The Government of India has approved the appointment of Ms. Richa Prakash Choudhary, a 2014-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Commerce under the Central Staffing Scheme. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued an official order and notified the Chhattisgarh government to relieve her of her current responsibilities at the earliest.
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Her tenure in the central deputation has been approved for four years, starting from the date she assumes charge. However, the duration may be subject to revision or early termination, based on further directives. As per the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) guidelines, she is required to take up her new role within three weeks of the order’s issuance, failing which debarment proceedings under the Central Staffing Scheme may be initiated, affecting her future central deputation opportunities.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Choudhary served as the Collector of Janjgir and later in Durg, where she was recognized for her proactive governance and development initiatives. Her selection for central deputation is seen as a testament to her administrative capabilities and highlights the increasing representation of Chhattisgarh-cadre officers in key roles at the Centre.
Notably, she is the second IAS officer from Chhattisgarh in recent times to be assigned a central government role, following Ms. Namrata Gandhi, former Collector of Dhamtari. With her transfer to Delhi, the Chhattisgarh government is expected to appoint a new officer to oversee Durg’s administration, which may result in further bureaucratic reshuffling.
The appointment order has been officially communicated to the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, and other relevant authorities. The DoPT has also requested the Department of Commerce to issue a formal notification confirming her appointment.
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