The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the central government has initiated the selection process for the new Chairperson of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). For this, a search-cum-selection committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary.
Notably, the responsibility of NDDB Chairperson is currently with Meenesh Shah. His term is set to end on December 31. He has already received multiple extensions in this position.
According to the NDDB Act, the Chairperson is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). However, Meenesh Shah was not appointed through the ACC. Under the Act, if the Chairperson is not appointed, the senior-most member of the NDDB Board can be given the responsibility of Chairperson with limited powers. Under this provision, Meenesh Shah has been handling the role, receiving extensions of six months each.
Meenesh Shah was assigned the responsibility of NDDB Chairperson in June 2021. Before him, Varsha Joshi, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, held the charge for six months. Prior to her, Dilip Rath served as NDDB Chairperson, and his appointment was made through the ACC. He served in the role from 2016 to 2020. Before him, former Agriculture and Food Secretary T. Nandakumar was the NDDB Chairperson.
The call for applications by the central government for the NDDB Chairperson post makes it clear that now the position will be filled through the prescribed procedure.
According to the notice issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, applications from professionally qualified and experienced candidates for the NDDB Chairperson position have been invited until December 20. Earlier, the deadline was December 31, which has now been revised to December 20.
Eligibility and Selection Process
The department has invited nominations for suitable individuals for the NDDB Chairperson post through eminent persons or heads of reputed organizations in the country. The candidate must possess exceptional leadership quality, integrity along with professional qualifications in one or more specialties, namely Dairying, Animal Husbandry, Rural Economics, Rural Development, Business Administration or Banking.
Importantly, applications for this position must be submitted only through eminent individuals or head of organizations. Applications, along with detailed Curriculum Vitae, may be sent via email (jsdairy-ahd@nic.in) or by post to the Additional Secretary (CDD), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
Salary: Under the NDDB Act, 1987, the Chairperson leads the organisation, and the position falls under Pay Level 17 (Rs 2,25,000 — fixed).
The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was established through an Act of Parliament (NDDB Act 1987). Its purpose is to promote dairy and related industries across the country. NDDB also plays a crucial role in strengthening the cooperative sector. Under the leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien, NDDB played a pioneering role in bringing the White Revolution to India, transforming the dairy sector through Operation Flood (1970–1996).