Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal Takes Over

In a significant administrative move, on September 4, 2025, Shri Piyush Goyal, an IAS officer from the Nagaland cadre who was born in 1994, formally took over as the Secretary of the Ministry of Mines. He was hired when Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, who is currently the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, was transferred.Shri Piyush Goyal was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NATGRID, a Ministry of Home Affairs intelligence-sharing network, before taking on his current position. As NATGRID's chief, he coordinated with various law enforcement and security organizations to enhance the infrastructure for national intelligence and data integration.Strong inter-agency collaboration is one of Shri Goyal's many administrative domains of expertise. Strategic leadership in governance powered by technology A well-rounded strategy for security and development issues It is anticipated that his experience will offer a new viewpoint to the mining industry, particularly in relation to resource management, technology, and regulation.1992-batch IAS official Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, who went to lead the Department of Water Resources, is replaced by Shri Goyal. During Rao's leadership, the Ministry of Mines observed, Critical mineral exploration expansion The National Mineral Policy's new reforms Increased involvement of the private sector in the mining industry The change represents the government's ongoing attempt to appoint seasoned officials to lead ministries that require a lot of resources and strategic thinking.

On September 4, 2025, Shri Piyush Goyal, an IAS member from Nagaland's 1994 batch, was appointed Secretary of the Ministry of Mines. Prior to this, he was the Ministry of Home Affairs' CEO of NATGRID. He is the current head of the Department of Water Resources and replaces Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, IAS (1992 batch).