Fri Nov 21 05:41:15 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

The Indian government has announced a significant reshuffle of secretaries across various ministries. Key appointments include Neeraj Mittal as the new Petroleum and Natural Gas secretary, Amit Agrawal as Telecommunications secretary, and Srivatsa Krishna as Tourism secretary. Several other officials have been moved to new roles or given additional responsibilities, including changes within the Departments of Pharmaceuticals, Land Resources, Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Legal Affairs.

News Article:

Government Announces Major Secretary-Level Reshuffle

New Delhi, November 21, 2025 – The central government today announced a sweeping reshuffle of secretaries across multiple ministries, signaling a strategic shift in leadership.

Neeraj Mittal, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, has been appointed as the new Petroleum and Natural Gas secretary, replacing Pankaj Jain, who will now serve as member secretary of the Eighth Central Pay Commission. Mittal was previously the secretary of the Department of Telecommunications.

Taking over the Telecommunications portfolio is Amit Agrawal, formerly the secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals. Manoj Joshi, secretary of the Department of Land Resources, will succeed Agrawal as Pharmaceuticals secretary.

In other key changes, V. Vidyavathi, the Tourism secretary, will move to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Srivatsa Krishna, a senior IAS officer from Karnataka, will become the new Tourism secretary.

Atish Chandra, currently serving as special secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and will fully take over in the new department on February 28, 2026.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has also approved the appointment of Anju Rathi Rana as member secretary of the 23rd Law Commission of India. Furthermore, Rajiv Mani will continue as secretary of the Legislative Department until his superannuation in 2028, and will assume additional charge of the Department of Legal Affairs.

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