ACC Clears Fresh Bureaucratic Reshuffle, Names Additional Secretaries for Key Ministries

New Delhi, September 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Friday approved a fresh round of senior bureaucratic appointments, bringing new Additional Secretaries into key ministries and departments including Finance, Rural Development, Steel, Education and Power.

Airports Authority of India Chairman Vipin Kumar has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Rural Development.

Srikant Nagulapalli, a 1998-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance. He was earlier serving as Director General of Hydrocarbons in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Anand Singh, a 2000-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, following the completion of his foreign assignment. His appointment means the Finance Ministry will have two new Additional Secretaries.

Sarita Chauhan Chand, a 1999-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Steel. She will move from her current posting in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.

Ankita Mishra Bundela, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. She was earlier serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Other appointments approved by the ACC include:

• P. Hemalatha (IAS, KN:2000): Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, from her post as Development Commissioner, Cochin Special Economic Zone.
• V. Ponnuraj (IAS, KN:2000): Director General of Hydrocarbons in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary, succeeding Srikant Nagulapalli.
• Piyush Singh (IAS, MH:2000): Mission Director, National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, from his post as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power.
• Mandeep K. Bhandari (IAS, AGMUT:2001): Chairperson, Central Board of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education, in the rank of Additional Secretary.
• Manisha Sensarma (IES:1995): Additional Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, with the post temporarily upgraded.

The appointments form part of the latest senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle approved by the ACC.