New Delhi: The government has cleared the appointment of Nikhil Dhongari as Deputy Secretary in the National Health Authority (NHA), placing the 2012-batch Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer at the centre of ongoing digital health initiatives under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

An Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) states that Dhongari was recommended for central deputation by the Ministry of Railways and has been selected to serve in the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). “His tenure will be co-terminus with the mission and may be extended up to the admissible period under the Central Staffing Scheme or until further orders,” the memorandum notes.

The DoPT has asked the Ministry of Railways to relieve Dhongari at the earliest to enable him to take charge without delay. As per the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) guidelines, officers must join their assigned posts within three weeks from the date of the appointment order. Non-compliance may lead to debarment from the Central Staffing Scheme.

Dhongaari’s move to the NHA places him within one of the country’s most significant digital public health programmes as ABDM continues to expand its coverage and digital infrastructure across India.

BI Bureau