BHUBANESWAR: In a significant administrative overhaul, the Odisha government on Thursday announced a major reshuffle of senior IAS officers, redistributing key responsibilities across critical departments. The official notification, effective immediately, signals a strategic realignment aimed at bolstering governance efficiency.
Devarajan Kumar Singh, a seasoned IAS officer, has been permitted to continue as Additional Chief Secretary in the Steel and Mines Department. Meanwhile, Surendra Kumar steps into the role of Additional Chief Secretary for General Administration and Public Grievances, while also taking on additional duties in the Parliamentary Affairs Department.
Bishnupada Sethi has been appointed Chairman of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation, retaining his position as Chief Administrator of KBK. Chitra Arumugam receives additional charge as Training Coordination Director at the Gopalbandhu Academy of Administration.
Dr. Arvind Kumar Padhee is now Additional Chief Secretary for Revenue and Disaster Management, continuing as Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration in Puri. Usha Padhi takes the helm as Chairperson of the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, relieving Sanjeev Kumar Mishra of his additional duties.
Suresh Kumar Vashisth is appointed Principal Secretary for Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Shubha Sharma assumes the Principal Secretary role in the Water Resources Department, while NBS Rajput handles Principal Secretary duties for Commerce and Transport, alongside CMD responsibilities at OSRTC.
Girish S.N. gets additional charge as Chairman of the Odisha Mining Corporation. Dr. Mrinalini Darswal is named Commissioner-cum-Secretary for Women and Child Development. Rajesh Prabhakar Patil is relieved of his additional duties as Special Secretary in Housing and Urban Development.
Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav becomes Commissioner-cum-Secretary for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment. Rashmita Bhuvaneswar receives roles as Vice-Chairperson of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority and MD of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited.
Mansi Nimbalkar is appointed Commissioner-cum-Secretary for Mission Shakti. Prem Chandra Chaudhary takes on Commissioner-cum-Secretary responsibilities in the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department.
This comprehensive reshuffle underscores the government’s commitment to injecting fresh leadership into vital sectors, promising enhanced service delivery and policy implementation across Odisha.