In another change at the Education Ministry, the government on Monday replaced the recently appointed Higher Education Secretary Naresh Pal Gangwar with Deepti Gaur Mukerjee.
In an order, the Department of Personnel and Training said that “In partial modification of earlier order” issued on July 23, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, as Secretary, Department of Higher Education.
She succeeds Vineet Joshi, who has been appointed as the Secretary, Minister of Panchayati Raj.
Mukherjee, a 1993 batch IAS officer of MP cadre, was serving as the Corporate Affairs Secretary. Gangawar was appointed as the new Higher Education Secretary following Joshi’s transfer in July 23. The move came in view of the students’ protest at the Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak.
Despite being appointed, Gangwar did not take up the responsibility and continued in his post as a secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy. According to reports, a lapse in the transfer and take-up of responsibilities was reported as Joshi continued to hold the office until date, leaving Gangwar unable to take up his new assignment. Joshi was appointed as the new panchayati raj secretary after the incumbent Vivek Bhardwaj superannuated on July 31.
Gangwar is a 1994 batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre. His family had earlier received Rs 1.16 crore subsidy for their cucumber farm under a central scheme.
Several other transfers also took place, including the appointment of V.K. Kanta Rao as OSD, Department of Official Language, MHA, in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India. He will join his new assignment after Ansuli Arya, who supernates on September 30, 2026. ACC-appointed Rao is presently the Secretary of Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Archana Verma, a 1995 batch IAS officer from Assam-Meghalaya cadre, who was earlier appointed as the OSD in the Department of Official Language, will now succeed Rao as the new Water Secretary.