Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer Amod Kumar, from the 1995 batch, has opted for voluntary retirement (VRS) from government service. He submitted his application to the Department of Appointment, which has been approved. His VRS will be effective from 25th November 2025. Sources say that he cited personal reasons for seeking retirement.
Amod Kumar has held several key positions in Uttar Pradesh, including Secretary to the Chief Minister during the Akhilesh Yadav government. He had been on central deputation since 6th December 2021, and upon returning to Uttar Pradesh on 13th November 2025, he submitted his VRS application immediately.
Previous VRS Trends Among Senior UP IAS Officers
Before Amod Kumar, four other senior IAS officers from the Uttar Pradesh cadre had also opted for VRS. They include:
- Renuka Kumar (1987 batch)
- Juchika Patankar (1988 batch)
- Vikas Gothalwal
- Rigzin Semphel (2003 batch)
The Department of Appointment will now forward the information regarding Amod Kumar’s VRS to the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Government of India.
Manoj Kumar Singh Appointed as CEO of State Transformation Commission
In a related development, the UP government has appointed former Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh (1988 batch IAS officer) as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Transformation Commission. His tenure will be three years. The order was issued by Principal Secretary, Planning, Alok Kumar, and Manoj Kumar Singh is expected to assume office on Monday.
Role of the State Transformation Commission
The State Transformation Commission is responsible for planning state-level development initiatives and mobilizing both financial and physical resources. Previously, Uttar Pradesh had a State Planning Commission, similar to the central Planning Commission. Following the model of the NITI Aayog, it has now been renamed the State Transformation Commission.
As the first CEO of the commission, Manoj Kumar Singh will play a pivotal role in:
- Guiding administrative reforms
- Shaping state development plans
- Ensuring effective implementation of government schemes
His responsibilities are comparable to the role of the NITI Aayog at the central level.
Significance of These Administrative Changes
The VRS of senior officers like Amod Kumar reflects a growing trend among experienced bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, strategic appointments like that of Manoj Kumar Singh highlight the state government’s focus on strengthening institutional mechanisms for development and administrative reforms.
