Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh is expected to witness significant changes in its senior bureaucracy in 2027, with 25 senior IAS officers scheduled to retire during the year. The list includes five officers at the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) level and 20 at the Secretary and Additional Secretary levels, according to a report by Dainik Bhaskar.
Among the prominent officers due to retire are Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal, scheduled to superannuate in January, and Dr Rajesh Kumar Rajora, the senior-most serving IAS officer in the state cadre, whose retirement is due in May.
The timing has brought attention to the next appointment to the state’s top administrative post. However, the decision will rest with the Madhya Pradesh government, and the eventual choice will depend on the circumstances at the time of the appointment.
Ashok Barnwal’s Retirement in January to Bring Chief Secretary Succession into Focus
Ashok Barnwal, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was appointed Chief Secretary in July 2026. He is scheduled to retire in January 2027.
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If he does not receive an extension, the state government will have to appoint a successor to the post.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajora, a 1990-batch IAS officer, is senior to Barnwal in the cadre. He is scheduled to retire in May 2027 and is currently serving as Director General of the RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration and Management in Bhopal.
Rajora has previously held several important assignments, including Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the Narmada Valley Development Department and the Water Resources Department.
His remaining service period will be a relevant factor in the succession discussion, although the appointment will ultimately be decided by the state government.
Three Officers Reportedly Among Possible Contenders
The three officers who could be considered for the Chief Secretary position if Barnwal does not receive an extension and Rajora is not appointed.
They are:
- Manoj Govil (1991: MP): Currently serving as Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat on central deputation. He has also held responsibilities in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Finance Ministry. His retirement is scheduled for March 2029.
- Manu Srivastava (1991: MP): Serving as Additional Chief Secretary in Madhya Pradesh’s New and Renewable Energy Department. He has worked in the state’s solar, wind and hydropower sectors and is scheduled to retire in September 2027.
- Pankaj Agrawal (1992: MP): Serving as Secretary in the Union Ministry of Power. He has been on central deputation since 2019 and previously held responsibilities in Madhya Pradesh’s power sector. His retirement is scheduled for November 2029.
These names have been reported as possible contenders; no official announcement has been made regarding the next Chief Secretary.
25 Senior IAS Officers Scheduled to Retire in 2027
The retirement list covers officers serving at different levels of the state’s administrative hierarchy.
Some of the prominent names mentioned in the report include:
- Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajora (1990: MP): May 2027
- Ashok Barnwal (1991: MP): January 2027
- Manu Srivastava (1991: MP): September 2027
- B.S. Jamod (2006: MP): May 2027
- Anil Suchari (2006: MP): September 2027
- Manish Singh (2009: MP), Commissioner, Public Relations: December 2027
- Deepak Saxena (2010: MP), Excise Commissioner: December 2027
- Alok Kumar Singh: September 2027
- Deepak Singh (2007: MP): April 2027
- Dilip Kumar: September 2027
The are other senior officers, including K.S. Gupta, V.L. Kantha Rao, Vandana Vaidya (2009: MP), Anupam Srivastava, Prabal Sepaha (2009: MP), Satendra Singh (2009: MP), Shailendra Singh, Dinesh Kumar Maurya, Ajay Srivastava, Sunil Dubey and Pramod Shukla.
September to See the Highest Number of Retirements
According to the month-wise breakup published with the report, September will see the highest number of senior IAS retirements, with five officers scheduled to superannuate.
The reported distribution is:
- January, April, May and December: Three officers each.
- February, August and November: Two officers each.
- March and June: One officer each.
- July and October: No retirements listed.
32 officers from the State Administrative Service and the Additional Collector-level administration are scheduled to retire during 2027. Some Deputy Collectors are also expected to superannuate.
The upcoming retirements will require the state to fill vacancies across several levels of the administrative hierarchy. The Chief Secretary appointment, however, will remain a separate decision of the state government.
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