1994-batch officer Atish Chandra appointed Agri Secretary

An order to this effect was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday. Chandra's appointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Written by Harikishan Sharma

New Delhi | November 21, 2025 03:14 AM IST

2 min read

Atish Chandra appointed Agri Secretary, Atish Chandra appointed Agriculture Secretary, Agriculture Secretary, Atish Chandra, Indian express news, current affairs

Chandra was empanelled as the Secretary earlier this year.

THE CENTRE has appointed Atish Chandra, a 1994-batch Bihar-cadre IAS officer, as the new Agriculture Secretary. He will replace incumbent Devesh Chaturvedi, who is retiring next year on February 28.

An order to this effect was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday. Chandra’s appointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

According to the order, Chandra, who is currently serving as Special Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare with effect from February 1, 2026. He will take over as Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, upon Chaturvedi’s superannuation on February 28. Chaturvedi was appointed as the Agriculture Secretary in August last year.

Chandra was empanelled as the Secretary earlier this year.

The ACC also approved the appointment of Manoj Joshi, a 1989-batch Kerala-cadre IAS officer, as the new Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals. Joshi, currently serving as Secretary, Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development, will replace incumbent Amit Agrawal who has now been appointed as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications.

The Centre has also transferred Tourism Secretary V Vidyavathi, a 1991-batch Karnataka-cadre IAS officer, as the Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Srivatsa Krishna, a 1994-batch Karnataka-cadre IAS officer presently posted in his cadre, has been appointed as the new Tourism Secretary.

Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal, a 1992-batch Tamil Nadu-cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Mittal will replace Pankaj Jain, a 1990-batch Assam-cadre IAS officer, who has been appointed as Member Secretary, Eighth Central Pay Commission.

Sunil Paliwal, a 1993-batch Tamil Nadu-cadre IAS officer presently working as Chairperson, Chennai Port Trust, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Inland Waterways Authority of India, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

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Harikishan Sharma

Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister’s Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More

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