Deepti Gaur replaces Gangwar after 17-day stint, is subsidy row a factor?

Naresh Pal Gangwar's appointment as Higher Education Secretary has been put in abeyance just 17 days after he took charge, with the Centre appointing Deepti Gaur Mukherjee to the post in a late-night move. Gangwar's next posting remains unclear. The move comes amid political scrutiny over horticulture subsidies received by his family, though the Centre has cited no official reason for the change.Deepti Gaur replaces Gangwar after 17-day stint, is subsidy row a factor?Just 17 days after Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed Higher Education Secretary, the Centre, in a late-night move on Monday, appointed 1993-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer Deepti Gaur Mukherjee to the post. Does this mean Gangwar has been given another charge, or will there now be two officers holding the post of Higher Education Secretary? The question remains unanswered.India Today.in reached out to the Education Ministry for a clarification on Naresh Pal Gangwar's exit or transfer, but there has been no official word on the same.The abrupt change comes amid political scrutiny over allegations that Gangwar’s wife, mother and son collectively received more than Rs 1.16 crore in subsidies under a National Horticulture Board scheme for commercial horticulture projects.The latest order puts Gangwar’s appointment in abeyance, but it does not explicitly state that he has been removed from government service or clarify whether he will be assigned another charge. Until the Centre provides a further clarification, Gangwar’s exact status remains unclear. GANGWAR’S BACKGROUNDGangwar is a 1994-batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer. Before becoming Higher Education Secretary, he served as Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and held several senior positions, including Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.He was appointed Higher Education Secretary on July 23, replacing Vineet Joshi, as the Education Ministry faced pressure over concerns surrounding competitive examinations and the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Department of Higher Education oversees the NTA, which conducts major entrance examinations including NEET-UG. Gangwar’s appointment therefore came at a sensitive time, with the government under pressure to strengthen examination systems and push ahead with higher-education reforms.RS 1.16-CRORE HORTICULTURE SUBSIDY ALLEGATIONSThe controversy centres on subsidies received by three members of Gangwar’s family under a National Horticulture Board scheme for commercial horticulture. According to an investigation, his mother, wife and son collectively received more than Rs 1.16 crore over five years for cucumber cultivation projects in Rajasthan.The issue became a political flashpoint after Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned Gangwar’s appointment as Higher Education Secretary, raising concerns over a possible conflict of interest and the appearance of preferential treatment.The allegations were also raised by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke and circulated widely on social media.However, the allegations by themselves do not establish that Gangwar committed misconduct. No government agency has publicly announced a finding that he violated any law or service conduct rule in connection with the subsidies.Gangwar has denied wrongdoing in connection with the subsidy issue. He said his mother and son were not dependent on him and therefore did not fall within the relevant definition of family members under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules. He also said the required disclosures relating to his wife’s assets had been made.The Centre has not publicly linked the subsidy allegations to its decision to put his appointment in abeyance.WHAT HAPPENS TO GANGWAR NOW?The latest order does not specify Gangwar’s next posting, leaving his immediate role unclear. The Centre has also not explained why his appointment was put in abeyance.The unusually quick change is likely to keep questions around the decision alive, particularly given the political scrutiny surrounding the horticulture subsidies received by Gangwar’s family. Whether that controversy played any role, however, remains unclear in the absence of an official explanation.For now, Mukherjee takes over as Higher Education Secretary after one of the shortest tenures in the department’s recent history, while Gangwar’s next assignment remains unknown.- EndsPublished By: Apoorva AnandPublished On: Aug 11, 2026 11:48 IST