New Delhi: In a significant administrative reshuffle, senior IAS officer Prashant Kumar Singh (IAS:1993:MN), who was serving as the Chief Secretary of Manipur, has been appointed as the Secretary of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST). The move marks his return to a central government position just six months after his deputation to Manipur.
ACC Approves Singh’s Appointment to NCST
An official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, confirmed that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Singh’s elevation to the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India for the NCST post.
Singh will succeed Puneet Kumar Goel (IAS:1991:AGMUT), who has now been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Manipur.
Read Also: ACC Clears Key Bureaucratic Moves: FCI GMs Elevated, Prashant Kumar Singh Appointed NCST Secretary
Brief Tenure as Manipur Chief Secretary
Prashant Kumar Singh took charge as the Chief Secretary of Manipur in January 2025, following his deputation from the Centre. Prior to this, he was serving as the Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
His appointment came in the backdrop of political and ethnic unrest in Manipur, replacing Vineet Joshi (IAS:1992:MN), who was appointed as Union Higher Education Secretary in December 2024.
Read Also: IAS Prashant Kumar Singh: Taking Charge of Manipur in Its Toughest Hour
Strategic Administrative Shifts Amid Political Unrest
Singh’s redeployment to the central post is seen as part of ongoing administrative restructuring in response to the complex political situation in Manipur, which remains under President’s Rule following ethnic clashes and the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
His tenure in Manipur, although brief, was marked by efforts to stabilize the state’s governance amid continuing challenges.
