New Delhi: In a rare development in India’s politico-bureaucratic landscape, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has simultaneously removed three close aides of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, triggering widespread speculation within bureaucratic circles.
Through three separate office orders issued on July 3, 2026, the ministry relieved Private Secretary Amar Singh, Additional Private Secretary Shailesh Kumar Singh, and Additional Private Secretary Ayush Saran from their duties with immediate effect.
The back-to-back orders, copies of which were also marked to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Cabinet Secretariat and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), have drawn considerable attention due to the unusual nature of the action.
While the government has not officially disclosed the reasons behind the move, the simultaneous removal of three senior members of a Union Minister’s personal staff is considered highly uncommon.
Three Separate Orders Issued on the Same Day
The Ministry issued three independent orders concerning the three officers serving in the office of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
Each order invoked different administrative provisions—ranging from repatriation to termination of appointment—but all took immediate effect.
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The coordinated nature of the decisions has fuelled speculation within the ministry, although no official explanation has been offered.
IRS Officer Amar Singh Repatriated on Administrative Grounds
Among the three officers, Amar Singh, a 2010-batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer, was serving as the Private Secretary to the Union Minister.
According to the ministry’s order, Amar Singh has been repatriated to his parent cadre—the Department of Revenue—on administrative grounds and relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
Amar Singh had been associated with Bhupender Yadav since 2021, when the latter served as Union Minister for Labour and Employment. Following the formation of the new government after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he continued as Private Secretary after Yadav assumed charge of the Environment Ministry.
Earlier, Amar Singh had served as a Deputy Secretary before being upgraded to the rank of Director in 2024.
As per a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) memorandum dated June 25, 2024, his tenure as Private Secretary was originally approved until September 7, 2026, subject to the usual service conditions. However, the latest order has curtailed that tenure well before its scheduled completion.
Shailesh Kumar Singh Sent Back to Parent Cadre
In another order, Shailesh Kumar Singh, a Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officer serving as Additional Private Secretary to the Minister, was prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre.
The order directs him to immediately report to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Interestingly, the repatriation order also grants him an “extended cooling off” period, a provision that generally applies to officers returning from deputation under specified service rules.
No further reasons have been mentioned in the official communication.
Appointment of Ayush Saran Terminated
The third order concerns Ayush Saran, who was serving as Additional Private Secretary to the Minister.
Unlike the other two officers, Ayush Saran’s appointment has been terminated with immediate effect.
The order states that the action has been taken in pursuance of a Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum dated July 2, 2026, and with the approval of the competent authority.
The notification further states that Ayush Saran has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
Orders Marked to PMO and Cabinet Secretariat
All three office orders were signed by Vibhuti Panjiyar, Under Secretary to the Government of India.
Copies of the communications were forwarded to several high-level offices, including:
- Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
- Cabinet Secretariat
- Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)
- Other concerned authorities
The marking of the orders to the PMO and Cabinet Secretariat has added to the attention surrounding the administrative action.
No Official Explanation from Government
Neither the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change nor the office of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav has issued any statement explaining the reasons behind the simultaneous removal of the three officials.
The absence of an official clarification has led to considerable speculation within bureaucratic and political circles.
However, as of now, no official findings or allegations have been made public, and the reasons for the administrative action remain undisclosed.
All Three Officers Had Served the Minister for Years
The three officers were long associated with Bhupender Yadav’s ministerial office.
Amar Singh had served as his Private Secretary since his tenure in the Labour Ministry before continuing in the Environment Ministry.
Shailesh Kumar Singh and Ayush Saran had also been part of the Minister’s office for several years, assisting in ministerial and administrative work.
Their simultaneous exit marks one of the most significant staff changes in the Minister’s office since the formation of the present government.
Rare Move in Ministerial Staffing
Sources familiar with the functioning of the Central Government note that simultaneous removal of multiple personal staff members attached to a serving Union Minister is an uncommon occurrence.
According to sources, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term between 2019 and 2024, nearly 102 officers and personal staff members attached to various Union Ministers were transferred or removed under different circumstances.
However, the removal of three key members of the same ministerial office through separate but simultaneous orders is considered a rare administrative development.
Whether the latest reshuffle is part of a broader administrative exercise or relates to specific internal considerations remains unclear, as the government has not disclosed any further details.
