A wave of transfers has swept through the Bihar administration, leading to significant changes in key positions. Dr. S. Siddharth, previously the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has been appointed as the Development Commissioner. This move also involves a change in the Education Department.
The additional charge of ACS for the Education Department, previously held by Dr. S. Siddharth, has been transferred to Dr. B. Rajendra, the ACS of the General Administration Department. Other key appointments include Harjot Kaur, ACS of the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department, who will now serve as Chairman-cum-Member of the Revenue Council. Additionally, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, the ACS of the Home Department, has been assigned the additional responsibility of Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Anand Kishore, Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board, will now also manage the responsibilities of Principal Secretary for the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department.
Dr. S. Siddharth, a 1991-batch IAS officer, held multiple high-level positions, including Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Department, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. The newly appointed ACS of the Education Department, B. Rajendra, is a 1995-batch IAS officer. Moreover, the current Development Commissioner, Pratyay Amrit, will assume the role of Chief Secretary of the state starting September 1.
Dr. S. Siddharth has been appointed as the Development Commissioner of Bihar. The reassignment of his responsibilities in the Education Department has sparked discussions within the administrative circles. During his tenure, Dr. Siddharth initiated notable reforms in the Education Department, such as the establishment of model schools, teacher training programs, and online complaint redressal systems. However, he also faced criticism for some of his policies, particularly those related to teacher transfers and service regulations.
Dr. S. Siddharth’s unexpected visits to schools and impromptu video calls to principals were a regular occurrence. He would often conduct real-time reviews of classrooms and mid-day meal programs. His stringent approach kept the school principals and teachers on their toes, ensuring that they were prepared and punctual, with an awareness that his visit could happen anytime.
