New Delhi: The Centre has appointed Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, IAS (MP:93) as Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, in another change at the top of the higher education administration following the transfer of Vineet Joshi last month.
According to an order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on August 10, Mukerjee, currently Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, will take charge as Higher Education Secretary vice Vineet Joshi, IAS (MN:92), who has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Naresh Pal Gangwar, IAS, had been appointed Higher Education Secretary on July 23 following Joshi’s transfer. However, Gangwar’s appointment has now been superseded by the latest ACC order.
The latest appointment assumes significance as the Department of Higher Education has undergone a top-level change following the NEET-UG controversy and protests over alleged irregularities in the examination. Joshi’s transfer to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj was announced on July 23 amid the controversy.
Mukerjee, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was serving as Corporate Affairs Secretary before her latest appointment.
Pallavi Jain Govil, IAS (MP:94), meanwhile, has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, succeeding Mukerjee, according to the same August 10 ACC order.


