Patna, Bihar: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Bihar state government today, Tuesday, June 10, announced new postings for three IAS officers. The shake-up also includes changes within the crucial Energy Department, alongside the relieving of two senior IAS officers for central deputation.
The General Administration Department has issued the official transfer orders, marking another round of bureaucratic changes in the state.
Key Appointments and New Responsibilities
The reshuffle sees key departments receiving new leadership–
IAS officer Pankaj Kumar, from the 1997 batch, who previously served as Principal Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department, has been transferred to assume the charge of Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department.
In addition to this new role, Mr Kumar will also hold the additional charge of Investigation Commissioner, General Administration Department, Principal Secretary Food and Consumer Protection Department, and Managing Director Bihar State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Patna.
Manoj Kumar Singh, a 2012 batch promotee IAS officer who is currently serving as Secretary, Health Department Bihar Patna, has been appointed as the new Secretary, Energy Department. His responsibilities will extend further as he takes on the additional charge of Chairman cum Managing Director, Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited.
Furthermore, Mr Singh has been assigned the additional charge of Special Officer, Office of Resident Commissioner, Bihar Bhawan New Delhi.
Concurrently, 2002 batch IAS officer Pankaj Kumar Pal, who was previously the Secretary of the Energy Department, has now been given the responsibility of Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department.
Two Senior IAS Officers Relieved for Central Deputation
In a separate but related development, two prominent IAS officers have been relieved by the state government to take up new assignments at the central level–
Dayanidhan Pandey, a 2006 batch IAS officer who was serving as Additional Member, Revenue Council Department Council Bihar Patna, has been relieved for appointment to the post of Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Government of India, New Delhi. His deputation is effective from the date of his resignation from the state cadre.
Similarly, 2002 batch IAS officer Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, presently Secretary, Department of Agriculture, has also been relieved for appointment as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi.
These moves follow a recent trend of senior Bihar bureaucrats being deputed to central government roles.
A few days prior, Yogendra Singh, Director, Secondary Education, Patna, Bihar, was also discharged for central deputation, taking on the role of Private Secretary to Union Minister Giriraj Singh in the Ministry of Textiles.
The administrative changes are expected to bring new perspectives and drive to the respective departments, while the central deputations underscore the recognition of Bihar’s administrative talent at the national level.
