish Kumar (IRSE:2001) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy for a combined tenure of seven years up to May 23, 2028, or until further orders.
4. Satish Kumar (IRSEE:2002) has been appointed as Coal Controller (JS level) in the Office of the Coal Controller under the Ministry of Coal for a combined tenure of seven years up to June 10, 2029, vice Sajeesh Kumar N (IRTS:2002).
5. M Imkongla Jamir (IAS:2002:KN) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs for a tenure of five years, vice Shashi Kumar Verma (IRSS:1995).
6. Sumit Garg (IRSEE:2002) has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for a combined tenure of seven years up to August 31, 2029.
7. Ashutosh Jain (ITS:1993) has been appointed as CMD, National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation (NHFDC) under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for a tenure of five years, vice Naveen Kumar Shah (IFoS:2000:JK).
8. Pravin Laxminarayan Agrawal (IFoS:1994:TR) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare up to the date of his superannuation on June 30, 2028, vice Ajay Kumar (IP&TAFS:1993).
9. Divesh Sehara (IAS:2005:BH) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services for a tenure of five years, vice Sanjay Lohiya (IAS:1994:AM).
10. Saurabh Kumar (IAS:2009:CG) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services for a combined tenure of five years up to June 22, 2030.
11. Gunjan Krishna (IAS:2004:KN) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries for a tenure of five years, vice Sagar Mehra (CSS).
12. Tejpartap Singh (IRTS:1999) has been appointed as Executive Director, Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the Department of Food & Public Distribution up to the date of his superannuation on November 30, 2030.
13. Kartikaye Mathur (IA&AS:2004) has been appointed as Adviser (JS level), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs for an overall tenure of five years up to September 25, 2028.
14. Kumar Ravi Kant Singh (IAS:2008:UP) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs for an overall tenure up to June 1, 2027, vice Kuldip Narayan (IAS:2005:BH).
15. Neha Verma (IFoS:2005:UD) has been appointed as Principal Commissioner (JS level), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs for an overall tenure of seven years up to January 19, 2029, vice Vipul Aggarwal (IPS:2001:GJ).
16. Sudhir Shyam (IES:1999) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Investment & Public Asset Management (DIPAM) for a tenure of five years or up to the date of his superannuation on August 31, 2031, vice Manoj Kumar (IRS-IT:1994).
17. Kuldip Narayan (IAS:2005:BH) has been appointed as Adviser (JS level), NITI Aayog for an overall tenure of eight years up to September 1, 2027, vice Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha (IRTS:1993).
18. V. Lalithalakshmi (IAS:2008:WB) has been appointed as Professor (JS level), Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) under the Department of Personnel and Training for a combined tenure of seven years up to February 28, 2029.
19. Satya Pal Kumar (IRS-IT:2005) has been appointed as Director (JS level), Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) under the Department of Revenue for a tenure of five years, vice Pankaj Kumar Mishra (IRS-IT:1989).
20. Sajeesh Kumar N (IRTS:2002) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for an overall tenure of five years up to December 21, 2028, vice Sanjay Chilwarar (IRSSE:1997).