Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government conducted a significant reshuffle of senior IAS officers on Thursday, resulting in 14 departments being reassigned.
The most notable development is the removal of Chief Secretary SP Goyal from all his portfolios, a rare move that has stirred considerable attention in administrative circles.
Chief Secretary SP Goyal Removed from IIDC and UPDA Charges
Chief Secretary SP Goyal has been stripped of his charge as Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Uttar Pradesh Development Authority (UPDA). As per the recent orders, he will no longer hold any portfolio in the government.
This unusual decision marks a departure from the norm, where the Chief Secretary usually holds multiple influential roles.
Finance Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar Gains Unprecedented Power
In a surprising twist, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Finance, Deepak Kumar, has emerged as a more powerful figure than the Chief Secretary. The 1990 batch IAS officer has been entrusted with key positions traditionally held by the Chief Secretary, including:
- Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner
- Chairman of the Public Infrastructure and Capital Knowledge Utilization Program (PICKUP)
- CEO of the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA)
- Additional Chief Secretary of the Coordination Department
- Project Director of the Uttar Pradesh Development and Agricultural Services Program (UPDASP)
This consolidation of portfolios in one officer’s hands is unprecedented in the last eight and a half years, signaling a shift in the state’s bureaucratic power dynamics.
Realignment of Other Key IAS Officers
The reshuffle also saw several other important transfers–
Deepak Kumar has been relieved from his duties as Additional Chief Secretary of the Basic and Secondary Education Department but has taken on additional high-profile responsibilities in agriculture and infrastructure.
Parthasarathi Sen Sharma, who has led the Medical and Health Department since August 2022, has been transferred to the role of Principal Secretary of the Basic and Secondary Education Department. His move was expected after a tenure of over three years.
Amit Kumar Ghosh (1994 batch), recently returned from central deputation, has been appointed Principal Secretary of the Medical and Health Department and Medical Education Department. His transfer from Secretariat Administration and Animal Husbandry is seen as a strong comeback.
Mukesh Meshram, formerly Principal Secretary of the Tourism Department, was stripped of the Director General charge and moved to lead the Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries Department. His removal from Tourism comes amid reported differences with Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh.
Amrit Abhijat: Takes charge as the new Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Charitable Works Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh. He is expected to focus on strengthening tourism and preserving the state’s cultural heritage.
Sanjay Prasad: Relieved from the post of Principal Secretary, Civil Aviation Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh. All other portfolios held by him remain unchanged.
Ajay Chauhan: Relieved from his current post, along with the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, UPSHA (Uttar Pradesh State Highways Authority).
Alok Kumar III: Relieved from his role as Principal Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Reorganization Coordination, Language, National Integration and General Administration Department, and also as Director, Hindi Sansthan, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
He now holds the additional charge of Nodal Officer, Zero Poverty Uttar Pradesh Campaign.
P. Guruprasad: Relieved from the position of Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, and now holds additional charge as Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Urban Employment, and Poverty Alleviation Program Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Manish Chauhan: Appointed as Principal Secretary, overseeing–
- Secretariat Administration
- Uttar Pradesh Reorganization Coordination
- Language, National Integration and General Administration Department
- Also appointed as Director, Hindi Sansthan, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Ranveer Prasad: In addition to his current position, he has been given additional charge of Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Anamika Singh: Posted as Commissioner, Food and Logistics, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, she was appointed as Divisional Commissioner, Bareilly in the transfer order issued on September 16, 2025. However, just a day later, she was moved to the Food and Logistics Department, and another officer was assigned the Bareilly Division.
Bhupendra S. Chaudhary: Appointed as Divisional Commissioner, Bareilly, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Implications and Reactions
Retired government officials have remarked that it is rare for a Chief Secretary to be without any portfolio, highlighting the significance of this reshuffle. The ascendancy of Deepak Kumar suggests a possible strategic reorientation within the Uttar Pradesh bureaucracy.
The reshuffle reflects Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s ongoing efforts to streamline governance by empowering officers in departments critical to the state’s development agenda, particularly infrastructure, agriculture, and finance.
