The government has carried out a major reshuffle of senior bureaucrats, moving officials across important ministries to strengthen leadership in key sectors.
Amit Agrawal, a 1993‑batch IAS officer from the Chhattisgarh cadre, has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). He was previously Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals and has held key roles, including heading the UIDAI and serving in the Ministry of Electronics & IT. Agrawal brings extensive experience in digital governance, policy-making, and technology management, skills seen as crucial for India’s telecom sector, which is expanding networks, promoting indigenous technology, and improving connectivity nationwide.
Neeraj Mittal, a 1992‑batch IAS officer (Tamil Nadu cadre), who has led the telecom department since September 2023, has been shifted to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) as Secretary. Mittal oversaw important telecom initiatives, including the rollout of nearly 1 lakh 4G sites by BSNL and efforts to develop India’s homegrown telecom technology stack.
Other notable moves include Manoj Joshi taking over the Department of Pharmaceuticals, V. Vidyavathi moving from Tourism to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, and Srivatsa Krishna becoming Tourism Secretary. Atish Chandra will assume charge as Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare from February 2026, while Sunil Paliwal becomes Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India at Secretary-level rank.
The reshuffle reflects the government’s effort to place experienced, sector-savvy officers in strategic positions to accelerate policy implementation and strengthen governance in areas such as telecom, energy, health, and infrastructure.
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