NEW DELHI: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the inter-cadre deputation of Rajeev Singh Thakur, IAS (RJ:1995), from the Rajasthan cadre to the Manipur cadre, in a move that is likely to pave the way for his appointment as the next Chief Secretary of Manipur.
The approval comes at a crucial juncture for Manipur, which continues to focus on restoring peace, normalcy and effective administration following the prolonged ethnic conflict in the state.
According to the ACC decision, Thakur’s inter-cadre deputation will continue until June 30, 2029, the date of his superannuation. The deputation has been approved as a relaxation of the existing deputation policy.
The proposal was moved by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) after curtailing his ongoing central deputation.
Rajeev Singh Thakur Likely to Be Next Manipur Chief Secretary
With the Centre clearing his transfer to the Manipur cadre, IAS Thakur is likely to be appointed Chief Secretary of Manipur.
His formal appointment to the top administrative post is expected to be notified by the Manipur government.
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Thakur’s elevation comes as the state administration faces the challenging task of strengthening governance and supporting efforts towards peace and normalcy. His long experience in both Rajasthan and the Central Government is expected to be valuable in handling the state’s administrative and policy requirements.
Who Is IAS Rajeev Singh Thakur?
Mr Thakur is a 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Rajasthan cadre with more than three decades of administrative experience.
Born on June 29, 1969, he has served in several important positions in both the Rajasthan government and the Government of India. His career has included assignments as District Collector and District Magistrate, Director, Secretary to Government, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, Secretary and Mission Director, among other responsibilities.
Before the latest inter-cadre deputation, he was serving as an Adviser at NITI Aayog, New Delhi, a position he took up in February 2025.
From Rajasthan Administration to Central Government
Mr Thakur spent a substantial part of his career in the Rajasthan government, where he handled field and policy assignments.
His early and mid-career postings gave him experience in district administration, development programmes, governance and implementation of government policies. He subsequently moved to the Centre on deputation and served in several important ministries and departments.
His Central Government assignments included responsibilities in the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Railways.
He also served in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as Additional Secretary.
NITI Aayog Assignment
In February 2025, Mr Thakur was appointed Adviser, NITI Aayog.
His tenure at the government think tank added another dimension to his administrative experience, particularly in policy formulation and strategic planning.
In July 2026, he was also granted an in-situ upgradation to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, according to the details provided.
His Central deputation was subsequently curtailed to facilitate his move to Manipur.
Inter-Cadre Deputation Till June 2029
The ACC has approved Mr Thakur’s inter-cadre deputation to Manipur until June 30, 2029, which coincides with his date of superannuation.
The approval is significant because inter-cadre deputation involves the movement of an IAS officer from the cadre to which the officer was originally allotted to another state cadre.
In Thakur’s case, the move takes him from the Rajasthan cadre to the Manipur cadre for the remainder of his service.
Experience Across Multiple Domains
Thakur’s career has spanned both field administration and specialised policy assignments. His experience includes district-level governance as well as senior positions at the Centre.
His career profile includes:
- IAS cadre: Rajasthan
- Batch: 1995
- Date of birth: June 29, 1969
- Original cadre: Rajasthan
- Current/most recent assignment: Adviser, NITI Aayog
- New cadre: Manipur, on inter-cadre deputation
- Deputation period: Till June 30, 2029
- Superannuation: June 30, 2029
- Likely new role: Chief Secretary, Manipur
Leadership at a Crucial Time for Manipur
Thakur’s likely appointment as Chief Secretary comes at an important phase for Manipur. The state administration has been working towards restoring normalcy and strengthening governance after prolonged unrest.
As the senior-most administrative officer in the state, the Chief Secretary plays a central role in coordinating departments, advising the political executive, overseeing implementation of government programmes and ensuring coordination between the state administration and the Centre.
Thakur’s extensive experience in state administration, central ministries, industrial policy, infrastructure and NITI Aayog is therefore expected to inform his role if the Manipur government formally appoints him to the post.
Rajeev Singh Thakur and Roli Singh
Rajeev Singh Thakur is married to Roli Singh, a 1997-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre. She has also held senior positions in the Central Government, including an assignment as Additional Secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
The latest ACC decision now brings Thakur back to a state cadre at the senior-most level of administration, with his deputation to Manipur set to continue until his retirement in June 2029.
