New Delhi: The government has appointed senior bureaucrat Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Secretary of Higher Education, officials said on Thursday.

Gangwar will take charge of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. The appointment is part of a series of administrative changes involving senior officials.

T K Anil Kumar has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy. He will oversee matters related to school education policy, programmes and implementation under the ministry.

The reshuffle also includes the transfer of Vineet Joshi, who was serving as Secretary of Higher Education. Joshi has now been shifted to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

The appointments come at a time when the education sector is facing increased focus over issues including examination reforms, paper leaks and improving transparency in academic systems.

The new secretaries will be responsible for handling key areas of education policy, including strengthening higher education institutions, improving school education systems and implementing government initiatives in their respective departments.