Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has carried out a major administrative reshuffle involving 36 IAS officers, changing several key departmental and district-level assignments across the state.
The late-night/Friday orders include transfers of District Collectors, departmental directors, secretaries and senior field officers, besides fresh postings for officers who were awaiting assignment. Several officers have also been entrusted with additional charges of important departments, missions, corporations and government agencies.
Among the significant changes, Sriram V has moved from Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare to the Forest and Wildlife Department, while Renu Raj has been given a wider role in the health sector. There are also changes in the district leadership of Thiruvananthapuram, Wayanad, Kasaragod and other administrative centres.
Sriram V Moves to Forest and Wildlife Department
Sriram V (KL:2013), Director, Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as Joint Secretary and Officer on Special Duty, Forest and Wildlife Department.
He will also hold the full additional charge of Joint Secretary and Officer on Special Duty, Skill and Cashew Development Department. He will continue as Managing Director of the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence.
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Renu Raj Gets Additional Health Responsibilities
Renu Raj (KL:2015), Additional Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, has been entrusted with the full additional charge of State Mission Director, National Health Mission, Project Director, e-Health, and Managing Director, State Health Agency.
She has been relieved of the charge of Managing Director, Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd and Managing Director, Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society.
Changes in Cultural Affairs, Disaster Management and KSTP
Inbasekar K (KL:2015), Director, Cultural Affairs Department, has been transferred and posted as Director, State Lotteries. He will continue to hold the full additional charge of Director, Cultural Affairs.
V. Vigneshwari (KL:2015), Director, Women and Child Development Department, will hold the full additional charge of Commissioner, Disaster Management, in addition to her existing additional charge.
Vinod V R (KL:2015), Additional Secretary, Public Works Department, will hold the full additional charge of Project Director, Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), in addition to his existing additional charge.
Industries and General Education Departments Swapped
Arun K Vijayan (KL:2016), Director, Industries Department, has been transferred and posted as Director, General Education. He will also hold the full additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, Education Rejuvenation Mission.
Snehil Kumar Singh (KL:2016), Director, General Education, has been transferred and posted as Director, Industries & Commerce Department. He will also hold the full additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and Managing Director, Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL).
District-Level Changes
Priyanka G (KL:2017), District Collector, Ernakulam, will hold the full additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority, in addition to her existing additional charge.
Anju K S (KL:2017), Director, State Lotteries, has been transferred and posted as District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram. She will also hold the full additional charge of Chairperson of the Monitoring Committee constituted to resolve rehabilitation issues connected with the Vizhinjam Port Project.
Arjun Pandian (KL:2017), District Collector, Kasaragod, has been transferred and posted as Director, Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare Department. He will also hold the full additional charges of Additional Project Director, KERA; Registrar, Co-operative Societies; and Director, Co-operative Audit.
Anu Kumari (KL:2018), District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram, has been transferred and posted as Special Commissioner, GST.
Sikha Surendran (KL:2018), District Collector, Thrissur, will hold the full additional charge of Director General, Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), in addition to her existing additional charge.
Wayanad and Kasaragod Get New Collectors
Chelsasini V (KL:2019), Director, Fisheries Department, has been transferred and posted as District Collector, Wayanad.
Sreedhanya Suresh (KL:2019), Commissioner, Food Safety, has been transferred and posted as District Collector, Kasaragod.
The changes bring new leadership to the district administrations of Wayanad and Kasaragod while creating corresponding changes in the Fisheries and Food Safety establishments.
More Changes in Local Government, Tribal Development and Civil Supplies
D. Dharmalashri (KL:2019), Joint Secretary, Local Self Government Department, will hold the full additional charge of Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission, in addition to her existing additional charges.
Binu Francis (KL:2019), Joint Managing Director, Kerala Water Authority, has been transferred and posted as Director, Scheduled Tribes Development Department. He has been relieved of all his existing additional charges.
Harikumar K (KL:2019), Director, Mining and Geology, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs. He will also hold the full additional charge of Director, Coir Development Department.
Arun S Nair (KL:2020), Director, Social Justice Department, will hold the full additional charge of Executive Director, Kerala Social Security Mission and Director, Elderly Welfare.
He has been relieved of the post of Chief Executive Officer, Cochin Smart Mission Ltd and Chief Executive Officer, Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority.
Labour, IT and Revenue Postings Revised
Safna Nazarudeen (KL:2020), Labour Commissioner, will hold the full charge of Director, Employment and Training. She has been relieved of the post of Joint Commissioner, Land Revenue.
Sachin Kumar Yadav (KL:2020), Deputy Secretary, Finance Department, has been transferred and posted as Director, Kerala State IT Mission.
