Sandeep Poundrik Named Heavy Industries Secretary, to Continue as Steel Secretary – Indian PSU
The Central Government has appointed 1993-batch IAS officer Sandeep Poundrik as Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, while allowing him to continue as Secretary, Ministry of Steel.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the additional charge following the superannuation of Kamran Rizvi, IAS, on October 31, 2026. Poundrik will hold the additional responsibility until a regular appointment is made or until further orders.
The latest administrative decision places two key industrial ministries under the charge of the same senior bureaucrat, strengthening administrative coordination across India’s steel and heavy industries sectors.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries oversees major initiatives relating to the automobile industry, electric mobility, advanced battery manufacturing, capital goods and industrial development. Key programmes under its purview include the PM E-DRIVE scheme, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for automobiles and auto components, and the PLI scheme for advanced chemistry cell battery storage.
As Secretary of the Ministry of Steel, Poundrik is responsible for overseeing policy implementation and the development of India’s steel industry, including initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic production, improving competitiveness and promoting investment.
Poundrik, a Bihar-cadre IAS officer, assumed charge as Steel Secretary in August 2024. His appointment to the additional position comes at a time when the government is pursuing initiatives to strengthen domestic manufacturing, expand industrial capacity and accelerate India’s transition towards cleaner mobility.
The dual responsibility places two strategically important industrial portfolios under a single administrative head, with implications for coordination between steel production, manufacturing, infrastructure and the broader industrial ecosystem.
