Chanchal Kumar takes charge as I&B Secretary

Chanchal Kumar has been appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, marking a significant administrative shift at a time when the media sector is undergoing rapid transformation.

Kumar will succeed Sanjay Jaju, who has now been appointed Secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), effectively swapping roles in a broader secretary-level reshuffle.

A 1992-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, Kumar currently serves as Secretary at DoNER. His tenure there involved overseeing development initiatives across the North Eastern states, requiring close coordination between central and state governments and management of multi-stakeholder projects.

His appointment comes at a crucial juncture for the I&B Ministry, which is navigating a rapidly evolving media ecosystem shaped by regulatory developments, the rise of digital platforms, and increased scrutiny of online content. Kumar’s administrative experience in handling complex inter-ministerial portfolios is expected to play a key role in shaping policy direction in the sector.

Over the course of his career, Kumar has held several key roles across the government, gaining experience in governance, infrastructure, and regional development—expertise that is likely to be relevant as the ministry continues to engage with broadcasters, digital platforms, and regulatory bodies.