In a major administrative reshuffle aimed at enhancing governance, the Chhattisgarh government has transferred 41 IAS officers and reassigned them to new roles. Notably, Collectors in 11 districts have been changed, with many officers getting their first opportunity to serve in the role.
According to the official order, Mr. Kunal Dudawat (2017-batch IAS officer) has been appointed as the new Collector of Dantewada, while Mr. Mayank Chaturvedi (2017-batch IAS officer) will now take charge as Collector of Raigad. Mr. Sanjay Kannauje (2016-batch IAS officer) has been posted as Collector of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, and Ms. Nupur Rashi Panna (2015-batch IAS officer) will serve as the Collector of Kondagaon.
Mr. Kundan Kumar (2014-batch IAS officer) has been appointed as the Collector of Mungeli, and Mr. Indrajit Chandrawal (2013-batch IAS officer) will assume charge of Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district. Mr. Sanjay Agarwal (2012-batch IAS officer) is now the Collector of Bilaspur, while Ms. Divya Umesh Mishra (2012-batch IAS officer) has been given the responsibility of Balod. Mr. Janmejay Mahobe (2022-batch IAS officer) has been posted as Collector of Janjgir-Champa, and Mr. Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure (2011-batch IAS officer) will serve as the Collector of Rajnandgaon.
Several senior officers have also been assigned new roles. Former Bilaspur Collector, Mr. Awanish Kumar Sharan (2009-batch IAS officer), has been appointed as the Commissioner of the Town and Village Investment and Housing Board. Former Raigad Collector, Mr. Kartikeya Goyal (2010-batch IAS officer), has been named Director of the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department. Former Sarangarh Collector, Mr. Dharmesh Sahu (2010-batch IAS officer), will now serve as Special Secretary in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department. Mr. Deepak Agarwal, previously the Collector of Gariaband, has been made Controller of the Food and Drug Administration Department.
In a significant move, Mr. Topeshwar Verma, a 2005-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Revenue. Mr. Jitendra Kumar Shukla, a 2011-batch IAS officer, has been named as Mission Director of the central government’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission.
Other notable IAS postings include:
- Mr. Janak Prasad Pathak (2007 batch) – Special Secretary, Forest Department
- Ms. Shikha Rajput Tiwari (2008 batch) – Commissioner, Medical Education and Additional Charge of AYUSH
- Dr. Priyanka Shukla (2009 batch) – Director, National Rural Health Mission
- Ms. Kiran Kaushal (2009 batch) – Managing Director, Markfed & Civil Supplies Corporation
- Mr. Sunil Kumar Jain (2009 batch) – Commissioner, Bilaspur Division
- Mr. K.D. Kunjam (2009 batch) – Member, Board of Revenue, Bilaspur
- Mr. Saransh Mitter (2012 batch) – Commissioner, Tribal and Scheduled Castes Development Department
- Mr. Padum Singh Elma (2010 batch) – Director, Women and Child Development Department
- Mr. Ramesh Kumar Sharma (2010 batch) – Special Secretary, Home Department
- Mr. Remijius Ekka (2011 batch) – Director, Urban Administration & Development
- Mr. Rajat Bansal (2012 batch) – Director, Geology and Mining Department; Director, State Mineral Development Corporation; and Special Secretary, Good Governance and Convergence Department
- Mr. Taran Prakash Sinha (2012 batch) – Commissioner, MNREGA & Director, PMAY-Rural
- Ms. Iffat Ara (2012 batch) – Additional Divisional Commissioner, Raipur & Durg Division
- Mr. Jagdish Sonkar (2013 batch) – Managing Director, Inter-Governmental Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation and Director, Tribal Research and Training Institute
- Dr. Santosh Kumar Dewangan (IAS) – Commissioner, Higher Education and Managing Director, RUSA
- Mr. Rituraj Raghuvanshi (2014 batch) – Director, Public Instruction, SCERT and State Literacy Mission
- Mr. Vijay Dayaram K. (2015 batch) – Director, Technical Education, Employment & Training, and CEO, State Skill Development Agency
- Mr. Rahul Dev (2016 batch) – Director, Agriculture & Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture
- Mr. Arvind Kumar Ekka – Joint Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management and Director, Printing & Stationery
- Ms. Santan Devi Jangde – Joint Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department
- Mr. Sukhnath Ahirwar (2016 batch) – Secretary, State Election Commission and Joint Secretary, Sports and Youth Welfare Department
- Mr. Akash Chhikara (2017 batch) – Deputy Secretary, Department of Environment and Housing; CEO, RDA
- Mr. Chandrakant Verma (2017 batch) – Director, Veterinary Services & CEO, State Catchment Area Management Agency
- Mr. Ajay Kumar Agarwal – Managing Director, State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation (with Additional Charge)
This reshuffle, carried out during the ongoing Good Governance Festival, is being viewed as a strategic move to promote efficient administration and reinforce good governance in the state.
