Senior Indian Administrative Service officer Manoj Joshi has taken charge as the new Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, following approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

A 1989-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, Joshi was previously serving as Secretary in the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. He succeeds Amit Aggarwal, who has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications.

Joshi’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for India’s pharmaceutical sector, which is navigating regulatory reforms, manufacturing scale-up, and increased focus on research and innovation. As Secretary, he will oversee key policy initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, improving ease of doing business, and enhancing India’s global competitiveness.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals plays a central role in implementing schemes to promote innovation, quality compliance, and investment in the pharma and medtech sectors. Under Joshi’s leadership, the department is expected to continue its focus on building a resilient supply chain, supporting industry growth, and addressing emerging policy challenges.

With extensive administrative experience, Joshi is expected to bring continuity and strategic direction to pharmaceutical policy-making as the sector prepares for the next phase of growth.