In a sweeping bureaucratic reshuffle, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has transferred 24 senior officers, including 20 from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and four from the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS). The reassignments, ordered by the General Administration Department (GAD), take immediate effect and are aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency and governance delivery across multiple sectors.
The restructuring involves several top-level appointments, notably the elevation of Dr. Piyush Singla (IAS, 2012 batch) as the Administrative Secretary of the Information Technology Department. Another significant development includes Masjid Khalil Ahmed Drabu taking over as Investigation Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir, signalling a focused approach towards strengthening internal accountability mechanisms.
Among the high-level IAS appointments, Anil Kumar Singh, a 1995 batch officer, has been assigned the role of Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, with an additional charge as Administrative Secretary, Mining Department. Saurabh Bhagat, formerly Commissioner/Secretary of the Science and Technology Department, has been appointed Commissioner/Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs.
Dr. Shahid Iqbal has taken over as Secretary, Science and Technology, while Neeraj Kumar will now serve as Administrative Secretary, Public Grievances Department. Naveen SL has been entrusted with the role of Administrative Secretary, Transport Department, reflecting a renewed focus on the state’s mobility and logistics infrastructure.
The reshuffle also includes strategic placements in mission-driven roles. Mahima Madan has been named CEO of JaKeGa and Additional Secretary, Resident Commission, New Delhi. Anant Dwivedi assumes charge as CEO of the State Health Agency and Mission Director for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission, reinforcing the state’s digital health transformation agenda. Shreya Singhal has been appointed Managing Director of the J&K Tourism Development Corporation, a key move for boosting the tourism sector, while Shahzad Alam will now lead as CEO and Mission Director of Mission Youth, focusing on youth empowerment and engagement programs.
In terms of JKAS officer reassignments, Vivek Fonse has been posted as Additional Secretary, Home Department, Mohammad Ilyas Khan as Deputy Commissioner of Ramban, Pankaj Kumar Sharma as Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, and Roshan Lal Rajouri as Additional District Development Commissioner.
In one of the most high-profile district-level assignments, Akshay Labroo has been appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, reflecting the administration’s confidence in his leadership at a crucial urban centre.
The GAD has mandated all officers to assume their new roles without delay. The restructuring underlines the administration’s intent to streamline governance, improve service delivery, and align departmental leadership with evolving development priorities across the Union Territory.