Mandeep K. Bhandari Appointed CBSE Chairman

Mandeep K. Bhandari, a 2001-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the AGMUT cadre, was appointed chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education on 25 September 2026. The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, and the post was temporarily upgraded to the rank and pay of an Additional Secretary to the Government of India.

Central Board of Secondary Education

The Central Board of Secondary Education is a national school education board under the Union Government of India. It conducts examinations and frames affiliation-related norms for schools across the country.

Indian Administrative Service and AGMUT Cadre

The Indian Administrative Service is one of the All India Services under Article 312 of the Constitution of India. The AGMUT cadre covers Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories, and officers of this cadre serve in multiple administrative postings across these regions.

Administrative Profile of Mandeep K. Bhandari

Before this appointment, Mandeep K. Bhandari served as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He has also served as Deputy Commissioner of Leh and Jammu, and as Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. He is an MBBS gold medallist.

Important Facts for Exams

• The CBSE is a statutory school education board under the Union Government of India.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approves several senior appointments in the Government of India.
• The AGMUT cadre includes Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories.
• The rank of Additional Secretary is a senior administrative level in the Government of India.

Recent CBSE Leadership Changes

Mandeep K. Bhandari replaced Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, who held additional charge of the CBSE chairperson post from 2 July 2026. The appointment made him the third officer to head the CBSE in less than four months.