Patna: The Bihar government has promoted 11 IAS officers to higher administrative grades, including two senior bureaucrats who have been elevated to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS). The General Administration Department issued the promotion notifications on November 10, 2026, with the changes scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2027, or the date of assumption of charge, as applicable.
The two officers elevated to ACS rank are Santosh Kumar Mall, Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, and Pankaj Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Home Department.
The promotions also include one officer elevated to Principal Secretary rank and eight officers promoted to Secretary rank, marking a significant administrative reshuffle in the state’s senior bureaucracy.
Two IAS Officers Elevated to Additional Chief Secretary Rank
The government has granted the highest administrative grade to two senior IAS officers:
- Santosh Kumar Mall (IAS: 1997: BH): Currently serving as Principal Secretary, Disaster Management Department.
- Pankaj Kumar (IAS: 1997: BH): Currently serving as Principal Secretary, Home Department.
Their elevation places them in the top administrative pay grade, equivalent to Additional Chief Secretary rank.
Pankaj Kumar Pal Promoted to Principal Secretary
IAS officer Pankaj Kumar Pal, a 2002-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, currently serving as Secretary of the Road Construction Department, has been promoted to the Principal Secretary grade.
His promotion to the Higher Administrative Grade will be effective from January 1, 2027.
Eight IAS Officers Promoted to Secretary Rank
Eight IAS officers of the 2011-batch belonging to the Bihar cadre have been elevated to the Secretary grade under the latest promotion exercise.
The officers and their current assignments include:
- Himanshu Kumar Sharma: Special Secretary, Science, Technology and Technical Education Department.
- Shirsat Kapil Ashok: Managing Director, COMFED.
- Nilesh Ramchandra Deore: Special Secretary.
- Ujjwal Kumar: Special Secretary, Rural Development Department.
- Naresh Jha: Settlement Officer, Katihar.
- Brajesh Kumar: Settlement Officer, Madhepura.
- Navin Kumar: Special Secretary, Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department.
- Udyan Mishra: Special Secretary, Tourism Department.The promotions are part of the Bihar government’s broader exercise to grant higher administrative grades to eligible IAS officers.
Promotions Effective From January 2027
According to the reported promotion notification, the upgraded pay grades will generally take effect from January 1, 2027, or the date officers assume charge of the relevant posts thereafter, wherever applicable.
The broader exercise also includes the promotion of 34 IAS officers of the 2014 batch to Selection Grade with Special Secretary-level pay benefits, a development covered separately.
The latest promotions strengthen the senior administrative hierarchy across several departments, including disaster management, home affairs, road construction, rural development, tourism and science and technology.
