New Delhi, April 01 In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the government has appointed Vir Vikram Yadav as the new Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) under Ministry of Civil Aviation, replacing Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.
Yadav, currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change , assumes charge at a time when India’s aviation sector is witnessing rapid expansion. With rising passenger traffic, fleet additions and heightened focus on safety, his role will be critical in strengthening regulatory oversight and ensuring compliance across airlines and airports.
Meanwhile, Kidwai has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (DoPT). He had taken over as DGCA chief in January 2025 and served for just over a year.
The reshuffle comes at a crucial juncture for the aviation sector, with the DGCA closely monitoring safety standards, airline operations, infrastructure growth and regulatory compliance amid sustained growth in domestic and international travel. The regulator is responsible for licensing, airworthiness certification and maintaining operational safety across the aviation ecosystem.
Among other senior-level appointments, Puneet Kansal has been named Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, while Mona K. Khandar will serve as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Gyanendra D. Tripathi has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and will also serve as Secretary of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Further, Vishal Gagan has been appointed Secretary of the Central Information Commission in the rank of Additional Secretary, while N. Gulzar will serve as Member Secretary of the National Capital Region Planning Board under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Additionally, Diwakar Nath Misra has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power, while Debasish Prusty will serve as Additional Secretary in the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
Sridhar Chiruvolu has also been elevated as Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, rounding out a wide-ranging reshuffle aimed at strengthening administrative leadership across key ministries.
