Bhuvneshwar: In a significant administrative overhaul, the Government of Odisha has carried out a major reshuffle of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, assigning new roles across departments and districts. The reshuffle includes several officers from the 2022 batch, reflecting the state’s focus on strengthening governance and improving administrative efficiency.
The transfer and posting orders were issued by the General Administration and Public Grievance Department, Government of Odisha, affecting officers at both the state secretariat and district levels.
Manish Agarwal Appointed Registrar of Cooperative Societies
Senior IAS officer Manish Agarwal (IAS:2012) has been appointed Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Odisha.
Prior to this appointment, he was serving as Additional Special Relief Commissioner with additional charge as Additional Secretary in the Planning and Convergence Department.
Smruti Ranjan Pradhan Gets Key Industrial Role
IAS officer Smruti Ranjan Pradhan, who was working as Additional Secretary in the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, has been appointed Managing Director of the Odisha Small Industries Corporation.
He will also continue to hold the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer of Startup Odisha.
With this change, the additional charge of CEO, Startup Odisha earlier held by IAS officer Rashmita Panda has been withdrawn.
Siddhartha Das Posted as Director of Fisheries
IAS officer Siddhartha Das, who was previously serving as Registrar of Cooperative Societies, has now been appointed Director of Fisheries in the state.
Madhusmita Sahoo Gets Education Sector Responsibility
IAS officer Madhusmita Sahoo, who was working as Additional Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department with additional charge as Director of the Revenue Officers’ Training Institute, has been appointed Director of Teachers’ Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (TE & SCERT).
She will continue to serve as Additional Secretary in the School and Mass Education Department.
Other Administrative Changes
The reshuffle also includes several other key postings –
- Upama Kalo, Additional Commissioner (Settlement and Consolidation) in the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Sambalpur, will continue to hold additional charge as Secretary to the RDC (Northern Division).
- Lily Kumari Kullu, earlier Additional Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Public Enterprises Department.
District-Level Transfers
Several changes have also been made at the district administration level –
- Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, Collector and District Magistrate of Malkangiri, has been appointed Director of Textiles and Handlooms.
- Prathamesh Arvind Rajeshirke, Commissioner of Berhampur Municipal Corporation with additional charge as Vice Chairman of the Berhampur Development Authority, has been posted as Collector and District Magistrate of Malkangiri.
2022-Batch IAS Officers Get Key Postings
The reshuffle prominently features officers from the 2022 IAS batch, who have been assigned important administrative roles across districts.
- Akavaram Sasya Reddy, Sub-Collector of Jeypore, has been appointed Commissioner of Berhampur Municipal Corporation, with additional charge as Vice Chairman of the Berhampur Development Authority.
- Akshay Pillay, Sub-Collector of Bonei, has been posted as Additional District Magistrate of Paradeep in Jagatsinghpur district.
- Arugula Sneha, Sub-Collector of Padampur, has been appointed Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad in Mayurbhanj.
- Samir Kumar Jena, Sub-Collector of Talcher, has been appointed CDO-cum-EO of Zilla Parishad in Ganjam.
- Soumyaranjan Pradhan, Sub-Collector of Rairangpur, has been posted as CDO-cum-EO of Zilla Parishad in Kalahandi.
Objective Behind the Reshuffle
According to the state government, the reshuffle aims to –
- Strengthen governance across departments
- Improve administrative efficiency at the district level
- Ensure better coordination in development programmes
- Provide young IAS officers with greater field responsibilities
Such periodic reshuffles are part of administrative reforms intended to optimize governance and service delivery across Odisha.
