Anand Bardhan, a 1992-batch senior IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre, will take over as the 19th Chief Secretary of the state in April. He succeeds outgoing Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, who is retiring after two extensions granted by the Centre and the state government over the last nine months.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an official letter on Friday, confirming Anand Bardhan’s appointment. The letter stated, “In the interest of the government’s functioning, you are being appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Uttarakhand government from April 1, 2025. In pursuit of this, kindly join the new assignment accordingly.”
Bardhan had been awaiting his long-anticipated promotion for nearly a year. His elevation to the top post comes amid uncertainty over Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s decision on Radha Raturi’s successor. Bardhan had served as the Additional Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand for over 22 months before being appointed to the state’s highest bureaucratic office.
As the March 31 deadline for Raturi’s extended tenure approached, speculation grew over whether the state government would grant her a third extension or appoint a new Chief Secretary. Sources indicated that the Chief Minister was inclined to extend Raturi’s term but faced concerns over the Department of Personnel and Training, which was unlikely to approve another extension.
Also Read | Anurag Rastogi Appointed Haryana’s Chief Secretary, Succeeding Vivek Joshi
Anand Bardhan, a BSc (Honours) graduate with a Diploma in Public Administration, now assumes charge as the 19th Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand since its formation. Ajay Vikram Singh was the state’s first Chief Secretary, appointed in 2000.