Government Approves Key Appointments and Repatriation: ACC Decisions on January 21
New Delhi, January 21, 2026 – The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by the Prime Minister, approved several key bureaucratic postings and a repatriation on Wednesday. The decisions, issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), affect senior officers in critical ministries dealing with water, sanitation, and census operations.
Key Appointments & Extensions:
1. Extension for Joint Secretary, Drinking Water & Sanitation
-
Officer: Ms. Aishvarya Singh, IAS (Sikkim: 2008)
-
Current Role: Joint Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation
-
ACC Decision: Approved a one-year extension of her central deputation tenure. She will continue in her current role beyond February 5, 2026, or until further orders. This ensures continuity in the flagship Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat initiatives.
2. Short-term Extension for Census Operations Chief, Bihar
-
Officer: Shri M. Ramachandrudu, IAS (Bihar: 2009)
-
Current Role: Director of Census Operations (DCO) / Director of Citizen Registration (DCR), Bihar (Ministry of Home Affairs)
-
ACC Decision: Approved a three-month extension beyond December 31, 2025. His post will continue to be upgraded to the Joint Secretary level during this period. This extension is likely to ensure a smooth handover and completion of ongoing census-related activities in the state.
Repatriation to Parent Cadre:
3. Repatriation of Additional Secretary, Jal Shakti Ministry
-
Officer: Shri Subodh Yadav, IAS (Karnataka: 1999)
-
Current Role: Additional Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
-
ACC Decision: Approved his repatriation to his parent Karnataka cadre on personal grounds. This creates a vacancy in a senior position overseeing national water resource management and the Namami Gange programme.
Implications:
-
The extensions for Ms. Singh and Shri Ramachandrudu indicate the government's focus on policy continuity in key social sector and administrative projects.
-
The repatriation of Shri Subodh Yadav will necessitate a fresh appointment to a crucial role in the Jal Shakti Ministry, which manages India's critical water security and river rejuvenation projects.
These ACC orders are standard procedural decisions for managing the tenure and postings of senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers at the union government level.