Centre appoints 9 new Joint Secretaries

Usha Padhee, a 1996 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, has been appointed as Joint Secretary for a period of five years in the Civil Aviation Ministry, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said. Her husband Arabinda K Padhee, also from the same batch and cadre, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in Department of Fertilizers, it said.

Rajan Shukla, Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, is new Joint Secretary in Department of Consumer Affairs. V Vidyawathi has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the DoPT, the order said. Parag Gupta, a 1988 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, has been made Joint Secretary in Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

IRS officer Mohanish Verma has been appointed as Protector General of Emigrants (Joint Secretary level) in Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Verma, a 1987 batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax cadre) officer, has been appointed for five years, it said. Shri Krishna, also from the same service, has been made Deputy Director General (JS level) in UIDAI. Amitabh Gautam, an Indian Forest Service officer, is new Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, the order said.

Smita Kumar, a 1987 batch officer of Indian Postal Service, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.