Khullar gets two-year extension as Plan Comm Secretary

Senior IAS officer Sindhushree Khullar has been given two years extension as the Secretary of the Planning Commission.

Khullar, a 1975-batch officer of Union Territory cadre, will be appointed on contract basis after her retirement on March 31, a statement by Department of Personnel and Training said.

Khullar also holds the charge of Mission Director for the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) Scheme, aimed at providing subsidies to beneficiaries by transferring them into their bank accounts.

Another IAS officer Koppula Raju has been appointed as Additional Secretary in National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Raju, a 1981-batch officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, presently Joint Secretary in the NAC, tasked to provide inputs and support in the formulation of government policy and in its legislative business.

Raju's new assignment, on his promotion, was approved by Appointments Committee of Cabinet led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The ACC has also approved the appointment of Kusumjit Sidhu, a 1979-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in Ministry of Commerce and Industry while U K Sangma, a 1978-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
Sangma is presently Secretary in North Eastern Council.