Amit Agrawal Takes Charge as New Telecom Secretary

Amit Agrawal Appointed DoT Secretary

The Union government has announced a major reshuffle at the senior administrative level, appointing Amit Agrawal as the new Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) . The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the changes as part of an ongoing effort to reinforce leadership in key ministries and enhance administrative efficiency across sectors.

New Leadership at Department of Telecommunications

Amit Agrawal, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre , will now head the telecom department. He replaces Neeraj Mittal , who had been leading the DoT since September 2023. Agrawal’s experience across multiple ministries is expected to support policy reforms, spectrum management initiatives and emerging digital infrastructure projects.

Shifts in Petroleum and Pay Commission Roles

With Agrawal moving to telecom, Neeraj Mittal has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas , succeeding Pankaj Jain . Jain has now taken over as Member Secretary of the Eighth Central Pay Commission , marking another significant administrative realignment.

Key Movements Across Core Ministries

The reshuffle also includes the transfer of Manoj Joshi , currently heading the Department of Land Resources, to the role of Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals . He replaces Amit Agrawal, completing the circular movement among the ministries.
Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary V. Vidyavathi has been reassigned to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities , and senior Karnataka cadre officer Srivatsa Krishna has been appointed the new Tourism Secretary .

Upcoming Change in Agriculture Ministry

In an anticipated transition, Atish Chandra , serving in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Agriculture Ministry. He will formally assume the role of Agriculture Secretary on February 28, 2026 , after the retirement of the incumbent.

Exam Point

• Amit Agrawal: 1993-batch IAS, Chhattisgarh cadre , now Telecom Secretary.

• Neeraj Mittal shifted to Petroleum Ministry .

• Pankaj Jain appointed Member Secretary, Eighth Central Pay Commission .

• Srivatsa Krishna is the new Tourism Secretary .

• Atish Chandra to become Agriculture Secretary in Feb 2026.