New Delhi: Indian Information Service (IIS) officer Tariq Ahmed Rather has assumed charge as Director (Media & Communications) and Chief of Media & Communications in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment under the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
Rather, a Junior Administrative Grade (JAG), Group ‘A’ officer of the IIS, assumed charge at the Ministry’s headquarters in New Delhi.
Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Sudhansh Pant, along with Joint Secretary Monika P. Dhakate, Director Narendra Vashishta and other senior officers, welcomed Rather to the Ministry.
During a meeting, the Secretary stressed the need for a robust and result-oriented media action plan to enhance public outreach of the Central Government’s welfare schemes, programmes and policies through print, electronic, traditional, social and digital media platforms.
Rather joined the Ministry following his transfer under an order issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on June 9, 2026. Prior to his new assignment, he served as Director (News) and Head of the Regional News Unit (RNU), Akashvani Srinagar, from November 2024 to June 2026.
During his tenure at Akashvani Srinagar, he introduced several initiatives, including the launch of an additional 10-minute daily Urdu news bulletin broadcast at 3:50 pm, expanding the unit’s news output. He also initiated measures aimed at strengthening professionalism, transparency, accountability and operational efficiency within the Regional News Unit.
Over the course of his career, Rather has served in various organisations under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, including the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Central Bureau of Communication, Akashvani and Doordarshan Kendra, both within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
He has also been associated with several national and international assignments, including media coverage of high-level VVIP visits abroad.
