Retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Rajiv Kumar took the oath of office as the Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog (HPRCA) on Tuesday at the state secretariat in Hamirpur. The oath was administered by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena.
Kumar, who had been appointed to the prestigious post on September 12, 2024, had to wait for the formal ceremony due to health-related delays. His appointment comes at a crucial time when the state government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is working to restore credibility to the recruitment process in the state.
The Sukhu government had recently dissolved the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission (HPSSC) following allegations of recruitment irregularities. With the appointment of Kumar, who brings decades of administrative experience, there are high expectations for a reformative approach to recruitment processes under the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog.
In his new role, Kumar is expected to lead the Aayog with a strong emphasis on transparency, integrity, and a thorough review of recruitment procedures. The focus will be on restoring public trust in the recruitment system, addressing past concerns, and ensuring that appointments are made in a fair and equitable manner.
The establishment of the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog is seen as a step towards greater accountability in the state’s public service sector. Under Kumar’s leadership, it is hoped that the Aayog will effectively tackle any remaining challenges in the recruitment process and set new standards for future appointments.
Rajiv Kumar, an IFS officer of the 1988 batch from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, had an illustrious career in the foreign service before his retirement. His deep administrative acumen and reputation for integrity are expected to play a key role in the Aayog’s efforts to overhaul the recruitment system in the state.
