Naresh Pal Gangwar, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, will continue to serve as Secretary Animal Husbandry. He was appointed as Higher Education Secretary after Vineet Joshi's transfer following Jantar Mantar protest.
However, Joshi was not relieved even after the transfer order. Now the government after reviewing the situation, has appointed Deepti Gaur Mukherjee (IAS: 1993: MP) as the Secretary Higher Education. She was serving as Secretary n the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Sushil Kumar Lohani (IAS: 1995: OR), who was to replace Gangwar as Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, has now been appointed as Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
The post of IWAI Chairman has been temporarily upgraded to the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India for Lohani.
Among another appointments, V. L. Kantha Rao (IAS: 1992: MP), who was serving as Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, has been moved as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Department of Official Language (Ministry of Home Affairs), in the rank and pay of Secretary. He will assume charge as Secretary upon the superannuation of Ansuli Arya (IAS: 1989: BH) on September 30, 2026.
Rao has been replaced by Archana Varma (IAS: 1995: AM) who was serving as Mission Director, National Water Mission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Sunil Paliwal (IAS: 1993: TN), transitioning from his tenure at the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, replacing Pallavi Jain Govil, who replaces Deepti Gaur Mukerjee as Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
