Lucknow: In a significant administrative move, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday announced a major reshuffle involving 16 senior IAS officers, including three divisional commissioners. The transfers, effective immediately, span across departments such as education, health, environment, transport, youth welfare, and revenue.
Key Changes Among Divisional Commissioners
The reshuffle sees a complete reorganization in three major divisions–
2004 batch IAS officer Vijay Vishwas Pant, previously Divisional Commissioner of Prayagraj, has been appointed the Divisional Commissioner of Lucknow.
2008 batch IAS officer Saumya Agarwal, Divisional Commissioner of Bareilly, has been transferred as the Divisional Commissioner of Prayagraj.
2004 batch IAS officer Anamika Singh, Secretary of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, will now serve as the Divisional Commissioner of Bareilly.
Reallocation in the Education Department
2005 batch IAS officer Kanchan Verma, who served as Director General of School Education, has been appointed Commissioner and Secretary in the Revenue Council.
Replacing her, 2010 batch IAS officer Monika Rani, the current Special Secretary Basic Education and Additional Director General School Education, has been made in-charge Director General, School Education.
Major Changes in Food Safety and Drug Administration
2004 batch IAS officer Dr. Roshan Jacob, earlier Divisional Commissioner of Lucknow, has been appointed as Secretary and Commissioner of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration portfolio has been withdrawn from Principal Secretary Ranjan Kumar, an IAS officer of 2000 batch, who will now focus solely on the AYUSH Department.
2009 batch IAS Rajesh Kumar-II, the outgoing Commissioner of Food Safety, has been made the Director General of Tourism.
Transport and Medical Education Departments Reorganized
2008 batch IAS officer Kinjal Singh, Director General of Medical Education, has been appointed as the Transport Commissioner.
A promotee IAS officer of 2009 batch, Mr Brajesh Narayan Singh, the outgoing Transport Commissioner, now becomes Secretary of the General Administration Department. Notably, he is set to retire on September 30.
Aparna U, Secretary Medical Education, has been given additional charge of Director General Medical Education.
New Roles in Youth Welfare and AYUSH
2007 batch IAS officer Suhas L. Y, Secretary Sports and Youth Welfare, will now also serve as Director General, Youth Welfare and Provincial Guard.
2007 batch IAS officer Chaitra V, previously Director General Youth Welfare and Provincial Guard, is now the Director General of AYUSH.
2010 batch IAS officer Sanjay Kumar Khatri, Additional CEO of Noida, has been promoted as the in-charge CEO of the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority.
Environment, Forest, and Women’s Welfare Departments Reshuffled
2008 batch IAS officer B. Chandrakala, former Secretary of Women Welfare and Child Development, is now Secretary of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department, and also the CEO of UP Clean Air Management Project Authority.
Manisha Trighatia, 2002 batch IAS officer and Commissioner and Secretary Revenue Council, has been appointed as Secretary, Women Welfare and Child Development and Nutrition.
A Strategic Move Ahead of Upcoming Challenges
The reshuffle comes at a time when Uttar Pradesh is ramping up administrative preparedness for development projects, health reforms, and educational overhaul. The appointments indicate a realignment of experienced officers to critical departments ahead of the upcoming policy and implementation phase.
