Gandhinagar: The Government of Gujarat has undertaken a significant reshuffle of senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, involving transfers, new appointments, and additional charge allocations in several vital departments. The reshuffle is aimed at strengthening governance across sectors including Finance, Education, Energy, Agriculture, Health, and Social Justice.
Key Appointments at the Chief Minister’s Office
Sanjeev Kumar, IAS (RR:GJ:1998) has been transferred from Principal Secretary, Forests & Environment Department and appointed as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. He will also hold additional charge of the Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department until further orders, relieving M.K. Das, IAS.
Dr. Vikrant Pandey, IAS (RR:GJ:2005) has been upgraded from Secretary to Chief Minister to Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister. He will also hold additional charge of Secretary to Government, Information & Broadcasting Department, relieving Avantika Singh Aulakh, IAS.
Ajay Kumar, IAS (RR:GJ:2006), on repatriation to the state government, has been appointed as Secretary to Chief Minister and will hold additional charge as Vice Chairman & CEO of Gujarat Maritime Board, Gandhinagar, replacing Rajkumar Beniwal, IAS.
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Agriculture and Cooperative Sector Leadership Changes
Ramesh Chand Meena, IAS (RR:GJ:1997) is transferred from Principal Secretary, Ports and Transport Department to Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Farmers Welfare & Co-operation Department, replacing Dr. Anju Sharma, IAS.
Arunkumar M. Solanki, IAS (RR:GJ:1990) moves from Managing Director, Gujarat State Warehousing Corporation to Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, Farmers Welfare & Co-operation Department (Co-operation, Animal Husbandry, Cow Breeding & Fisheries). He will continue as Managing Director, Gujarat State Warehousing Corporation until further notice.
Sandeep Kumar, IAS (RR:GJ:2002), previously Secretary to Government, Agriculture, Farmers Welfare & Co-operation Department, is transferred to Secretary, Finance Department (Economic Affairs), replacing Arti Kanwar, IAS.
Education Department Realignment
Mukesh Kumar, IAS (RR:GJ:1996), who held dual charges of Education (Primary & Secondary) and Education (Higher & Technical), is appointed Principal Secretary, Education Department (Higher & Technical Education).
Milind Shivaram Torawane, IAS (RR:GJ:2000) moves from Panchayats, Rural Housing & Rural Development to Principal Secretary, Education Department (Primary & Secondary Education), replacing Mukesh Kumar, IAS.
Energy and Petrochemicals Sector Updates
Ashwani Kumar, IAS (RR:GJ:1997) is transferred from Sports, Youth & Cultural Activities Department to Principal Secretary, Energy & Petrochemicals Department, following S.J. Haider, IAS’s upcoming superannuation.
Avantika Singh Aulakh, IAS (RR:GJ:2003) is placed at the disposal of Energy & Petrochemicals Department as Managing Director, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (GSPC), Gandhinagar, also holding additional charges for Managing Director, GSPC LNG Ltd. and Managing Director, Gujarat Gas Ltd. until further notice.
Rajkumar Beniwal, IAS (RR:GJ:2004) is transferred from Gujarat Maritime Board to Managing Director, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd., Bharuch, replacing Dr. T. Natarajan, IAS.
Finance Department Changes
Jenu Devan, IAS (RR:GJ:2006) is transferred from Superintendent of Stamps & Inspector General of Registration to Secretary, Finance Department (Expenditure) and will retain additional charge of Managing Director, Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd., Vadodara.
Arti Kanwar, IAS (RR:GJ:2001), previously Secretary (Economic Affairs), is appointed Chief Commissioner of State Tax, Ahmedabad.
Health, Labour, and Social Justice Appointments
- Rajeev Topno, IAS (RR:GJ:1996) is appointed Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, replacing Dhananjay Dwivedi, IAS.
- Dr. Sandhya Bhullar, IAS (RR:GJ:2003) is repatriated and appointed Commissioner of Health (Urban), replacing Harshadkumar Ratilal Patel, IAS.
- Lochan Sehra, IAS (RR:GJ:2002) is appointed Secretary, Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department, replacing Dr. Vinod Ramachandra Rao, IAS.
- Harshadkumar Ratilal Patel, IAS (RR:GJ:2005) moves from Commissioner of Health (Urban) to Secretary, Social Justice & Empowerment Department, replacing Mohammad Shahid, IAS.
- Mohammad Shahid, IAS (RR:GJ:1998) is appointed Principal Secretary, Tribal Development Department, replacing Smt. Shahmeena Husain, IAS.
Other Key Departmental Movements
- Dr. Vinod Ramachandra Rao, IAS (RR:GJ:2000) takes charge as Principal Secretary, Forests & Environment Department.
- Dr. Anju Sharma, IAS (RR:GJ:1991) moves to Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department (Personnel).
- Hareet Shukla, IAS (RR:GJ:1999) will hold additional charge of Principal Secretary, Ports & Transport Department.
- Dr. Rajender Kumar, IAS (RR:GJ:2004) is appointed Commissioner of Transport, while Dr. Kuldeep Arya, IAS (RR:GJ:2009) becomes Secretary, Industries and Mines Department and retains charge as CEO, Special Project (Dholera SIR & Mandal-Bechraji SIR).
- Dhananjay Dwivedi, IAS (RR:GJ:1998) moves to Principal Secretary, Panchayats, Rural Housing & Rural Development Department and retains Commissioner of Rural Development & Principal Secretary (Rural Development).
- Dr. Rahul Babulal Gupta, IAS (RR:GJ:2004) takes charge as Secretary, Sports, Youth & Cultural Activities Department, retaining additional charge of Climate Change Department.
Comprehensive List of IAS Transfers and Appointments
The reshuffle covers 26 senior IAS officers, including multiple additional charge assignments, reflecting a broad reorganization aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency and governance across Gujarat.
