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New Delhi: Two posts of Joint Secretary at the Centre – one in the Home Ministry and the other in Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation – have been upgraded to the Additional Secretary level to promote two 1985 batch IAS officers.

The appointments Committee of the Cabinet today approved the prrommotion of M. Gopal Reddy, IAS (MP:1985), Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs by upgrading the post of Joint Secretary as Additional Secretary for a period of two years or till a vacancy of Additional Secretary arises in the Ministry or till further orders, whichever is the earliest.

Similalrly the ACC has cleared the prommotion of Saraswati Prasad, IAS (AM:1985), Joint Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation by upgrading the post of Joint Secretary as Additional Secretary for a period of two years or till further orders, whichever is earlier.

The ACC also approved tday the following:

Bhupendra Singh,IAS (UP:1985), presently in his Cadre as Chairman, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority under Department of Pharmaceuticals in place of Injeti Srinivas, IAS(OR:1983) who is holding additional charge.

Sumeet Jerath, IAS (AM:1985), Additional DGFT under Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of External Affairs. He replaces Binoy Kumar, IAS (TG:1983) consequent on his lateral shift as Director General, Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals under Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Udai Pratap Singh, IAS (JH:1984), presently in his Cadre as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism in place of Girish Shankar, IAS (BH:1982) consequent on his appointment as Secretary, Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ms. Smita Nagaraj, IAS (TN:1984), presently in her Cadre as Director General (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence. She takes over from Asha Ram Sihag, IAS (HP:1983) consequent on his lateral shift as Secretary, Union Public Service Commission.

Pawan Kumar Agarwal, IAS (WB:1985), Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority under Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He takes over from Yudhvir Singh Malik, IAS (HY:1983) consequent on his appointment as Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog.

Kalpana Mittal Baruah, IAS (PB:1985), presently in her cadre as Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat (SR) replaces Navin Verma, IAS (BH:1982) consequent on his appointment as Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

R.Rajagopal, IAS (TN:1984), Additional Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare as Adviser, Inter State Council Secretariat under Ministry of Home Affairs. He replaces Ashok Kumar Pavadia, IRTS (1980) consequent on his premature repatriation to his cadre.

Binoy Kumar, IAS (TG:1983), Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of External Affairs as Director General, Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals under Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This posty was held till now bSiddharth, IAS (WB:1983) consequent on his premature repatriation to his cadre.

Chhabilendra Roul, IAS (PB:1985), presently in his Cadre as Additional Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. He takes over from R.Rajagopal, IAS (TN:1984) consequent on his lateral shift as Adviser, Inter State Council Secretariat under Ministry of Home Affairs.

Asha Ram Sihag, IAS (HP:1983), Director General (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence as Secretary, Union Public Service Commission in place of Ashim Khurana, IAS (GJ:1983) consequent on his appointment as Chairman, Staff Selection Commission.