The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Kundan Kumar Mishra for appointment as Director (Finance) of MMTC Limited. The recommendation was made after interviews conducted by the board on March 18, 2026.
Mishra is currently serving as Additional General Manager at NTPC Limited. His name will now be forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval, subject to vigilance clearance and completion of other formalities.
If approved, he will succeed Anoopa Sankarankutty Nair, who has been holding additional charge of the post since June 10, 2025. She was given the charge after the then incumbent KK Gupta completed his five-year tenure in March 2025.
The following 4 applicants were interviewed in the selection meeting :
Kamalakanta Nayak, Additional General Manager ( CFO, NTPC Sail Power Co. Limited ), NTPC Limited
Kundan Kumar Mishra, Additional General Manager, NTPC Limited
Anju Thakur, Executive Director (Finance), Corporate Accounts and Taxation, Housing & Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO)
Sunil Kumar, Chief Manager (Finance), Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited
The central deputation tenure of ABS Shalini (IRS-IT:2010) as Director in the Department of Consumer Affairs has been prematurely repatriated to her parent cadre. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (March 19, 2026), the competent authority has approved proposal the proposal of D/o Consumer Affairs to repatriate her prematurely to her parent cadre on personal grounds with the provision of extended cooling off.
ABS Shalini had been serving in the Department of Consumer Affairs since March 2023. Her tenure of four years was originally scheduled to continue till March 2027. However, she has been repatriated nearly a year ahead of the completion of her tenure.
IRS officer Farah Zachariah (IRS-C&IT:2015), who was recommended for central deputation by the Department of Revenue, has been selected for appointment as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Delhi, four years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (March 20, 2026), the competent authority has approved her appointment to the post under the central staffing scheme for four years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Presently, she is serving in the parent cadre as Joint Commissioner, CGST, Central Excise & Customs.
IAS officer Krishna Bajpai (IAS:2010:KN) has been appointed as Director in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Delhi, for a period of five years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (March 20, 2026), the competent authority has approved his appointment to the post under the central staffing scheme for five years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Presently, he is serving in the parent cadre Karnataka as Managing Director, Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM).
IAS officer Neha Giri (IAS:2010:RJ) has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Delhi, for a period of five years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (March 20, 2026), the competent authority has approved her appointment to the post under the central staffing scheme for five years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Presently, she is serving in the cadre as State Mission Director, Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad (Rajeevika).
IAS officer Arindam Chaudhary (IAS:2014:HP) has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Steel, Delhi, for a period of four years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (March 20, 2026), the competent authority has approved his appointment to the post under the central staffing scheme for four years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Presently he is serving in the cadre as Director (Personnel and Finance), Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL).
Rubina Ali (CSS) has been appointed Joint Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.
An order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on Monday (March 16, 2026) said the appointment has been made with immediate effect. She has been shifted on a lateral basis. She will continue in the post till December 31, 2026, which is her date of retirement, or until further orders.
Before this, Rubina Ali was serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. She had been working there since March 2019. Her initial five-year term was later extended by two years. The extended tenure ended on March 10, 2026.
IAS officer Ajay Kumar (IAS:2006:GJ), who is now serving as Secretary to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, has been given relief from the extended cooling-off period. An order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on March 16, 2026 said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Gujarat government. The Centre has relaxed the extended cooling-off condition after his early return to the state.
Ajay Kumar was on central deputation from August 2, 2019. His five-year term was to end in August 2024. It was later extended in July 2024 till August 2026. But he was sent back to Gujarat in November 2025, before completing the extended term.
As per rules, IAS officers at Joint Secretary level have to complete a three-year cooling-off period in their cadre before going on central deputation again. Since he returned early, his cooling-off period would have increased by around nine months.
Now, with this relaxation, he will not have to wait for the extra period. He will be eligible for future central postings without that delay.
The journey of becoming an IAS officer is never easy, but some individuals achieve this milestone at a very young age. When we talk about the youngest IAS officers in India, one name that stands out is Ansar Shaikh, who made history with his incredible achievement.
Who is the Youngest IAS Officer in India?
Ansar Shaikh is widely known as the youngest IAS officer in India. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2016 at just 21 years of age and secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 361.
Coming from Jalna district in Maharashtra, Ansar’s journey was not easy. He belonged to a financially weak background, but his strong determination and focus helped him overcome all challenges. His success proves that age and background cannot stop someone who is truly dedicated to their goal.
Ansar Shaikh’s Success Story
Ansar Shaikh’s story is one of hard work and persistence. Despite financial struggles, he never gave up on his dream of becoming an IAS officer. He prepared with full dedication and made smart choices during his preparation.
He chose Marathi as his medium for the UPSC Mains exam and interview, and Political Science as his optional subject. His strategy, combined with consistent effort, played a key role in his success.
He also received support from friends and his coaching institute, which helped him stay motivated during difficult times. His journey is a perfect example of how the right mindset and support system can lead to success.
Why IAS Officers Inspire Aspirants
Stories of the youngest IAS officers in India inspire thousands of students every year. They show that:
Age is not a barrier to success
With the right planning, goals can be achieved early
Hard work and consistency always pay off
Ansar Shaikh’s achievement especially motivates young aspirants to start early and stay focused on their goals.
Youngest Female IAS Officers in India
When discussing the youngest IAS officers in India, it is important to highlight female achievers as well.
Tina Dabi became one of the youngest IAS officers at the age of 22 after securing AIR 1 in 2015. She later served as District Collector in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Smita Sabharwal, from the 2001 batch, also achieved success at a young age and is known for her excellent administrative work.
These women prove that success in civil services is not limited by gender. Their achievements continue to inspire many young girls across the country.
The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) has come out with conduct guidelines for newly selected civil service candidates outlining how they should behave both online and in public life. The Academy’s guidelines for newly recruited bureaucrats focus on discipline, integrity, and responsible use of social media from the very beginning of their careers.
As part of a modern code of conduct, candidates have been asked to give priority to institutional integrity over individual promotion. The Academy has also asked them to wear modest and sober clothing and refrain from using any intoxicants in public.
The LBSNAA, which trains India’s civil servants, sent detailed instructions to all 958 selected candidates, including 659 males and 299 women, after the announcement of the Civil Services Examination 2025 results on March 6.
By doing it, the Academy aims to discourage self-promotional or potentially harmful social media activity. While recognising the importance of digital platforms in administration, candidates have been advised to pause and reflect before posting so that misunderstandings and professional criticism can be avoided.
The guidance teaches them the importance of maintaining high moral standards in personal life. The Academy has said that understanding and following conduct guidelines is essential.
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