Former Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), a Personnel Ministry order said. Pradeep, a 1985 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Karnataka cadre, retired as the civil aviation secretary in September last year. He took over as the chairman of the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) mandated to conduct computer-based Common Eligibility Test for government job recruitment in March this year.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Kharola's appointment as the Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO, in the rank and pay of secretary to the Government of India on a contract basis for two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post, it said. He will continue to hold the charge of the post of chairman, NRA, till the appointment of a regular incumbent in his place, the order said.

The ACC had last month appointed B V R Subrahmanyam as the ITPO chief for two years after his retirement as the Commerce Secretary on September 30. However, official sources said he declined the posting. Subrahmanyam, a 1987 batch (retired) IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, served as the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir when it was bifurcated into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh in 2019. The ITPO, the premier trade promotion enterprise of the Commerce and Industry Ministry, manages the country's world-class exhibition complex Pragati Maidan in the national capital.

The ITPO, The Premier Trade Promotion Enterprise Of The Commerce And Industry Ministry, Manages The Country's World-Class Exhibition Complex Pragati Maidan In The National Capital

The Pragati Maidan, which is being redeveloped as the state-of-the-art International Exhibition-cum Convention Centre (IECC), is slated to host the G-20 summit next year. At present, the 90th Interpol general assembly is being held at Pragati Maidan. The event, held on October is being attended by delegations from 195 Interpol member countries. PTI AKV SKL AKV NSD.