Railway Board Approves Deputation of IRSME Officer Prashant Kumar to DPIIT

New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways has approved the deputation of Prashant Kumar, an officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in New Delhi.

According to an official order issued by the Railway Board on March 16, 2026, the competent authority granted post-facto approval for Kumar’s appointment as Director in the Technical Support Unit (TSU) under DPIIT.

Deputation Under Central Staffing Scheme

The appointment has been made under the Central Staffing Scheme, and the officer will serve in the Technical Support Unit that supports implementation and coordination of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.

Prashant Kumar had earlier been serving on deputation as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Development Partnership Administration-II division of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Tenure Up to September 2027

As per the order, Kumar’s combined tenure — including his previous ex-cadre deputation and the Central Staffing Scheme assignment — will be up to September 18, 2027, completing a total period of five years.

However, the tenure may end earlier if it becomes co-terminus with the PM GatiShakti National Plan or if further administrative orders are issued by the competent authority.

Administrative Conditions

The Railway Board clarified that the officer will be deemed relieved automatically upon completion of the deputation period, unless the tenure is formally extended with the required approvals prior to the expiry date.

The directive also follows the deputation guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) regarding extension of deputation periods.

Order Issued by Railway Board

The order was issued from Rail Bhavan, New Delhi, and signed by Roshan Kumari Meena, Under Secretary (Railway Board). Copies of the directive were forwarded to several ministries and departments including DPIIT, the Ministry of External Affairs, and other relevant authorities for necessary action and record.

The Technical Support Unit under DPIIT plays an important role in supporting inter-ministerial coordination and project monitoring under the PM GatiShakti framework, which aims to improve integrated infrastructure planning across the country.