PATNA: Former Siwan District Magistrate Vivek Ranjan Maitrey, who had been kept awaiting posting after his transfer, has been given a new assignment in the latest IAS reshuffle ordered by the Bihar government.
Maitrey, a 2017-batch IAS officer, has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Information and Public Relations Department.
His new posting comes after his transfer from Siwan, where he had recently figured in a controversy surrounding the firing of an AK-47 by a policeman during a student protest in the district.
The latest order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) assigns new responsibilities to six IAS officers, including changes involving the Deputy Development Commissioners of Nawada and Kaimur.
Maitrey Was in Spotlight During Siwan Student Protest
Maitrey had attracted attention during a student protest in Siwan after a policeman was seen firing an AK-47.
At the time, Maitrey had stated that the policeman had no orders to open fire.
The incident subsequently drew widespread attention and became a subject of public discussion in the district.
Following his transfer from Siwan, Maitrey had been awaiting a new assignment. His appointment as Additional Secretary in the Information and Public Relations Department now brings his waiting period to an end.
Ujjwal Kumar Singh Shifted to Rural Development Department
As part of the same reshuffle, Ujjwal Kumar Singh, a 2011-batch IAS officer, has been transferred from his position as Director, Animal Husbandry Department.
He has been appointed Special Secretary in the Rural Development Department.
Singh’s transfer is among the senior-level changes announced by the Bihar government as it continues to reorganise administrative responsibilities across various departments.
Shrikant Shastri Appointed Animal Husbandry Director
Shrikant Shastri, a 2012-batch IAS officer, has been appointed Director of the Animal Husbandry Department.
Shastri was awaiting a new posting after being transferred from his previous assignment as District Magistrate of Begusarai.
His transfer from the Begusarai DM’s post was effected last week, and the latest order now assigns him the responsibility of heading the Animal Husbandry Department.
The appointment brings a new administrative leadership to the department following Ujjwal Kumar Singh’s transfer.
Nitin Kumar Singh Gets Secondary Education Charge
The Bihar government has also appointed Nitin Kumar Singh, a 2018-batch IAS officer, as Director of Secondary Education.
Nitin Kumar Singh was also awaiting posting before the latest order.
His new responsibility places him in charge of the state’s secondary education administration at the directorate level.
Nawada Deputy Development Commissioner Transferred
At the field level, Neelima Sahu, a 2021-batch IAS officer serving as Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC), Nawada, has been transferred.
She has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Health Department.
The move is part of the changes affecting district-level administrative positions announced in the latest notification.
Divya Shakti Appointed Prohibition and Excise Commissioner
Similarly, Divya Shakti, a 2022-batch IAS officer serving as Deputy Development Commissioner of Kaimur, has been shifted to the state headquarters.
She has been appointed Commissioner in the Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department.
The appointment represents another field-to-secretariat-level movement in the latest Bihar IAS reshuffle.
Six IAS Officers Receive New Assignments
The latest notification covers six IAS officers and includes both departmental and field-level changes.
The reshuffle includes:
- Vivek Ranjan Maitrey (2017): Additional Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department
- Ujjwal Kumar Singh (2011): Special Secretary, Rural Development Department
- Shrikant Shastri (2012): Director, Animal Husbandry Department
- Nitin Kumar Singh (2018): Director, Secondary Education
- Neelima Sahu (2021): Joint Secretary, Health Department
- Divya Shakti (2022): Commissioner, Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department
The changes affect departments including information and public relations, rural development, animal husbandry, education, health and prohibition, excise and registration.
More Administrative Changes in Bihar
The reshuffle comes amid a broader series of administrative changes in Bihar during August 2026.
The state government has been carrying out multiple transfers and new postings involving IAS, IPS and Bihar Administrative Service officers in recent weeks.
The latest order continues that process, with officers moved between district-level field assignments and senior departmental positions.
For Maitrey, the new posting marks his return to an active administrative role after his period awaiting posting following his transfer from Siwan.
