Vir Vikram Yadav Appointed DGCA Chief in Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle

New Delhi: In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the Centre has appointed Vir Vikram Yadav, a 1996-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, as the new Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He replaces Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, who has been moved to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) as Additional Secretary.

Yadav, currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, takes charge at a crucial time when India’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly. With rising air traffic, growing airline fleets, and an increased focus on safety, his role is expected to be key in strengthening regulatory oversight.

Kidwai, who took charge as DGCA chief in January 2025, served in the position for a little over a year before his transfer.

The reshuffle comes at a critical juncture for the aviation sector. The DGCA is closely monitoring airline safety, fleet expansion, airport infrastructure, and regulatory compliance as both domestic and international air travel continue to grow. The regulator plays a vital role in maintaining safety standards, issuing licenses, and ensuring operational efficiency across the aviation ecosystem.

Alongside Yadav’s appointment, the government has announced several other senior-level changes. Puneet Kansal has been appointed 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 named 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.

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 take on the role of Additional Secretary in the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance.

In another key development, Sridhar Chiruvolu has been elevated to the position of Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.