Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, has been assigned additional charge as Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST).
As stated in an order released by the Department of Personnel and Training on Friday (May 15, 2026), the competent authority has sanctioned entrustment of the extra responsibility to him following relinquishment of charge by Professor Abhay Karandikar and until a regular appointment is made to the position or until further instructions are issued, whichever is earlier.
Importantly, Professor Abhay Karandikar had been functioning as Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology since October 2023. He had originally been due to retire on June 30, 2025 after reaching the age of 60 years on June 15, 2025.
However, ahead of his retirement, the government had prolonged his tenure by one year beyond July 1, 2025, or until subsequent orders, whichever came earlier.