The Ministry of Heavy Industries is set for a leadership transition as Secretary Kamran Rizvi prepares to retire. With nearly ₹38,000 crore in EV and automotive incentives at stake, the shift creates a critical period for industry stakeholders who rely on these subsidies to support their production and technology investments.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) is entering a transitional phase as Secretary Kamran Rizvi approaches his retirement at the end of October 2026. This administrative shift occurs at a crucial juncture for the Indian automotive industry, as the ministry is currently responsible for overseeing incentive programs totaling approximately ₹38,000 crore. These programs include the ₹11,900-crore PM E-DRIVE scheme and the ₹25,938-crore Automotive Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
For major automotive and component manufacturers, these government programs are key to funding the transition to electric vehicles and expanding local manufacturing capabilities. The continuity of these schemes is essential for companies that have planned their capital expenditure and product development around these incentives. Any potential administrative delay could influence the timing of subsidy disbursements, which are vital for the project cash flows of participating firms.
Operational oversight is currently being managed by Additional Secretary Dr. Hanif Qureshi, who has been central to the transition from the FAME-II framework to the current PM E-DRIVE model. Simultaneously, the ministry has appointed IPS officer Ankit Chauhan as the new Deputy Secretary for the automotive desk. This appointment suggests a continued emphasis on rigorous enforcement of domestic value-addition norms, which is a core requirement for receiving financial support under the PLI schemes. The government is also investing ₹780 crore to upgrade testing infrastructure across institutions like the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) to better verify these compliance claims.
Beyond the leadership reshuffle, the automotive sector faces significant regulatory headwinds. Manufacturers are preparing for stricter fuel-efficiency standards and potential BS7 emission norms, while simultaneously adjusting products for E20 fuel compatibility. These compliance requirements increase the pressure on R&D and product development teams. For the industry, the success of current manufacturing programs now rests on the new leadership's ability to maintain a consistent and predictable regulatory environment. Investors and stakeholders may monitor the ministry's upcoming communications to see if there are any changes to certification timelines, subsidy approval processes, or enforcement criteria, as these factors directly impact the feasibility of ongoing automotive projects.