Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has formally sought the repatriation of senior IAS officer Rajeev Singh Thakur (IAS: 1995) to the state cadre, as the state administration looks to strengthen its senior-level leadership amid growing administrative requirements.
Thakur is currently serving as an Advisor in NITI Aayog under the Central Government. His repatriation is part of a wider effort by Rajasthan to bring back experienced senior officers from Central deputation. The state has already sought the return of three other senior IAS officers — Prakash Rajpurohit, KK Pathak and Gaurav Goyal.
Requests for the repatriation of all four officers are currently pending with the Central Government.
Rajeev Singh Thakur Serving as NITI Aayog Advisor
A 1995-batch IAS officer, Rajeev Singh Thakur has been on Central deputation since December 2017, completing nearly eight years of service with the Union Government.
He was entrusted with the position of Advisor in NITI Aayog in February 2025. Before taking up the advisory assignment, he had been promoted to the rank of Secretary in the Central Government and was subsequently appointed as an Advisor.
His current tenure as Advisor is scheduled to continue until December 3, 2026.
Thakur is due to retire in June 2027, making his potential return to Rajasthan particularly significant for the state administration as it seeks experienced officers for key responsibilities.
Four Senior IAS Officers Await Centre’s Decision
Rajeev Singh Thakur is not the only senior officer whose return has been requested by Rajasthan.
The state government has also sought the repatriation of:
- Prakash Rajpurohit
- KK Pathak
- Gaurav Goyal
According to officials familiar with the developments, requests concerning all four officers are pending with the Central Government.
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Despite repeated representations made by the Rajasthan government over the past year, the Centre has so far not relieved any of the four officers for their return to the Rajasthan cadre.
The return of these senior officers could provide the state government with additional options for filling important administrative positions and undertaking a broader restructuring of senior-level responsibilities.
Cooling-Off Provisions and Thakur’s Cadre Return
Thakur’s case also comes against the backdrop of rules governing Central deputation and cooling-off requirements.
According to officials familiar with the matter, following his promotion to the Secretary level and in view of the applicable cooling-off provisions, his return to the home state cadre is no longer mandatory.
Despite this, the Rajasthan government has sought his repatriation, reflecting the state’s requirement for experienced senior officers.
With Thakur’s current Central tenure scheduled to run until December 2026, the timing of his return will depend on the Centre’s decision on the state’s request.
Long-Awaited Rajasthan IAS Transfer List May Gain Momentum
The possibility of a long-awaited IAS transfer and posting list in Rajasthan has gained momentum amid the pending repatriation requests and growing administrative requirements.
The expected return of senior officers could form one of the factors in deciding the state’s next round of senior-level administrative appointments.
The Rajasthan administration is also facing the need to make changes in several key departments, increasing expectations of a reshuffle.
High Court Direction on Rajasthan Administrative Tribunal
The situation has also been influenced by a recent direction of the High Court, which asked the Rajasthan government to fill the post of Chairman of the Rajasthan Administrative Tribunal (RAT).
The post has reportedly remained vacant for around four months, and the court has directed the state government to fill the position within one week.
The process of appointing a Chairman to the tribunal could also necessitate changes in the senior administrative setup, adding to speculation over a broader IAS reshuffle.
Several Key Departments Await Administrative Changes
Apart from the RAT appointment, administrative changes are considered necessary in several important departments of the Rajasthan government.
Among the departments where changes are being considered are:
- Industries
- Medical
- Transport
- Energy
- Finance
- Public Health Engineering Department (PHED)
Officials believe that a reshuffle has been overdue in several of these departments.
The availability of additional senior officers, particularly if the Centre approves Rajasthan’s repatriation requests, could give the state greater flexibility in restructuring these departments.
Number of IAS Officers Awaiting Posting Orders Rises to 10
Meanwhile, the number of IAS officers currently awaiting posting orders (APO) in Rajasthan has continued to rise.
With the recent addition of H Guite and Ambrish Kumar to the APO list, the total number of IAS officers awaiting posting orders has reached 10.
The growing APO list is another factor adding to expectations of an imminent administrative exercise.
The state government could use the next transfer and posting exercise to address vacant or pending assignments, redistribute responsibilities among senior officers and accommodate any officers returning from Central deputation.
Repatriation Could Reshape Rajasthan’s Senior Administrative Setup
The Centre’s decision on Rajasthan’s request for the return of Rajeev Singh Thakur and the three other senior IAS officers could have a direct bearing on the state’s forthcoming administrative arrangements.
With multiple departments requiring changes, the RAT Chairman post needing to be filled and the number of IAS officers awaiting posting orders increasing, pressure is building for the state government to undertake a comprehensive administrative exercise.
For now, however, the repatriation requests of Rajeev Singh Thakur, Prakash Rajpurohit, KK Pathak and Gaurav Goyal remain pending with the Central Government.
If the Centre approves the requests, Rajasthan could gain access to four experienced senior officers at a time when the state administration is preparing for significant changes across several key departments.
Key Developments
- Rajasthan has sought the repatriation of four senior IAS officers from Central deputation.
- Rajeev Singh Thakur (IAS: 1995) is currently serving as an Advisor in NITI Aayog.
- Thakur has been on Central deputation since December 2017 and is due to retire in June 2027.
- His current tenure as NITI Aayog Advisor is scheduled until December 3, 2026.
- The state has also sought the return of Prakash Rajpurohit, KK Pathak and Gaurav Goyal.
- The repatriation requests of all four officers are pending with the Centre.
- Rajasthan’s IAS reshuffle is expected to gain momentum amid administrative requirements.
- The High Court has directed the state to fill the vacant Rajasthan Administrative Tribunal Chairman post within one week.
- Key departments including Industries, Medical, Transport, Energy, Finance and PHED may see administrative changes.
- The number of IAS officers awaiting posting orders has risen to 10 following the addition of H Guite and Ambrish Kumar.
