New Delhi: In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle at the Centre, senior IAS officer Chanchal Kumar has been appointed Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B), marking a leadership transition at a time when India’s media landscape is undergoing rapid structural and regulatory change.
A 1992-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, Kumar moves into the role with extensive administrative experience spanning governance, infrastructure, and regional development. He currently serves as Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), where he has overseen development initiatives across the strategically important North Eastern states.
The reshuffle involves a direct swap at the सचिवary level. Outgoing I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju, also a 1992-batch IAS officer, will now head the DoNER Ministry, taking over responsibilities previously managed by Kumar.
Kumar’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for the I&B Ministry, which is navigating a fast-evolving media ecosystem shaped by regulatory recalibration, the surge of digital platforms, and growing oversight of online content. His prior experience in handling complex inter-ministerial assignments and coordinating across multiple stakeholders is expected to be instrumental as the ministry sharpens its policy approach.
During his tenure at DoNER, Kumar worked closely with both central and state governments, managing projects that required high levels of coordination and policy alignment. This exposure to multi-layered governance frameworks is likely to prove valuable as the I&B Ministry continues to engage with broadcasters, digital platforms, and regulatory bodies amid increasing convergence in media and technology.
The leadership transition reflects a broader administrative realignment across ministries, with the Centre repositioning senior officials to align experience with emerging policy priorities in key sectors.
