In a major administrative development, senior IAS officer Ashish Kundra (IAS:1996:AGMUT) has been transferred from Delhi and appointed as the new Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the order on Thursday, confirming that his appointment will be effective from January 1, 2026, or from the date he takes charge, whichever is later.
Kundra will take over from Dr. Pawan Kotwal (IAS:1994:AGMUT), who became the first Chief Secretary of Ladakh in February 2025 after the redesignation of the post of Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor. Dr. Kotwal is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2025.
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With a career spanning twenty-six years, Kundra has held key administrative positions across Chandigarh, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli, and New Delhi.
Currently serving as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, his transfer signals an important administrative shift for Ladakh, which is witnessing extensive restructuring and growth in developmental initiatives.
