New secretaries appointed for civil aviation, steel ministries

Aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa has been transferred to the environment ministry as the new secretary, while V. Somasundaran will be the new aviation secretary, the government said in a statement on Thursday.

Lavasa took charge of aviation in 2013. Somasundaran is currently additional chief secretary Kerala.

The appointments committee of the cabinet also cleared the appointment of G. Mohan Kumar secretary, ministry of steel as secretary, department of defence production, ministry of defence.

Rakesh Singh will be secretary, ministry of steel and Sunil Arora will be secretary in the newly created department of skill development and entrepreneurship under the ministry of skill development, entrepreneurship, youth affairs and sports.

Arora was chairman of Indian Airlines during the last Bharatiya Janata Party-led government. Some of these appointments fill vacancies while some are fresh transfers.