Vir Vikram Yadav Appointed DGCA Chief in Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle

New Delhi, March 2026 : In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the government has appointed Vir Vikram Yadav as the new Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, replacing Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.

Yadav, who is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, takes charge of the country’s aviation regulator at a time when the sector is witnessing rapid growth. With rising passenger traffic, expanding airline fleets and increasing emphasis on safety standards, his appointment is seen as crucial for strengthening regulatory oversight.

The outgoing DGCA chief, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, has been reassigned as Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training. He had assumed office in January 2025 and served for just over a year, during which the aviation sector experienced steady recovery and expansion.

The reshuffle comes at a critical juncture for India’s aviation industry. The DGCA plays a pivotal role in monitoring airline safety, overseeing fleet expansion, ensuring regulatory compliance and supporting the development of airport infrastructure. As both domestic and international air travel continue to grow, the regulator’s role in maintaining safety and operational efficiency has become increasingly important.

Alongside this key appointment, the government announced several other senior-level changes across departments. Puneet Kansal has been named Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, while Mona K. Khandar has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Further, Gyanendra D. Tripathi will take charge as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and will also serve as Secretary of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Vishal Gagan has been appointed Secretary of the Central Information Commission in the rank of Additional Secretary.

In addition, N. Gulzar will serve as Member Secretary of the National Capital Region Planning Board under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. 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.

Rounding off the reshuffle, Sridhar Chiruvolu has been elevated to the position of Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. The wide-ranging changes reflect the government’s effort to strengthen administrative leadership across key sectors.