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The Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on Friday announced new secretaries for five ministries/departments. This is for the first time since Modi took charge as prime minister that so many ministries have undergone bureaucratic changes at the top. The most significant shuffle seems to be that of Ashok Lavasa, who has been named secretary, environment ministry.
Lavasa, a 1980-batch Haryana cadre IAS officer, has been the civil aviation secretary since January 2014 and is believed to have been keen on a more challenging role. He was in the power ministry as special secretary before that. The environment ministry is currently the scene of action, with the Modi government focused on removing unnecessary hurdles for important infrastructure projects.
V Rajagopalan, who held the post of environment secretary till now, has superannuated.
V Somasundaran, a 1979-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer, is moving from the post of additional chief secretary in Kerala to secretary, civil aviation. He held the charge of finance and information technology in Kerala as additional chief secretary. He was earlier additional secretary at the department of defence production.
Another important posting is of Sunil Arora, a 1980-batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer, as secretary, skill development, which is a new ministry under the Modi government. Arora, who was earlier CMD of Indian Airlines, is coming from his home cadre holding the post of additional chief secretary in charge of home, civil defence and jail departments. He's believed to be among the trusted men of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Arora, who's believed to have been interested in a high-profile ministry at the Centre, was earlier credited with the turnaround of Indian Airlines. But he's been in the midst of controversy as well when he was heard in conversation with former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, referring to top officials in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in the leaked tapes.
Even as the skill development ministry is seen as important in the current scheme of things as Modi's focus is on creation of millions of jobs, this is still not considered a plum bureaucratic position, according to a source.
Among others, Rakesh Singh, a 1978-batch Punjab cadre IAS officer, has been appointed secretary, steel ministry. Recently, the buzz was that Singh, former Punjab chief secretary, was going to be appointed as a secretary in the finance ministry, but he was not. He quit as chief secretary ahead of a central posting. He held the charge of the post of principal resident commissioner, Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi, and was coordinating e-governance projects.
Also, G Mohan Kumar, a 1979-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, has been named secretary, department of defence production. Kumar was the steel secretary before this, and held the portfolio of additional secretary in the ministry of water resources earlier.
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