In a significant development, the Jharkhand government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, announced the appointment of Mr. Lalbiaktluanga Khiangte as the new Chief Secretary of the state on December 6, 2023. Mr. Khiangte, a 1988 batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, will assume the role, replacing the incumbent Shukhdeo Singh, who is an IAS officer of the 1987 batch.
Mr. Singh, who had previously served as the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Soren during his first tenure in 2013, will now take on the position of Director General of the Administrative Training Institute (ATI).
Currently serving as the Director General of the ATI with an additional charge as the Additional Chief Secretary for the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department, Mr. Khiangte brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. Born on October 26, 1964, Mr. Khiangte is a native of Mizoram and hails from a tribal community, making his appointment a significant addition to the team of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Mr. Khiangte’s tenure as Chief Secretary will continue until his retirement on October 31, 2024. Notably, there are two other IAS officers from his batch, Arun Kumar Singh and Alka Tiwari. Arun Kumar Singh is set to retire on December 31, 2023, while Alka Tiwari is currently on central deputation.
It’s worth mentioning that despite Mr. Khiangte’s seniority in the 1988 batch, NN Sinha of the Jharkhand cadre, a 1987 batch IAS officer, is also on central deputation, leaving Mr. Khiangte as the most suitable candidate for the role of Chief Secretary.
As Mr. Khiangte is from a tribal community, his appointment further diversifies the team of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Currently, the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister is Vandana Dadel, who replaced Rajiv Arun Ekka after a video of him went viral.
Initially appointed as Chief Secretary in March 2020, Mr. Shukhdeo Singh was expected to serve in the role until his retirement in March 2024. However, his recent transfer to the position of Director General of the ATI has brought about this change in leadership within the state administration.