Srinagar: Senior IAS officer Chandraker Bharti (IAS: 1996: AGMUT) has been re-designated as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) in Jammu and Kashmir following his promotion to the Apex Scale of the Indian Administrative Service.
The Jammu and Kashmir government’s General Administration Department (GAD) issued Government Order No. 1615-JK(GAD) of 2026 on October 8, formalising the re-designation. Bharti was promoted to Level 17 of the Pay Matrix through an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on September 25, 2026, and assumed charge in the Apex Scale on October 1.
The development follows his tenure in the Union Territory’s Home Department and a career that has included senior assignments in the Union government and other administrative departments.
Who Is Chandraker Bharti?
Chandraker Bharti is a 1996-batch IAS officer belonging to the AGMUT cadre, which covers Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories.
According to the Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department:
- Date of birth: October 30, 1967.
- Domicile state: Uttar Pradesh.
- Educational qualifications: B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering and M.Sc. in Public Management and Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
- Previous position in J&K: Principal Secretary, Home Department, with additional charge of the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department.
His administrative experience spans postings in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Puducherry and the Union government.
Career Highlights of Chandraker Bharti
Bharti has held several administrative and policy-related positions during his IAS career.
Principal Secretary, Home Department, J&K
Bharti was posted as Principal Secretary in the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department in February 2024. He also held additional charge of the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department, according to his official officer profile.
The Home Department handles important administrative responsibilities relating to internal security and law and order, while the disaster management portfolio covers relief and rehabilitation functions.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
Before returning to his parent cadre, Bharti served as Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ office order dated February 19, 2024, relieved him of his central deputation and placed his services at the disposal of his parent cadre.
Joint Secretary, Department of Defence Production
Bharti also served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence.
His tenure in the position began in April 2017 and continued until August 2022, according to publicly available IAS career records.
Other Administrative Assignments
Earlier in his career, Bharti held positions in the Delhi government and the administration of Puducherry. His assignments included responsibilities in the areas of health and family welfare, environment and forests, finance and planning, and commerce and industry.
These roles provided experience across different branches of government administration.
What Is the Apex Scale of the IAS?
The Apex Scale is Level 17 of the IAS Pay Matrix and represents one of the highest levels in the service’s pay structure.
Bharti’s promotion to this level was conveyed through an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 25, 2026. He assumed charge in the Apex Scale on October 1, after which the Jammu and Kashmir government formally re-designated him as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary).
The October 8 order was issued by order of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and signed by M. Raju, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government.
The re-designation formally reflects Bharti’s promotion to the Apex Scale within the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
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