The Narendra Modi government on Thursday appointed six secretaries in different government departments as part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle effected by it.

Senior IAS officer Debasish Panda was appointed as the new financial services secretary. Panda, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is at present special secretary, department of financial services.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment as secretary, department of financial services, in place of Rajiv Kumar, who superannuates this month-end, a personnel ministry order said.

Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has been appointed secretary, department of consumer affairs.

Saraswati Prasad, a 1985-batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, will be secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. He is at present special secretary and financial adviser, ministry of steel.

Usha Sharma, director general, Archaeological Survey of India, has been appointed secretary, department of youth affairs.

Raj Kumar will be secretary, department of defence production. Kumar, a 1987-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, is currently Director General, Employees' State Insurance Corporation.

Rajeev Ranjan has been appointed as secretary, department of fisheries. Ranjan is currently special secretary, GST council secretariat. He has been appointed as the fisheries secretary in place of Rajni Sekhri Sibal, who retires on February 29.

First Published:Feb 13, 2020 9:12 PM IST