Kiran Dhingra is the new Textiles Secretary

Kiran Dhingra, a former Joint Secretary in the Ministry

of Textiles, has taken charge as the new Textiles Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles. She has replaced Rita Menon, who retired last month. Dhingra’s responsibility as the Textile Secretary comes at a time when the textile sector is looking forward to government’s assistance to recover from road-blocks to their growth such as 10 per cent excise duty on branded apparels, major slump in export orders and low consumer buying.

Dhingra is a 1975 batch IAS officer was serving as Secretary in the Panchayati Raj Ministry, before she joining the Textiles Ministry. She has earlier worked in the Textiles Ministry from 2000 till 2005 as Joint Secretary and is expected to hold office till January 2013.

Dhingra's place in the Panchayati Raj Ministry will be taken by Loretta Mary Vas, IAS, currently Special Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.