New Delhi: The Central Government has issued notifications announcing key senior IAS appointments and temporary charge arrangements across central departments. IAS Nitika Pawar (2012 batch, AGMUT cadre) has been appointed as General Manager (GM) (Region) at the Food Corporation of India’s (FCI) Regional Office in Chandigarh, which oversees the Punjab region.
Pawar takes charge at the Director level on a lateral shift basis. Her appointment is on deputation under the Department of Food and Public Distribution for a period of three years. The government has counted her deputation tenure retrospectively from May 8, 2023.
In her new role, Pawar will be responsible for managing the regional operations of FCI, including procurement, storage, and distribution of food grains, which are critical to the public distribution system.
In another decision, the government has entrusted additional responsibilities to IAS Vivek Bhardwaj, a 1990 batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre.
Bhardwaj is currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. He has been given additional charge of the posts of Secretary, Department of Rural Development, and Secretary, Department of Land Resources from January 31, 2026, to February 6, 2026.
This temporary arrangement has been made during the leave period of IAS Shailesh Kumar Singh, a 1991 batch officer of the Jharkhand cadre. The move aims to ensure uninterrupted administrative functioning in departments that play a key role in rural development, land management, and implementation of welfare and development programmes.