He will also hold the additional charge of Director, Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre; Chief Executive Officer, Technopark; and Managing Director, Kerala Fibre Optic Network Limited (KFON). He has been relieved of all his existing charges.
Sandip Kumar (KL:2020), Director, Kerala State IT Mission, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Secretary, Finance Department. He will hold the full additional charges of Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Rebuild Kerala Initiative, and Officer on Special Duty, General Administration (AIS) Department.
Mohammed Shafiq (KL:2020), Additional Commissioner, Kerala State Goods and Services Tax Department, has been transferred and posted as Officer on Special Duty and Joint Secretary, Revenue. He will also hold the full additional charge of Director, Programme Implementation, Evaluation and Monitoring Department.
Health Department Sees Another Major Change
Anu S Nair (KL:2020), State Mission Director, National Health Mission, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner, Food Safety.
She will also hold the full additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala State Medical Services Corporation Limited, and Managing Director, Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society.
She has been relieved of the charges of State Mission Director, National Health Mission; Project Director, e-Health; and Executive Director, State Health Agency.
Land Revenue and Information & Public Relations Departments
Rejil M C (KL:2020), Director, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, has been transferred and posted as Joint Commissioner, Land Revenue. He will also hold the full additional charges of Director, Institute of Land and Disaster Management (ILDM), and Secretary, Land Board.
Sabin Sameed (KL:2020), Secretary, Land Board, has been transferred and posted as Director, Information and Public Relations Department.
He will also hold the full additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation. He has been relieved of all other charges.
Mining, Fisheries and Collegiate Education
Mithun Premraj (KL:2021), Director, Scheduled Tribes Development Department, has been transferred and posted as Director, Mining and Geology Department.
He will also hold the full additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (KEMDEL) and Member Secretary, Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC).
Misal Sagar Bharat (KL:2021), Project Director, Kerala State Transport Project, has been transferred and posted as Director, Fisheries Department.
Sameer Kishan (KL:2021), Deputy Secretary and Officer on Special Duty, Industries Department, has been transferred and posted as Director, Collegiate Education, and Commissioner, Entrance Examinations.
Jayakrishnan V M (KL:2021), Managing Director, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited, will hold the full additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, Kochi Smart City Limited, and Managing Director, Construction Corporation of Kerala.
Fresh Postings for Officers Awaiting Assignment
The reshuffle also includes postings for IAS officers who were waiting for assignment.
Dilip K Kainikkara (KL:2022), who was awaiting posting, has been appointed Additional District Magistrate, Sabarimala, against the ex-cadre post created for the Mandala Makaravilakku Season 2026-27.
The appointment has been made by invoking Section 20(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. He will have full responsibility for coordinating the activities of all government departments and agencies operating in Sabarimala, Pampa and Nilakkal in connection with the Mandala Makaravilakku Season 2026-27.
Alfred OV (KL:2022), also awaiting posting, has been appointed Deputy Secretary, Elderly Welfare Department. He will hold the full additional charge of Joint Chief Executive Officer, Maritime Board, and Nodal Officer, Mission Samudra.
Akhil V Menon (KL:2022), awaiting posting, has been appointed Director, Sports & Youth Affairs. He will also hold the full additional charge of Secretary, Kerala State Sports Council, and Director, Kerala Youth Leadership Academy.
Sumit Kumar Thakur (KL:2022) has been appointed Additional Director (General), Tourism. He will also hold the full additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (KTDC).
Sub-Collector Postings Also Changed
Grandhe Saikrishna (KL:2023), Sub Collector, Fort Kochi, will hold the full additional charge of Managing Director, Vyttila Mobility Hub.
Archana P P (KL:2024), Sub Collector, Kanhangad, has been transferred and posted as Sub Collector, Vadakara.
Complete List of IAS Transfers
- Sriram V (KL:2013) – Director, Agriculture Development & Farmers Welfare – Joint Secretary & OSD, Forest & Wildlife; additional charge, Skill & Cashew Development.
- Renu Raj (KL:2015) – Additional Secretary, Health & Family Welfare – Additional charge, State Mission Director, NHM; Project Director, e-Health; MD, State Health Agency.
- Inbasekar K (KL:2015) – Director, Cultural Affairs – Director, State Lotteries; retains additional charge of Cultural Affairs.
- V. Vigneshwari (KL:2015) – Director, Women & Child Development – Additional charge, Commissioner, Disaster Management.
- Vinod V R (KL:2015) – Additional Secretary, Public Works – Additional charge, Project Director, KSTP.
