Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, has taken charge as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
With over three decades of administrative experience spanning the Centre, states, and international platforms, Punhani brings significant governance expertise to his new role. He most recently served as secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and has previously held posts as secretary, Rajya Sabha, CEO of Sansad TV, and principal secretary in the Government of Bihar. An economics graduate from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, he also holds an MBA in finance from IIM Bangalore.
His appointment comes at a critical time, as the Supreme Court has directed the Centre to finalise and implement updated food labelling regulations. These regulations will require packaged food products to prominently display key nutritional information, including total sugar, salt, and saturated fat content. While the FSSAI was initially expected to complete this by July, the deadline has been extended until October to allow the expert committee to submit its report.
