Appointment of Chief of Media & Communications

On December 17, 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, issued an Office Order, No. HH-18/2/2025-Personnel, stating that Shri Manish Shiva Zole, Deputy Director (PIB), has been appointed as Chief of Media & Communications (CMC) for MeitY. This appointment is in pursuance of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting D.O. No. M-20011/10/2025- Press dated 12.11.2025. The CMC will serve as the Single Point of Contact for all media engagements and information dissemination across various platforms. The CMC will report directly to Secretary (MeitY) and coordinate with AS/JS/GC. Divisions of MeitY must route their media plans through the CMC. MeitY will cover TA/DA expenditure during official tours as per entitlement. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the CMC role includes: * Conceptualising, Planning and release of Funds * Media Plan and Execution, CMC will coordinate with CBC for the preparation of the Media Plan * Creatives CBC maintains a panel of Agencies for production of creatives * Campaign Strategy * Drafting & Issuing Press Releases, Rejoinders, FAQs etc. * Organizing Press Conferences and Media Interactions * Media Liaison & Coordination * Publishing of Op-Eds * Fact Checking * Media Plan for Events * Conducting Press Tours * Monitoring & Feedback * Inter-Agency Coordination The CMC will coordinate with the Ministry's Media Cell, Minister's Office, and Secretary's Office for unified communication efforts. The CMC will coordinate with the client Ministry for planning annual budget for IEC activities under 'Advertisement & Publicity'. The CMC will coordinate with the Ministry to place 40% of Advertisement & Publicity funds with the Ministry of I&B as per the DoE OM No. 7/53/2019-BA dated 30.04.2025. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the roles and duties of Chief of Media & Communications (CMC) details tasks such as: conceptualizing and planning campaigns, coordinating with the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) for media plans, producing creatives through empanelled agencies, providing strategic communication advice, drafting press materials, organizing press events, maintaining media relations, publishing Op-Eds, fact-checking, developing event media plans, conducting press tours, monitoring media coverage, and coordinating with other agencies. Administrative and logistical duties include supervising staff, managing correspondence, and maintaining contact databases. The CMC will be assisted by a team of officials from the client Ministry. The order issued with the approval of Secretary (MeitY) and comes into force with immediate effect. P Victor Albuquerque, Deputy Secretary (Pers.) signed the order. Copies of the order were sent to several officials within MeitY, including Shri Manish Shiva Zole, AS(AS)/AS(Pers.), Group Coordinators, Directors, DS(Fin.)/DS(Genl. Admn.)/US(GC)/US(O&M)/SO(Pers.I)/SO(Pers.II), PAO/DDO, and the Intra-MeitY Portal/MeitY Website Cell. Copies were also sent for information to DG, NIC/DG, STQC Dte., CEO(UIDAI)/DG(ICERT)/CCA, CEOs of all Autonomous Societies and Companies under MeitY, PS to MEIT/PS to MOS(E&IT), OSD/PPS to Secretary and All DS's/US's. The covering letter from Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, File No. A-19014/7/2025-HR Section, Computer No. 4032851, dated 12th November 2025, includes email: secy.inb@nic.in, Phone: 011-23383800, Phone: 011-233833923, and address: No. 654, ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.

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