2007 batch IAS officer Aravind Agrawal has been appointed as the Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Higher Education department in Odisha in place of Bishnupada Sethi. Mr. Agrawal will also hold the additional charge of Director, Rural Development. Previously, he was working as the Director of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development department with additional charge of Managing Director, Mahila Vikash Samabaya Nigama.
Earlier, after Rohit Pujari, Higher Education Minister, was removed from the state Cabinet, departmental secretary Bishnupada Sethi was also transferred. A 1995-batch IAS officer, Mr. Sethi has now been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the department of General Administration and Public Grievance.
Mr. Sethi was also holding the additional charge of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd Chairman, which has now been given to Finance department Principal Secretary, Vishal Kumar Dev, of 1996 batch.