The Kerala government has carried out a major administrative reshuffle involving 36 IAS officers, with changes across key departments, district administrations, missions and government agencies. The orders include new postings for several senior officers as well as additional responsibilities for others.
Sriram V Moves to Forest Department
Sriram V (2013 batch), Director, Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare, has been transferred as Joint Secretary and Officer on Special Duty, Forest and Wildlife Department. He will also hold additional charge of the Skill and Cashew Development Department and continue as Managing Director of the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence.
Renu Raj (2015 batch), Additional Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, has been given additional charge of State Mission Director, National Health Mission; Project Director, e-Health; and Managing Director, State Health Agency. She has been relieved of her charges at Kerala Medical Services Corporation and Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society.
Changes in Key Departments
Inbasekar K (2015 batch) has moved from Director, Cultural Affairs, to Director, State Lotteries, while continuing as Director, Cultural Affairs on additional charge.
V. Vigneshwari (2015 batch) will additionally handle the post of Commissioner, Disaster Management.
Vinod V R (2015 batch) has been given additional charge as Project Director, Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).
In the education and industries sectors, Arun K Vijayan (2016 batch) has been appointed Director, General Education, with additional charge of CEO, Education Rejuvenation Mission. Snehil Kumar Singh (2016 batch) will move to Director, Industries & Commerce and additionally head KSIDC and KSITIL.
District Collectors Reshuffled
Priyanka G (2017 batch), District Collector, Ernakulam, will additionally serve as CEO, Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority.
Anju K S (2017 batch) has been appointed District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram, replacing Anu Kumari (2018 batch), who has moved to Special Commissioner, GST.
Anju K S will also hold additional charge as Chairperson of the Monitoring Committee dealing with rehabilitation issues related to the Vizhinjam Port Project.
Arjun Pandian (2017 batch), Collector, Kasaragod, has been appointed Director, Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare. He will additionally handle Additional Project Director, KERA; Registrar, Co-operative Societies; and Director, Co-operative Audit.
Sikha Surendran (2018 batch), Collector, Thrissur, will additionally hold charge as Director General, KILA.
New Collectors for Wayanad and Kasaragod
Chelsasini V (2019 batch) has been appointed District Collector, Wayanad, moving from the Fisheries Department.
Sreedhanya Suresh (2019 batch), Commissioner, Food Safety, will now serve as District Collector, Kasaragod.
Local Government and Civil Supplies Changes
D. Dharmalashri (2019 batch) will additionally serve as Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission.
Binu Francis (2019 batch) has been moved from Kerala Water Authority to Director, Scheduled Tribes Development Department.
Harikumar K (2019 batch) has been appointed Commissioner, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, with additional charge of Director, Coir Development.
Arun S Nair (2020 batch), Director, Social Justice, will additionally head the Kerala Social Security Mission and oversee Elderly Welfare. He has been relieved of his charges at Cochin Smart Mission and Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority.
Labour, IT and Revenue Assignments
Safna Nazarudeen (2020 batch) will additionally serve as Director, Employment and Training and has been relieved of her Joint Commissioner, Land Revenue charge.
Sachin Kumar Yadav (2020 batch) has been appointed Director, Kerala State IT Mission. He will additionally handle the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre, Technopark and Kerala Fibre Optic Network Limited (KFON).
Sandip Kumar (2020 batch) has moved to Deputy Secretary, Finance Department, with additional charge of Deputy CEO, Rebuild Kerala Initiative and OSD, General Administration (AIS).
Mohammed Shafiq (2020 batch) has been posted as OSD and Joint Secretary, Revenue, with additional charge of Director, Programme Implementation, Evaluation and Monitoring.
Health and Food Safety Reassigned
Anu S Nair (2020 batch) has been appointed Commissioner, Food Safety, with additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala State Medical Services Corporation and Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society.
She has been relieved of her earlier responsibilities with the National Health Mission, e-Health and State Health Agency.
Land Revenue and Information Departments
Rejil M C (2020 batch) has been posted as Joint Commissioner, Land Revenue, with additional charge of Director, Institute of Land and Disaster Management and Secretary, Land Board.
Sabin Sameed (2020 batch) has been appointed Director, Information and Public Relations Department, with additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation.
Mining, Fisheries and Higher Education
Mithun Premraj (2021 batch) has moved to Director, Mining and Geology, with additional charge of MD, Kerala State Mineral Development Corporation and Member Secretary, K-DISC.
Misal Sagar Bharat (2021 batch) has been appointed Director, Fisheries Department.
Sameer Kishan (2021 batch) will take charge as Director, Collegiate Education and Commissioner, Entrance Examinations.
Jayakrishnan V M (2021 batch), MD, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation, will additionally serve as CEO, Kochi Smart City Limited and MD, Construction Corporation of Kerala.
Fresh Postings for Officers Awaiting Assignment
The reshuffle also provides new assignments to officers who were awaiting posting.
Dilip K Kainikkara (2022 batch) has been appointed Additional District Magistrate, Sabarimala, for the Mandala Makaravilakku Season 2026-27. He will coordinate government departments and agencies operating in Sabarimala, Pampa and Nilakkal during the season.
Alfred OV (2022 batch) has been posted as Deputy Secretary, Elderly Welfare, with additional charge of Joint Chief Executive Officer, Maritime Board, and Nodal Officer, Mission Samudra.
Akhil V Menon (2022 batch) has been appointed Director, Sports & Youth Affairs, with additional charge of Secretary, Kerala State Sports Council, and Director, Kerala Youth Leadership Academy.
Sumit Kumar Thakur (2022 batch) will serve as Additional Director (General), Tourism, with additional charge of MD, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
Sub-Collector Changes
Grandhe Saikrishna (2023 batch), Sub Collector, Fort Kochi, will additionally serve as Managing Director, Vyttila Mobility Hub.
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Archana P P (2024 batch) has been transferred from Sub Collector, Kanhangad, to Sub Collector, Vadakara.
Wide Administrative Reallocation
The reshuffle brings significant changes across Kerala’s district administration, health, education, industries, tourism, IT, revenue, social welfare and infrastructure sectors. The large-scale reallocation also places several officers in additional roles to maintain continuity across key government programmes and institutions.