In a sweeping administrative move late Monday night, the Uttar Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, transferred 33 IAS officers — including 11 District Magistrates — marking a major bureaucratic shake-up aimed at enhancing governance and accelerating development across the state.
The reshuffle, timed strategically ahead of key policy milestones and political developments, affects several crucial districts and departments, including high-profile regions such as Varanasi, Bareilly, Jhansi, Azamgarh, Hapur, and Mahoba.
Key Changes in Varanasi and Chief Minister’s Office
Among the most prominent shifts, Kaushal Raj Sharma, a 2006 batch IAS officer and Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, has been appointed as Secretary to the Chief Minister. His former position will be taken over by S. Rajalingam, a 2009 batch officer and outgoing DM of Varanasi.
Satyendra Kumar, a 2013 batch IAS officer and former Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been appointed as the new District Magistrate of Varanasi, bringing a fresh administrative face to the Prime Minister’s constituency.
New District Magistrates Appointed in 11 Districts:
- Azamgarh – Ravindra Kumar II
- Bareilly – Avinash Singh
- Ambedkar Nagar – Anupam Shukla
- Hapur – Abhishek Pandey
- Ghazipur – Avinash Kumar (succeeds Aryaka Akhouri, who becomes Special Secretary, Medical Health)
- Jhansi – Mridul Chaudhary
- Mahoba – Gazal Bhardwaj
- Kushinagar – Mahendra Singh Tanwar
- Sant Kabir Nagar – Alok Kumar
- Bhadohi – Shailesh Kumar
- Varanasi – Satyendra Kumar
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Other Notable Appointments and Departmental Restructuring:
- Gaurav Kumar becomes Municipal Commissioner, Lucknow, replacing Indrajit Singh, who now serves as Special Secretary, Energy Department.
- Vishal Singh, 2015 batch promotee IAS and former DM of Bhadohi, is appointed Director, Information and Culture.
- Shishir, 2013 batch promotee IAS, assumes charge as Special Secretary, MSME and Export Promotion, and CEO, Khadi and Village Industries Board.
- Amit Gupta, Principal Secretary, Stamp and Registration, is given additional charge as Chairman, UP State Road Transport Corporation.
- Jagdish, previously MD, UP Medical Supply Corporation, takes over as Home Secretary. His role is succeeded by Dr. Ujjwal Kumar.
- Pulkit Khare is appointed Mission Director, Skill Development Mission.
- Dr. Ved Pati Mishra becomes Secretary, UP State Information Commission.
- Prerna Sharma, former DM of Hapur, is now Director, SUDA.
- Anubhav Singh becomes Vice President, Moradabad Development Authority.
- Sanjay Kumar Meena is appointed Vice President, Meerut Development Authority.
- Shahid Ahmed becomes CDO, Shravasti; Harshita Singh takes charge as CDO, Prayagraj; and Shashwat Tripurari is the new CDO of Gorakhpur.