Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department is expected to see changes in its senior administrative structure in the coming months, with two senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers set to return to their parent cadre after serving on deputation outside the state.
Kanchan Devi, a 1991-batch IFS officer currently serving as Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, is expected to return to Madhya Pradesh in January 2027 after the conclusion of her central deputation.
Meanwhile, Prakash Unhale, a 1996-batch IFS officer serving as Additional Resident Commissioner at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi, is likely to return to Bhopal in February 2027.
Their return is expected to bring changes in the allocation of senior responsibilities within the state Forest Department. Both officers may be considered for important assignments at the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) level, although their specific postings will be decided by the state government.
Kanchan Devi: First Woman IFS Officer to Head ICFRE
Kanchan Devi, a 1991-batch IFS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, currently heads the Dehradun-based Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education as its Director General.
She is the first woman IFS officer in the country to hold the position of Director General of ICFRE. During her central deputation, she has been associated with the organisation’s work in forestry research, education and related institutional activities.
After completing her deputation, she is expected to return to Madhya Pradesh in January 2027. Her experience at the national-level forestry research institution is likely to be relevant to the responsibilities she may be assigned in the state.
According to the information available, the Madhya Pradesh government may entrust her with a significant responsibility at the PCCF level.
Prakash Unhale Likely to Return After a Decade in Delhi
Prakash Unhale, a 1996-batch IFS officer, is also expected to return to his parent cadre after serving in New Delhi for nearly a decade.
He has been posted as Additional Resident Commissioner at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi since 2016. In this role, he has been associated with administrative coordination between the Madhya Pradesh government and the Central Government, besides overseeing state-related affairs in the national capital.
Unhale is currently at the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) level. Following his return, he may be considered for promotion to the PCCF rank and could be assigned an important responsibility at the Forest Department headquarters in Bhopal.
His expected return in February 2027 would bring back an officer with extensive experience in handling state-government coordination and administrative matters in Delhi.
Two Senior Officers Set to Retire in 2027
The Forest Department’s senior-level administrative structure is also expected to undergo changes due to the scheduled retirements of two officers in 2027.
Vibhash Thakur, currently serving on deputation as Chief Executive Officer of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance, is scheduled to retire at the end of January 2027.
Another senior officer, Bindu Sharma, who is serving as PCCF (Administration-1), is due to retire in July 2027.
Their retirements will add to the changes expected in the department during the first half of the year, particularly in the allocation of responsibilities at the PCCF level.
Two of the 10 PCCF-Level Posts Remain Vacant
The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has a total of 10 PCCF-level posts, comprising five posts within the core cadre and five designated as non-cadre posts, generally associated with deputation assignments.
According to the information provided, two of the five non-cadre PCCF-level posts are currently vacant. This is being attributed to the absence of eligible IFS officers available for appointment to these positions.
The situation is described as unusual, with such vacancies reportedly occurring for the first time in two decades.
The availability of officers eligible for promotion to the PCCF rank has therefore become an important factor in the department’s senior-level postings.
Mohan Meena Faces Two Departmental Inquiries
Mohan Meena, a 1994-batch IFS officer currently serving as APCCF (Monitoring), is facing two departmental inquiries, according to the information provided.
His position is among the factors relevant to the current availability of eligible officers for senior-level assignments. The status and outcome of the inquiries have not been specified in the supplied information.
1997-Batch Officers to Become Eligible for PCCF Rank in June 2027
Another important factor affecting senior-level promotions is the eligibility of officers from the 1997 batch.
These officers have not yet completed the required 30 years of service for consideration for the PCCF rank. They are expected to reach the 30-year service milestone in June 2027.
The officers from the 1997 batch mentioned in this context include Kamalika Mohanta, Managing Director of the Minor Forest Produce Federation; L. Krishnamurthy, APCCF (Wildlife); Ajay Yadav; and H.S. Mohanta.
Until they complete the required service period, they will have to wait for consideration for promotion to the PCCF level.
Senior-Level Changes Expected in MP Forest Department
The expected return of Kanchan Devi in January and Prakash Unhale in February, along with the retirements of Vibhash Thakur and Bindu Sharma, is likely to bring changes to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department’s senior administrative structure in 2027.
The availability of eligible officers for PCCF-level positions will also remain an important consideration. With two non-cadre posts currently vacant and the 1997-batch officers becoming eligible only in June 2027, the department’s senior-level arrangements may evolve over the coming months.
