Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government on Friday carried out a major administrative reshuffle, transferring 17 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and 22 Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service (HPAS/HAS)officers. The wide-ranging exercise involves key departments including Home, Finance, Health, Industries, Tourism, Urban Development, Transport and State Taxes & Excise.
The reshuffle also includes several additional charge assignments, reflecting a significant reorganisation of the state’s administrative machinery.
Key IAS-Level Changes
Onkar Sharma Gets Additional Charge of Transport
Onkar Sharma (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary (Tribal Development), has been entrusted with the additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary (Transport).
RD Nazeem Shifted to Home, Vigilance and Power
RD Nazeem (IAS), who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary for Food, Civil Supplies, Transport and Industries, has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary (Home, Vigilance and Power).
Devesh Kumar Gets Finance Portfolio
Devesh Kumar (IAS), Principal Secretary (Urban Development), will now additionally oversee:
- Finance
- Planning
- Statistics
He has also been assigned the additional charge of Animal Husbandry.
MS Sudha Devi Takes Charge of Forest and Industries
MS Sudha Devi (IAS), Principal Secretary (Health and Personnel), has been transferred to handle Forest and Industries.
Priya Basu Ingty Assigned Food & Civil Supplies
Priya Basu Ingty (IAS), Secretary (Labour and Employment), has been posted as Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
Ashish Singmar Gets Additional Health Charge
Ashish Singmar (IAS), Secretary (Digital Technology and Governance), has been given the additional charge of Health and Family Welfare.
Changes in Industries, Tourism and Taxation
Yunus Posted as Secretary, State Taxes & Excise
Yunus (IAS), who was serving as Director of Industries, has been appointed Secretary, State Taxes and Excise.
Sandeep Kumar Becomes Tourism Secretary
Sandeep Kumar (IAS), Divisional Commissioner, Kangra, has been posted as Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Amarjeet Singh Gets Additional Urban Development Charge
Amarjeet Singh (IAS), Secretary (Town and Country Planning and Housing), has been given the additional charge of Urban Development.
Additional Responsibilities and Departmental Appointments
Several other senior officers have also been assigned new responsibilities:
- Vivek Bhatia (IAS), Principal Private Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Director of Industries.
- Rakesh Kumar Prajapati (IAS), Director (Energy), has been appointed Director, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
- Dr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma (IAS), Special Secretary (Health), has been posted as Commissioner, State Taxes and Excise.
- Vivek Chandel (IAS), Director-cum-Warden (Fisheries), has been appointed Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Baddi.
- Madhu Chaudhary (IAS), Registrar of Palampur Agriculture University, has been posted as Special Secretary, Health and Family Welfare.
- Om Kant Thakur (IAS), Managing Director, HP Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation, has been appointed Director-cum-Warden (Fisheries).
- Abhishek Kumar Garga (IAS), Additional Deputy Commissioner, Hamirpur, has been posted as Managing Director, HP State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd.
- Gursimar Singh (IAS), Managing Director, General Industries Corporation (GIC) Ltd., has been appointed Director, Technical Education.
Major HPAS (HAS) Transfers
The reshuffle also covers 22 Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service (HPAS/HAS) officers.
Sachin Kanwal Posted as Shimla Municipal Commissioner
Sachin Kanwal (HPAS), Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been appointed Commissioner, Shimla Municipal Corporation.
He replaces Bhupender Kumar, who has been posted as Managing Director, General Industries Corporation (GIC) Ltd.
Changes in Himachal Pradesh University Administration
Gian Sagar Negi, Registrar of Himachal Pradesh University, has been posted as Additional District Magistrate (Protocol), Shimla.
He replaces Jyoti Rana, who has been appointed Registrar, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU).
Ekta Kapta Posted as ADM Sirmaur
Ekta Kapta, Additional Director (Medical Education), has been transferred as Additional District Magistrate, Sirmaur.
She replaces Liaq Ram Sharma, who has been appointed Managing Director, HIMFED, Shimla.
Further HAS-Level Postings
Apart from the senior appointments, 16 other HPAS officers, primarily serving as Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), have also been transferred and assigned new postings across the state. The government has not highlighted all individual postings in the announcement, but the transfers form part of the broader administrative restructuring aimed at strengthening governance and improving departmental coordination.
Focus on Administrative Efficiency
The latest reshuffle reflects the Himachal Pradesh government’s effort to realign administrative responsibilities across key governance sectors, including Home, Finance, Health, Tourism, Industries, Urban Development and Municipal Administration. With several officers receiving additional portfolios, the exercise is expected to facilitate better coordination and implementation of government programmes across departments.
