Amit Agrawal Appointed DoT Secretary

The central government has announced a significant reshuffle in senior administrative positions, with several key ministries receiving new leadership. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved a series of transfers and appointments aimed at strengthening governance across core sectors.

Leadership Change at Department of Telecommunications

Amit Agrawal, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications. He steps in to replace Neeraj Mittal, who has been overseeing the telecom department since September 2023.

New Roles in Petroleum and Pay Commission

Neeraj Mittal will now lead the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as Secretary. In his new role, he succeeds Pankaj Jain, who has been moved to the Eighth Central Pay Commission as Member Secretary. These changes reflect a broader administrative restructuring within the government.

Additional Movements Across Key Departments

Manoj Joshi, currently Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals. He replaces Amit Agrawal, who now takes charge of the telecom portfolio. Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary V Vidyavathi has been shifted to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Amit Agrawal belongs to the 1993 IAS batch from the Chhattisgarh cadre.
• Neeraj Mittal has shifted from the telecom department to the petroleum ministry.
• Pankaj Jain is now Member Secretary of the Eighth Central Pay Commission.
• Srivatsa Krishna has been appointed the new Tourism Secretary.

Future Transition in Agriculture Ministry

Srivatsa Krishna, a senior IAS officer from Karnataka, will now lead the tourism portfolio. Separately, Atish Chandra, serving as Special Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed Officer on Special Duty in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. He will assume full charge as Secretary after the retirement of the incumbent on February 28, 2026.