IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram named CBSE Chairperson
The Centre has given Lokhande Prashant Sitaram an additional charge as CBSE Chairperson while he continues in the Ministry of Home Affairs. The revised order keeps the board's work moving until a regular chief is appointed.
by India Today Education Desk · India TodayIn Short
- ACC issued the revised order on 2 July 2026 for continuity
- The June decision naming him full-time was later modified by government
- He remains Additional Secretary in Home Ministry while handling CBSE duties
The Central Government has issued a revised order appointing senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new Chairperson of CBSE, giving him additional charge while he continues his role in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He will hold both responsibilities until a regular CBSE Chairperson is appointed. The move ensures continuity in the functioning of India’s largest school education board. The decision comes through an order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on July 2, 2026.
NEW ROLE, DOUBLE RESPONSIBILITY
According to the official notification, Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, a 2001-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Home, Ministry of Home Affairs. Alongside this, he will also serve as CBSE Chairperson on an additional charge basis.
The order clearly states that his tenure at CBSE will continue until a permanent chairperson is appointed or until further instructions are issued by the government, whichever comes earlier.
The latest decision revises an earlier June order in which Lokhande was named full-time CBSE Chairperson. Under the updated arrangement, his role has now been split between the Home Ministry and CBSE.
WHO IS LOKHANDE?
Lokhande Prashant Sitaram has a technical and management background. He is an alumnus of Pune University and the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering.
KEEPING CBSE ON TRACK
Officials said the arrangement has been made to ensure that the CBSE continues its administrative and academic work without disruption.
CBSE is responsible for conducting Class 10 and Class 12 board exams and regulating more than 30,000 affiliated schools in India and abroad.
The board also plays a key role in implementing national education policies and examination reforms, making continuity in leadership important during this transition phase.
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