The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the following significant appointments and transfers, effective November 20, 2025:
1. New Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- Shri Neeraj Mittal, IAS (TN:92), Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications.
- He replaces Shri Manoj Joshi, IAS (KL:89).
- Mittal will continue to hold the post of Member Secretary, Eighth Central Pay Commission, until Shri Jain demits office to assume the charge.
2. New Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
- Shri Manoj Joshi, IAS (KL:89), Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, replacing Shri Neeraj Mittal, IAS (TN:92).
3. New Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
- Ms. V. Vidyavathi, IAS (KN:91), Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, has been posted as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
- She is replaced by Shri Srinivasa Krishna, IAS (TN:94), who is presently in the cadre as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.
4. New Secretary, Department of Chemicals & Fertilizers
- Shri Amit Agrawal, IAS (CG:93), Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
- He replaces Shri V. Vidyavathi, IAS (KN:91), upon her appointment as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
5. Other Key Appointments
- Shri Sunil Paliwal, IAS (TN:93), Chairperson, Chennai Port Trust, has been given the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India by temporarily upgrading the post to the Secretary level.
- Shri Atish Chandra, IAS (BH:94), Special Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, with the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India, effective 01.02.2026.
- He will take over as Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, from Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, IAS (UP:89), upon his superannuation on 28.02.2026.
