DoPT Empanels 11 CSS Officers for Senior Selection Grade (Director)
New Delhi, June 30, 2026: The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has announced the empanelment of 11 officers of the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) for inclusion in the Senior Selection Grade (Director) Select List (SSGSL) for the year 2026. The empanelment has been approved by the President and marks an important milestone in the professional advancement of these officers.
According to the order issued by DoPT, the appointments to the grade of Director will take effect from the date the officers assume charge of their respective posts, not earlier than July 1, 2026. The concerned Ministries and Departments have been requested to issue formal notifications appointing the officers to the Director grade on a regular basis from the date of assumption of charge.
The officers included in the Senior Selection Grade (Director) Select List 2026 are Manoj Kumar Rai, Vinita Talwar, Bhuvaneswari Hariharan, Arun Kumar, Manish Kumar Lal, Rajendra Singh Bora, Parveen Jargar, V Sridhar, T G K Jagannadham, Shailesh Gautam, and Ambuj Sharma. These officers are presently serving across a wide spectrum of Ministries and Departments, including Defence, Telecommunications, Water Resources, Coal, Culture, Personnel & Training, Commerce, Civil Aviation, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and one officer currently on deputation.
The Senior Selection Grade (Director) is one of the most significant stages in the career progression of officers of the Central Secretariat Service. Empanelment to this grade reflects recognition of an officer’s experience, professional competence, integrity, and ability to undertake higher administrative responsibilities within the Government of India. Officers at the Director level play a pivotal role in policy formulation, programme implementation, legislative coordination, inter-ministerial consultations, and decision-making across various Ministries and Departments.
The Central Secretariat Service constitutes the administrative backbone of the Central Government Secretariat. CSS officers are responsible for assisting in policy development, processing Cabinet proposals, coordinating parliamentary matters, handling personnel administration, managing financial and regulatory issues, and ensuring the efficient implementation of government programmes. Their role becomes increasingly strategic as they move into senior positions such as Director.
The empanelment process is undertaken after a comprehensive assessment of eligible officers based on prescribed service conditions and established government procedures. The selection reflects the Government’s confidence in the officers’ professional capabilities and their readiness to assume greater leadership responsibilities.
The 2026 Select List showcases the diverse nature of the Central Secretariat Service, with officers representing a broad range of Ministries and functional domains. Their varied administrative experience strengthens the Government’s institutional capacity by bringing specialised knowledge from sectors such as defence administration, telecommunications, water resources management, commerce, civil aviation, culture, personnel administration, and public service recruitment.
Among the empanelled officers is Parveen Jargar CSS, presently serving in the Department of Personnel & Training, the nodal department responsible for personnel administration, cadre management, civil services reforms, recruitment policies, training, and human resource development across the Government of India. Officers serving in DoPT gain extensive exposure to governance frameworks and public administration, making their advancement to senior leadership positions particularly significant.
Similarly, officers from the Ministries of Defence, Telecommunications, Coal, Commerce, Civil Aviation, and Culture bring substantial domain expertise that will contribute to informed policy formulation and effective administrative leadership at the Director level. The inclusion of officers from different sectors demonstrates the Government’s emphasis on recognising merit and ensuring balanced representation across the Central Secretariat.
The order further specifies that appointments as Director will be effective only upon assumption of charge and shall not be operational before 1 July 2026. The respective Ministries and Departments have been instructed to complete the necessary administrative formalities and issue appointment notifications accordingly.
The Central Secretariat Service has long played a vital role in ensuring continuity and efficiency in the functioning of the Union Government. Officers of the Service provide institutional memory, facilitate coordination among Ministries, and support senior policymakers in implementing national priorities. Advancement to the Senior Selection Grade equips officers to take on broader leadership responsibilities and contribute more significantly to governance and public administration.
The empanelment of these 11 officers reflects the Government’s continued commitment to strengthening administrative leadership through a structured and merit-based career progression framework. As they assume responsibilities at the Director level, the officers are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting policy implementation, institutional reforms, and effective governance across the Central Government.
With their appointments set to become effective from the date of assumption of charge, the empanelled officers will contribute to enhancing administrative efficiency and reinforcing the institutional capacity of the Ministries and Departments they serve.
Indian Bureaucracy News congratulates all 11 CSS officers empanelled for the Senior Selection Grade (Director) Select List for 2026 and wishes them continued success in their higher responsibilities in the service of the nation.