New Delhi: Retired IAS officer Navneet Kumar Sehgal has assumed the role of the new Prasar Bharati chairman, which had been vacant for four years.

He replaces A Surya Prakash, who reached the age limit of 70, ending his term in February 2020.

Sehgal joined his duties as the Prasar Bharati Chairman on Saturday.

"...the President, on the recommendation of the Selection Committee, is pleased to appoint Shri Navneet Kumar Sehgal, IAS (retd) as the Chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board with effect from the date of his assuming charge of the post for a term of three years or until he attains the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier," an order dated March 15, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said.

Sehgal, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, retired last year.

Throughout his career, he has undertaken key roles in the Uttar Pradesh government and retired as the additional chief secretary for sports and youth welfare.

On Friday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar presided over a meeting to decide on the appointment of the chairman of the public broadcaster.

As the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the vice president leads the selection committee for the position of the Prasar Bharati chief.

The committee comprises the chairperson of the Press Council of India (PCI) and a nominee of the president, forming a three-member panel.

Present at the meeting were PCI Chairperson Justice (retired) Ranjana Desai and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju.