New Delhi: Senior 1995-batch IAS officer Rajeev Singh Thakur (RJ:1995) has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Manipur following the Centre’s approval of his inter-cadre deputation from the Rajasthan cadre to the Manipur cadre.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the deputation as a relaxation of the existing deputation policy. The deputation will continue until June 30, 2029, which is also Thakur’s scheduled date of superannuation.
Thakur will take charge as Chief Secretary (DP/Cabinet/Planning) and will also hold additional responsibilities as Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Principal Resident Commissioner, Manipur Bhawan, New Delhi.
ACC Approves Inter-Cadre Deputation From Rajasthan to Manipur
The appointment follows the ACC’s approval of Mr Thakur’s inter-cadre deputation from Rajasthan to Manipur.
The proposal was moved by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) after curtailing his ongoing central deputation. The deputation has been approved by relaxing the applicable policy provisions.
The move paves the way for Thakur to take charge of the state’s top administrative position and brings a senior officer with experience in state field administration as well as central policymaking into the Manipur administration.
Thakur Gets Multiple Key Responsibilities
As Chief Secretary, IAS Thakur will be responsible for DP, Cabinet and Planning matters in the Manipur government.
In addition to his principal assignment, he will discharge the responsibilities of Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Principal Resident Commissioner, Manipur Bhawan, New Delhi.
The combination of these assignments gives him a wide administrative mandate covering coordination within the state government, planning and cabinet-related work, vigilance matters and liaison with the Union government and other stakeholders in New Delhi.
Appointment Comes Amid Complex Challenges in Manipur
Mr Thakur’s appointment comes at a particularly significant time for Manipur, where the administration continues to focus on restoring peace, normalcy and effective governance following the prolonged ethnic conflict in the state.
The Chief Secretary’s role in such circumstances extends beyond routine functioning of the state secretariat. The office plays a crucial role in coordinating different departments, the security establishment, relief and rehabilitation mechanisms, and engagement with the Central Government.
Administrative coordination, displacement, relief and rehabilitation, rebuilding institutional confidence and restoring trust among communities remain among the major challenges facing the state administration.
Thakur’s experience across field administration, policy formulation and central government assignments is therefore expected to be relevant to the responsibilities of his new position.
Extensive Field Experience in Rajasthan
A significant part of Mr Thakur’s career was spent in field and administrative assignments in Rajasthan.
During his early career, he served as Sub-Divisional Officer in Pali and Rajsamand and later worked as Additional District Collector in Jaipur.
He subsequently served as District Collector in Banswara, Bhilwara, Alwar, Karauli and Sri Ganganagar.
These assignments gave him extensive experience in district-level governance and direct administration, including coordination among multiple departments and implementation of government programmes.
He also held important responsibilities in the Rajasthan government in areas including Rural Development, Livelihood Projects, and Food & Civil Supplies.
Central Deputation Added Policy and Defence Experience
IAS Thakur has also held several significant assignments at the Centre.
In 2017, he was appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence. He later served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs, gaining experience in defence administration and policymaking.
He subsequently served as Additional Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
His central assignments exposed him to areas extending beyond traditional state administration, including defence, military affairs, industrial policy and broader economic governance.
Who Is IAS Rajeev Singh Thakur?
Mr Thakur is a 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Rajasthan cadre with more than three decades of administrative experience.
Born on June 29, 1969, he has served in several important positions in both the Rajasthan government and the Government of India. His career has included assignments as District Collector and District Magistrate, Director, Secretary to Government, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, Secretary and Mission Director, among other responsibilities.
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From Rajasthan Administration to Central Government
Mr Thakur spent a substantial part of his career in the Rajasthan government, where he handled field and policy assignments.
His early and mid-career postings gave him experience in district administration, development programmes, governance and implementation of government policies. He subsequently moved to the Centre on deputation and served in several important ministries and departments.
His Central Government assignments included responsibilities in the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Railways.
He also served in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as Additional Secretary.
Served as Advisor at NITI Aayog
Before the latest inter-cadre deputation, he was serving as an Adviser at NITI Aayog, New Delhi, a position he took up in February 2025.
In this role, he was associated with matters concerning administration, governance and infrastructure.
His latest appointment therefore brings together three distinct strands of his career—long experience in district and state administration, senior-level policy work at the Centre and exposure to governance and infrastructure issues through NITI Aayog.
Inter-Cadre Deputation Till June 2029
The ACC has approved Mr Thakur’s inter-cadre deputation to Manipur until June 30, 2029, which coincides with his date of superannuation.
The approval is significant because inter-cadre deputation involves the movement of an IAS officer from the cadre to which the officer was originally allotted to another state cadre.
In Thakur’s case, the move takes him from the Rajasthan cadre to the Manipur cadre for the remainder of his service.
Experience Across Multiple Domains
Thakur’s career has spanned both field administration and specialised policy assignments. His experience includes district-level governance as well as senior positions at the Centre.
His career profile includes:
- IAS cadre: Rajasthan
- Batch: 1995
- Date of birth: June 29, 1969
- Original cadre: Rajasthan
- Current/most recent assignment: Adviser, NITI Aayog
- New cadre: Manipur, on inter-cadre deputation
- Deputation period: Till June 30, 2029
- Superannuation: June 30, 2029
- Likely new role: Chief Secretary, Manipur
Leadership at a Crucial Time for Manipur
Thakur’s likely appointment as Chief Secretary comes at an important phase for Manipur. The state administration has been working towards restoring normalcy and strengthening governance after prolonged unrest.
As the senior-most administrative officer in the state, the Chief Secretary plays a central role in coordinating departments, advising the political executive, overseeing implementation of government programmes and ensuring coordination between the state administration and the Centre.
Thakur’s extensive experience in state administration, central ministries, industrial policy, infrastructure and NITI Aayog is therefore expected to inform his role if the Manipur government formally appoints him to the post.
Rajeev Singh Thakur and Roli Singh
Mr Thakur is married to Roli Singh, a 1997-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre. She has also held senior positions in the Central Government, including an assignment as Additional Secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
The latest ACC decision now brings Thakur back to a state cadre at the senior-most level of administration, with his deputation to Manipur set to continue until his retirement in June 2029.
Rajeev Singh Thakur’s New Role at a Glance
- Batch/Cadre: 1995-batch IAS, Rajasthan cadre
- New Posting: Chief Secretary, Manipur
- Principal Charge: Chief Secretary (DP/Cabinet/Planning)
- Additional Charge: Chief Vigilance Commissioner
- Additional Charge: Principal Resident Commissioner, Manipur Bhawan, New Delhi
- Movement: Inter-cadre deputation from Rajasthan to Manipur
- Approving Authority: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
- Tenure: Until June 30, 2029
- Policy: Deputation approved as a relaxation of the existing policy
- Earlier Assignment: Advisor, NITI Aayog
- A Career Spanning Field Administration and Central Policy
IAS Thakur’s appointment marks the movement of a senior Rajasthan-cadre officer with more than three decades of administrative experience into one of the country’s most challenging state-level assignments.
His career has covered district administration, rural development, food and civil supplies, defence, military affairs, industrial policy, infrastructure and central governance.
His experience as a district collector across several Rajasthan districts has given him extensive exposure to grassroots administration, while his central assignments have involved policymaking and coordination at the highest levels of government.
The Manipur assignment will now put this combination of field experience and central policy exposure to the test as the state continues its efforts towards peace, normalcy, rehabilitation and administrative strengthening.
