The Central government approved a series of key appointments, including that of officers on special duty to Union Ministers, late on Friday evening.
Upendra Joshi, a private person, has been appointed OSD to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on “contract” for a period of five years on co-terminus basis. Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service officer Pradeep Kumar Thakur has been made OSD to Health Minister J. P. Nadda for four years.
D.P.S. Rajesh has been made OSD to Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha, while Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, a 2003-batch IAS officer, has been appointed Personal Secretary to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu for five years.
Rajan S. Katoch, Secretary (Department of Heavy Industry) has been given additional charge of Director Enforcement Directorate for an extended period of three more months. The competent authority also approved the appointment of Railway Protection Force Director-General Krishna Choudhary as Indo-Tibet Border Police chief.