The Kerala Government has carried out a major administrative reshuffle, reassigning several senior IAS officers across key departments in a move aimed at strengthening governance and improving administrative efficiency.
Among the notable appointments, senior IAS officer B. Ashok has been posted as Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, while N. Prashanth has been appointed Special Secretary, Sports Department. Both officers recently had their suspensions revoked and have now been assigned important responsibilities in the state administration.
B. Ashok Takes Charge of Higher Education
B. Ashok, a 1998-batch IAS officer, has been appointed Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department. The posting places him in a crucial role overseeing policies, administration and reforms related to universities, colleges and higher education institutions across Kerala.
The appointment comes at a time when higher education continues to be a key focus area, particularly in improving academic quality, research capabilities and employability outcomes.
N. Prashanth Gets Sports and Youth Affairs Responsibilities
N. Prashanth has been posted as Special Secretary in the Sports Department. In addition to this assignment, he has been entrusted with full additional charge of several departments, including Youth Affairs, Zoos, Museums, Archaeology and Archives.
The expanded portfolio is expected to strengthen coordination across sectors related to youth development, sports promotion, cultural preservation and heritage management.
New Responsibilities for Rathan U. Kelkar
Rathan U. Kelkar, who recently assumed office as Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been given additional responsibilities as Secretary of the newly created Department for the Welfare of the Elderly.
He will also oversee the Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department as well as the Information and Public Relations Department, further expanding his administrative responsibilities.
Key Changes at the Senior Bureaucratic Level
The reshuffle includes several important changes among Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries.
Bishwanath Sinha, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Vigilance), has been assigned additional charge of the Housing and Coir Development Departments, alongside his existing responsibility for the Water Resources Department.
K.R. Jyothilal, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), will now additionally oversee the Planning and Economic Affairs Department and serve as Member-Secretary of the Kerala State Planning Board. He continues to handle Taxes, the Rebuild Kerala Initiative and the Public Procurement Advisory Department.
Rajan N. Khobragade will continue to hold additional charge of the AYUSH Department along with his responsibilities in Health and Family Welfare.
Leadership Change at Kerala State Electricity Board
M.G. Rajamanickam has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). Along with leading the state’s power utility, he will also handle the Power, Environment and Parliamentary Affairs Departments.
The outgoing KSEB Chairman and Managing Director, Minhaj Alam, has been transferred as Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department, and Agriculture Production Commissioner.
Also Read | Tapasya Raghav Appointed Deputy Secretary in Department of Higher Education
Changes in Health, Transport and Forest Departments
Sharmila Mary Joseph has been appointed Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. She will additionally oversee the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.
T.V. Anupama has been posted as Secretary, Transport Department, with additional responsibilities for Airports, Metro Rail, Personnel and Administrative Reforms. She will continue handling Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development and Backward Classes Development portfolios.
Biju K. has been appointed Secretary, Forests and Wildlife Department. He will also oversee Skill Development and the Cashew Department, in addition to his existing responsibilities in Tourism and General Administration.
Multiple New Appointments Across Departments
The reshuffle also includes several other appointments:
- Raju Narayanaswamy has been posted as Principal Secretary, Sainik Welfare.
- Adeela Abdulla becomes Special Secretary, Public Works.
- Jeevan Babu has been appointed Special Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management.
- Suhas S. takes charge as Special Secretary, Water Resources.
- Shanavas S. becomes Special Secretary, Local Self Government, with additional responsibilities related to infrastructure development projects.
- Divya S. Iyer has been appointed Principal Director, Local Self Government Department.
- T.V. Subhash has been posted as Special Secretary, Agriculture.
- Afsana Perween becomes Director, Collegiate Education, with additional charge as Controller of Entrance Examinations.
- Geromic George has been appointed Officer on Special Duty in the Finance Department, while also handling responsibilities related to Vizhinjam International Seaport and the Kerala Maritime Board.
- Asif K. Yusuf becomes Director of NORKA.
- Snehil Kumar Singh has been appointed Director of General Education and will additionally serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Education Rejuvenation Mission.
- Prem Krishnan S. takes charge as Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
Focus on Administrative Efficiency
The large-scale reshuffle reflects the Kerala Government’s effort to optimise administrative leadership across departments dealing with education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, finance, power and public services.
Officials believe the new assignments will help strengthen coordination among departments and support the effective implementation of government programmes and policy initiatives across the state.
The changes also place several experienced officers in strategic positions as Kerala continues to focus on governance reforms, public service delivery and sector-specific development initiatives.
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