Gangtok: Retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Rinzing Chewang Bhutia has joined the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in Sikkim as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. He assumed charge of the position on October 1, 2026, according to official government communications.
Before his retirement from active civil service, Bhutia served as Secretary-cum-Relief Commissioner in the state’s Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department. During his administrative career, he also held responsibilities in the Department of Personnel, Food and Civil Supplies Department, and Agriculture Department.
His appointment as Principal Secretary brings his administrative experience back into the state government’s senior leadership structure following his retirement. The role places him in the Chief Minister’s Office in Gangtok, where he will serve in a key administrative position.
Who Is Rinzing Chewang Bhutia?
Mr Bhutia is a retired IAS officer of the 2013 batch from the Sikkim cadre. He originally belonged to the Sikkim State Civil Service and was subsequently inducted into the IAS through promotion.
Born on September 17, 1966, Bhutia hails from Sikkim and holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Zoology. His civil service profile lists his IAS identity number as 01SK822T01.
His career reflects a progression from the state civil service to the IAS, followed by assignments in several important departments of the Sikkim government. These responsibilities covered personnel administration, disaster management, food security and agriculture.
Served as Secretary in Sikkim’s Department of Personnel
One of Bhutia’s significant administrative assignments was in the Department of Personnel, where he was appointed Secretary on September 18, 2023.
The department plays a central role in managing personnel-related matters within the state government, including administrative coordination and matters concerning government officers and employees. Bhutia’s tenure in the department formed an important part of his senior administrative career in Sikkim.
His experience in personnel administration also provided exposure to the state’s bureaucratic structure and the functioning of its civil services.
Handled Land Revenue and Disaster Management Responsibilities
On October 30, 2025, Bhutia was assigned additional charge as Secretary-cum-Relief Commissioner in the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
The department handles important responsibilities relating to land administration, disaster preparedness, relief operations and rehabilitation. As Secretary-cum-Relief Commissioner, Bhutia was associated with administrative coordination for disaster-related public services and relief measures.
His responsibilities included work connected with rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by natural disasters, including flash-flood-related relief and rehabilitation activities in places such as Rimbi Village.
The assignment was particularly relevant to Sikkim, a Himalayan state vulnerable to natural hazards, including flash floods and landslides. Disaster management requires coordination among government departments, district administrations and field-level agencies to deliver relief and support affected communities.
Bhutia’s experience in this department was among his last major assignments before his retirement from active service.
Experience in Food and Civil Supplies and Agriculture
In addition to personnel administration and disaster management, Bhutia held responsibilities in the Food and Civil Supplies Department and the Agriculture Department at different points in his career.
The Food and Civil Supplies portfolio involves matters related to food distribution, essential commodities and the Public Distribution System (PDS). These functions are important for ensuring access to essential supplies, particularly for vulnerable households and communities in remote areas.
His administrative experience in the sector included responsibilities associated with food security and the functioning of public distribution mechanisms.
In the Agriculture Department, his role involved another important area of state administration: supporting agricultural development and the implementation of government programmes for the sector.
These assignments broadened his experience across departments dealing with both essential public services and economic development.
From State Civil Service to the IAS
Bhutia’s career followed a route taken by some IAS officers who begin their professional lives in a state’s civil service before being promoted to the All India Services.
He entered government service through the Sikkim State Civil Service and was subsequently inducted into the IAS. His IAS batch and cadre are listed as 2013, Sikkim.
Over the years, he held senior positions across multiple departments, gaining experience in administrative management, disaster relief, food distribution and agriculture. His transition to the Chief Minister’s Office after retirement marks a new phase in his public service career.
Rinzing Chewang Bhutia’s Post-Retirement Appointment
Bhutia assumed charge as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on October 1, 2026, following his retirement from active IAS service.
The appointment allows the Sikkim government to continue drawing on his administrative experience in a senior position within the CMO. His previous assignments in the Department of Personnel and the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, along with his experience in food security and agriculture, form the principal areas of his administrative background.
With the new assignment, Bhutia has moved from departmental responsibilities to a position directly associated with the Chief Minister’s Office in Gangtok.
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