Kapil Dev Tripathi named petroleum secretary

Kapil Dev Tripathi, an Indian Administrative Officer (IAS) officer of the Assam cadre (1980 batch), has been appointed secretary in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas. Tripathi, earlier secretary in the department of public enterprises, replaces Saurabh Chandra, an Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer (1978 batch).

Chandra, who retired on Thursday, was earlier though to be a contender for the post of Cabinet secretary. However, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth’s term was extended by six months in December; he is to retire on May 12. While Seth was given a year’s extension by the United Progressive Alliance government in 2013, its National Democratic Alliance counterpart gave him two extensions.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved the appointment of Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Union Territory (UT) cadre IAS officer (1980 batch), as secretary in the department of official language, ministry of home affairs. He will replace Nita Choudhury (UP cadre, 1977 batch), who has retired.

Shyam S Agarwal, a Rajasthan cadre IAS officer of the 1980 batch, has been appointed secretary, National Commission for scheduled tribes, ministry of tribal affairs. He replaces R Vijayakumar, a Tamil Nadu cadre IAS (1978 batch). Bihar cadre IAS officer Narendra Kumar Sinha has been appointed secretary, ministry of culture, replacing Ravindra Singh, who retired on Thursday.

Both Agarwal and Sinha come from cadre postings.

Anoop Kumar Srivastava, an Assam cadre IAS officer of the 1981 batch, has been named secretary (border management), home ministry, replacing Sneh Lata Kumar, who has retired. Srivastava was special secretary, department of social justice and empowerment in the ministry of social justice and empowerment.

Arun Jha, a Bihar cadre IAS officer (1981 batch) has been appointed secretary in the tribal affairs ministry. Jha replaces Hrusikesh Panda, following his superannuation. Earlier, Jha was special secretary, department of administrative reforms and public grievances, ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions.