Modi govt executes comprehensive bureaucratic reorganization; Senior IAS officers assume new roles

In a strategic maneuver that unfolded at midnight on Thursday, the Modi government carried out an extensive overhaul of the bureaucratic landscape. This transformation encompassed a series of measures including the appointment of fresh officials, lateral transfers, and in-situ promotions for over a dozen seasoned IAS officers.

The following is a breakdown of the officers and their new designations:

1. S Krishnan (IAS:1989:TN), currently within the cadre, has been designated as the Secretary for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. This appointment follows the retirement of Alkesh Kumar Sharma (IAS:1990:KL) on August 31, 2023.
2. Umang Narula (IAS:1989:AGMUT), presently in the cadre, has been named the Secretary for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, succeeding Gudey Srinivas (IAS:1990:OR).
3. Ashish Upadhyaya (IAS:1989:MP) has been chosen as the Secretary for the National Commission for Backward Classes, succeeding Rajeev Ranjan (IAS:1989:MP) upon his retirement on December 31, 2023. He currently holds the position of Special Secretary & Financial Advisor at the Ministry of Power.
4. Katikithala Srinivas (IAS:1989:GJ) has been appointed as the Secretary for the Ministry of Minority Affairs, transitioning from his role as Director at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.
5. Vivek Bhardwaj (IAS:1990:WB), who currently serves as the Secretary for the Ministry of Mines, has been laterally reassigned to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Bhardwaj will subsequently assume the role of Secretary upon the retirement of Sunil Kumar (IAS:1987:UP) on October 31, 2023.
6. Gudey Srinivas (IAS:1990:OR), the current Secretary for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, has been laterally shifted to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, where he will assume the role of Secretary.
7. Arunish Chawla (IAS:1992:BH), within the cadre, has been appointed as OSD in the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals, effective November 1, 2023. Chawla will succeed S. Aparna (IAS:1988:GJ) upon her retirement on October 31, 2023.
8. Chanchal Kumar (IAS:1992:BH), who presently serves as OSD in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been laterally shifted to the role of Secretary for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, succeeding Lok Ranjan (IAS:1989:TR). An earlier order to appoint Chanchal Kumar as Secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation, replacing Rajiv Bansal (IAS:1988:NL) upon his retirement on August 31, 2023, has been modified.
9. Neeraj Mittal (IAS:1992:TN), currently within the cadre, has been appointed as the Secretary for the Department of Telecommunications.
10. Sriram Taranikanti (IAS:1992:TR) has been named the Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, with the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India. He succeeds Katikithala Srinivas and presently serves as the Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor (AS&FA) in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
11. Shashi Ranjan Kumar (IAS:1992:TR) has been designated as the Secretary for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), with the rank and pay of Union Secretary. This elevation involves the temporary upgrading of the post, replacing Ms. Vasudha Mishra (Retd.IAS:1987:TG). Presently, Ranjan serves as the Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor (AS&FA) in the Ministry of Textiles.
12. Nidhi Khare (IAS:1992:JH) has been promoted in-situ to the role of Special Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs as a personal measure. She will take on the role of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) from December 1, 2023, and subsequently assume the role of Secretary for DoLR upon the retirement of Ajay Tirkey (IAS: 1987: MP) on December 31, 2023. Presently, she holds the position of Additional Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs.
13. Vumlunmang Vualnam (IAS:1992:MN) has been appointed as the Secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation, succeeding Rajiv Bansal upon his retirement on August 31, 2023. He currently serves as the Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs.
14. V L Kantha Rao (IAS:1992:MP) has been named the Secretary for the Ministry of Mines, succeeding Vivek Bhardwaj. Currently, he holds the position of Additional Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications.
15. Lok Ranjan (IAS:1989:TR), the current Secretary for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, has been appointed as the Administrative Member for the Central Administrative Tribunal.
16. Sanjay Rastogi (IAS:1991:OR), the Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor (AS&FA) in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, has been laterally shifted to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, succeeding Manoj Sethi (ICAS: 1993) through temporarily upgrading the post to Additional Secretary level.

Additionally, three senior IAS officers were elevated (in-situ) to the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India through a temporary upgrade of their current posts. These officers are:

1. Rajendra Kumar (IAS:1992:TN), who currently serves as the Director General of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
2. Rakesh Ranjan (IAS:1992:MN), the Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
3. Neelam Shammi Rao (IAS:1992:MP), the Central Provident Fund Commissioner at the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.