In a major administrative reshuffle aimed at boosting governance and improving departmental efficiency, the Uttarakhand government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami transferred 33 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and 24 Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officers late Thursday night. This marks the second significant round of transfers within a month, reinforcing the state government’s ongoing efforts to streamline bureaucratic operations.
Earlier on May 11, the state had similarly reassigned 25 IAS and 12 PCS officers. The latest reshuffle underscores the administration’s commitment to dynamic governance and responsive leadership.
District Magistrates Reassigned Across Key Regions
Four key districts have seen new appointments at the helm:
- Ashish Chauhan, District Magistrate (DM) of Pauri, has been appointed CEO of UCADA and Director of Sports and Youth Welfare.
- Swati S Bhadauria, who served as NHM Mission Director and Additional Secretary to the Governor, takes charge as the new DM of Pauri.
- Champawat’s DM, Navneet Pandey, has been appointed Additional Secretary Personnel, replaced by Manish Kumar, the current CDO of Udham Singh Nagar.
- Saurabh Gaharwar, DM of Rudraprayag, will now serve as MD of SIDCUL and Director General Industries, with Prateek Jain, SIDCUL’s outgoing MD, stepping in as the new DM of Rudraprayag.
- Meherban Singh Bisht, DM of Uttarkashi, has been transferred as Additional Secretary Energy and Cooperation and Director of UREDA. Prashant Kumar Arya, Director of Sports and Additional Secretary Child Development, takes over as the new DM of Uttarkashi.
Major IAS Departmental Reshuffles
Several top IAS officers have had their portfolios realigned:
- Anand Bardhan has been relieved of the Water Resources Department.
- Sachin Kurve is no longer Secretary Tourism and CEO of the Tourism Development Council.
- Dilip Jawalkar has been moved from Cooperation to Water Resources.
- Dr. BVRC Purushottam now also handles the Cooperation department in addition to his role as Secretary, Animal Husbandry.
- Dr. Pankaj Pandey no longer holds the Labour portfolio.
- Chandresh Yadav has been relieved of Urban Development and appointed Commissioner, Food.
Additional high-level changes include:
- Dr. R Rajesh Kumar loses the Irrigation and Minor Irrigation portfolios from his current responsibilities as Health Secretary.
- Dr. Neeraj Khairwal moves from Social Welfare to the Language Department.
- Sridhar Babu Addanki takes charge of both the Social Welfare and Labour departments.
- Jugal Kishore Pant has been reassigned from Language and Swajal to Irrigation and Minor Irrigation.
- Dhiraj Singh Garbyal moves from Minority Welfare to Secretary Tourism.
- IFS officer Parag Madhukar Dhakate is now Special Secretary, Minority Welfare.
- Other senior officials affected include Sonika, Ranjana Rajguru, Anand Swaroop, Reena Joshi, and Manuj Goyal.
PCS Cadre Sees Broad Reassignments
In the PCS cadre, 24 officers have been moved across key administrative roles:
- Bharat Singh Firmal has been made Additional Secretary, Secretariat Service.
- Shiv Kumar Barnwal now also serves as Secretary, UKSSSC.
- Ramji Sharan Sharma takes over as CDO, Almora.
- Ashok Kumar Joshi is the new Director, Milk Development and Women’s Dairy.
- Trilok Singh Martolia has been appointed RFC Kumaon.
- PC Dumka becomes Labour Commissioner and Secretary, Workers Board.
Other important PCS postings include:
- Shailendra Negi, previously Municipal Commissioner of Rishikesh, is now ADM Nainital.
- Tushar Saini becomes the Municipal Commissioner of Kashipur.
- Neelu Chawla has been appointed Deputy Collector, Tehri.
- Sanjay Kumar, Director of Skill Development, receives additional charge as Director, Employment.
These widespread changes reflect the government’s renewed emphasis on responsive administration, optimized personnel deployment, and strengthened departmental accountability.