Senior IAS Rajesh Pandey Appointed Chairman of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)

Kolkata: In a significant development, the Centre has appointed senior IAS officer Rajesh Pandey as the new Chairman of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).

According to an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Pandey’s appointment for a five-year term. He will take charge from the date he assumes office or until he attains the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier.

Rajesh Pandey, a 1995-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary in the state government’s MSME and Textiles departments. He has earlier held the charge of Sports and Cooperation departments as well.

Current Charge and Background

At present, the additional charge of DVC Chairman is being held by NTPC Chairman Gurdeep Singh (IAS), who assumed the responsibility on 1 June 2026.

DVC is one of India’s oldest and most important public sector undertakings. Established on 7 July 1948 under the Damodar Valley Corporation Act, it was modelled after the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of the United States. The organisation plays a key role in the development of the Damodar River Valley region spanning Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Key Responsibilities of DVC

The Damodar Valley Corporation is primarily known for:

• Power generation through thermal, hydel, and solar energy

• Flood control in the Damodar river basin

• Providing irrigation facilities

• Promoting overall socio-economic development in the region

The appointment of Rajesh Pandey comes at a time when DVC is focusing on expanding its power generation capacity and modernising its operations.

Why This Appointment Matters

As Chairman, Rajesh Pandey will be responsible for leading one of eastern India’s major power utilities. With decades of administrative experience in the West Bengal government, his understanding of state-level governance and ground-level issues is expected to bring better coordination between the Centre, state governments, and DVC.

This move is also seen as part of the Centre’s efforts to bring experienced bureaucrats to head important PSUs for smoother functioning and better performance.

The formal appointment order was issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.