Senior bureaucrat Rajit Punhani, IAS (Bihar cadre, 1991 batch), has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), following a senior-level reshuffle announced by the Government of India.
Shri Punhani, who was serving as Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, will now lead FSSAI, the country’s apex regulatory body responsible for food safety and standards. His tenure at the Skill Development Ministry saw significant initiatives in vocational training and workforce readiness.
According to the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), he will be succeeded in his previous role by Debashree Mukherjee, who takes over as the new Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Secretary.
The appointment of Shri Punhani as CEO of FSSAI reflects the government’s confidence in his administrative capabilities and leadership experience across diverse portfolios. His new assignment comes at a crucial time as India strengthens its regulatory framework to ensure food safety, quality, and consumer trust.