- Arun K Vijayan (KL:2016) – Director, Industries – Director, General Education; additional charge, CEO Education Rejuvenation Mission.
- Snehil Kumar Singh (KL:2016) – Director, General Education – Director, Industries & Commerce; additional charges, MD KSIDC & KSITIL.
- Priyanka G (KL:2017) – District Collector, Ernakulam – Additional charge, CEO Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority.
- Anju K S (KL:2017) – Director, State Lotteries – District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram; additional charge, Vizhinjam Monitoring Committee.
- Arjun Pandian (KL:2017) – District Collector, Kasaragod – Director, Agriculture Development & Farmers Welfare; additional charges, KERA, Co-operative Societies & Audit.
- Anu Kumari (KL:2018) – District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram – Special Commissioner, GST.
- Sikha Surendran (KL:2018) – District Collector, Thrissur – Additional charge, Director General, KILA.
- Chelsasini V (KL:2019) – Director, Fisheries – District Collector, Wayanad.
- Sreedhanya Suresh (KL:2019) – Commissioner, Food Safety – District Collector, Kasaragod.
- D. Dharmalashri (KL:2019) – Joint Secretary, Local Self Government – Additional charge, Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission.
- Binu Francis (KL:2019) – Joint Managing Director, Kerala Water Authority – Director, Scheduled Tribes Development.
- Harikumar K (KL:2019) – Director, Mining & Geology – Commissioner, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs; additional charge, Coir Development.
- Arun S Nair (KL:2020) – Director, Social Justice – Additional charges, Executive Director, Kerala Social Security Mission & Director, Elderly Welfare.
- Safna Nazarudeen (KL:2020) – Labour Commissioner – Director, Employment & Training.
- Sachin Kumar Yadav (KL:2020) – Deputy Secretary, Finance – Director, Kerala State IT Mission; additional charges, KSRSEC, Technopark & KFON.
- Sandip Kumar (KL:2020) – Director, Kerala State IT Mission – Deputy Secretary, Finance; additional charges, Rebuild Kerala Initiative & GA (AIS).
- Mohammed Shafiq (KL:2020) – Additional Commissioner, Kerala SGST – OSD & Joint Secretary, Revenue; additional charge, Programme Implementation, Evaluation & Monitoring.
- Anu S Nair (KL:2020) – State Mission Director, NHM – Commissioner, Food Safety; additional charges, KMSCL & Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society.
- Rejil M C (KL:2020) – Director, Sports & Youth Affairs – Joint Commissioner, Land Revenue; additional charges, ILDM & Land Board.
- Sabin Sameed (KL:2020) – Secretary, Land Board – Director, Information & Public Relations; additional charge, Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation.
- Mithun Premraj (KL:2021) – Director, Scheduled Tribes Development – Director, Mining & Geology; additional charges, KEMDEL & K-DISC.
- Misal Sagar Bharat (KL:2021) – Project Director, KSTP – Director, Fisheries.
- Sameer Kishan (KL:2021) – Deputy Secretary & OSD, Industries – Director, Collegiate Education & Commissioner, Entrance Examinations.
- Jayakrishnan V M (KL:2021) – MD, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation – Additional charges, CEO Kochi Smart City & MD Construction Corporation of Kerala.
- Dilip K Kainikkara (KL:2022) – Awaiting posting – Additional District Magistrate, Sabarimala, for Mandala Makaravilakku Season 2026-27.
- Alfred OV (KL:2022) – Awaiting posting – Deputy Secretary, Elderly Welfare; additional charges, Maritime Board & Mission Samudra.
- Akhil V Menon (KL:2022) – Awaiting posting – Director, Sports & Youth Affairs; additional charges, Kerala State Sports Council & Kerala Youth Leadership Academy.
- Sumit Kumar Thakur (KL:2022) – Additional Director (General), Tourism – Additional charge, MD Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
- Grandhe Saikrishna (KL:2023) – Sub Collector, Fort Kochi – Additional charge, MD Vyttila Mobility Hub.
- Archana P P (KL:2024) – Sub Collector, Kanhangad – Sub Collector, Vadakara.
A Wide-Ranging Administrative Reorganisation
The reshuffle brings changes across some of Kerala’s most important administrative sectors, including health, education, agriculture, industries, IT, revenue, fisheries, social justice, tourism, sports, local administration and district governance.
A notable feature of the orders is the extensive use of additional-charge arrangements, with several officers simultaneously being assigned responsibility for missions, boards, corporations and government agencies alongside their primary postings.
The reshuffle also strengthens the district-level administrative setup with new Collectors for Thiruvananthapuram, Wayanad and Kasaragod, while several senior officers have moved between field assignments and key departmental positions.
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