Neeraj Mittal Appointed as New Petroleum Secretary as Centre Approves Key Bureaucratic Reshuffle

In a significant administrative overhaul, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Thursday approved a major reshuffle of top-level bureaucrats, including the appointment of senior IAS officer Neeraj Mittal as the new Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).

Mittal, who currently serves as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, will now take charge of one of the most crucial economic ministries, overseeing India’s energy security, petroleum policy reforms, and the strategic shift toward cleaner fuels. He succeeds Pankaj Jain, who has been appointed Member Secretary of the Eighth Central Pay Commission.

Strategic Leadership Change in India’s Energy Sector

Neeraj Mittal, known for his reform-oriented approach in digital governance and telecom policy, brings with him deep experience in public administration and technology-driven transformation. His appointment is expected to bolster policy execution in the petroleum sector at a time when India is focusing on energy transitions, expanding gas-based infrastructure, and ensuring stable fuel supplies amid global volatility.

As Petroleum Secretary, Mittal will oversee key mandates including crude oil procurement strategy, natural gas pricing reforms, expansion of city gas distribution networks, and coordination with major public sector undertakings such as ONGC, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, GAIL, and OIL.

Energy Sector Feels the Impact

Neeraj Mittal’s appointment signals a push for:

• accelerated reforms in petroleum and natural gas administration

• improved coordination between Centre and oil PSUs

• enhanced focus on digital transformation within the energy sector

• strategic planning for India’s long-term energy security

With global oil markets in flux and domestic demand continuing to rise, Mittal’s leadership will be crucial in shaping India’s petroleum strategy in the years ahead.

Other major appointments include:

Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals → appointed Telecom Secretary

Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Land Resources → to replace Agrawal in Pharmaceuticals

Sunil Paliwal, Chairperson, Chennai Port Trust → appointed Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India

Atish Chandra, Special Secretary, PMO → appointed OSD, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

V Vidyavathi, Tourism Secretary → appointed Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

S Krishna, Karnataka cadre IAS → appointed Tourism Secretary