In a sweeping administrative shake-up, the Government of Odisha has announced a major reshuffle involving over a dozen senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers.
The changes, detailed in a notification from the General Administration & Public Grievance Department, include new appointments, additional charges, and the termination of previous roles to streamline governance across critical sectors like revenue, agriculture, mining, and urban development.
The reshuffle affects high-profile positions, with several officers from the 1993 to 2012 batches being reassigned.
Deoranjan Kumar Singh, IAS (RR-1993), currently DC-cum-ACS and Secretary to the Planning & Convergence Department, will continue in additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) to the Steel & Mines Department.
Surendra Kumar, IAS (RR-1993), previously ACS in Steel & Mines with additional responsibilities in General Administration & Public Grievance (GA&PG) and Parliamentary Affairs, has been appointed as ACS to the GA&PG Department, retaining his Parliamentary Affairs role.
Bishnupada Sethi, IAS (RR-1995), Officer on Special Duty in GA&PG, takes over as Chairman of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation, with additional charge as Chief Administrator of KBK.
Chithra Arumugam, IAS (RR-1995), ACS in Labour & ESI with additional Science & Technology duties, adds Director General of Training Coordination at Gopabandhu Academy of Administration.
Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS (RR-1996), shifts from ACS in Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment to ACS in Revenue & Disaster Management, while keeping his role as Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration in Puri. This terminates Deoranjan Kumar Singh’s additional charge in Revenue & Disaster Management.
Usha Padhee, IAS (RR-1996), ACS in Housing & Urban Development, assumes additional charge as Chairperson of the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), ending Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra’s tenure in that position.
Suresh Kumar Vashishth, IAS (RR-1997), moves from Principal Secretary in Fisheries & Animal Resources Development to Principal Secretary in Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, replacing R. Santhanagopalan.
Shubha Sarma, IAS (RR-1999), transitions fully to Principal Secretary in Water Resources from her Women & Child Development role.
NBS Rajput, IAS (RR-1999), Principal Secretary in Public Enterprises, is now Principal Secretary in Commerce & Transport, retaining Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). This ends Usha Padhee’s additional charge in Commerce & Transport.
Girish S.N., IAS (RR-2002), Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, adds Chairman of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), terminating Surendra Kumar’s role there.
Dr. Mrinalini Darswal, IAS (RR-2002), Special Resident Commissioner in New Delhi, returns as Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Women & Child Development.
Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, IAS (RR-2005), sees his additional charge in Housing & Urban Development withdrawn but continues in Co-operation, as Chairman of Odisha State Warehousing Corporation, Special Relief Commissioner, and Managing Director of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority.
Balwant Singh, IAS (RR-2007), Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Tourism, adds Managing Director of Odisha State Highway Authority.
Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, IAS (RR-2007), shifts to Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment from Sports & Youth Services, retaining the latter.
Sudhansu Mohan Samal, IAS (RR-2010), Managing Director of OMC, adds Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division), Cuttack.
Rashmita Panda, IAS (RR-2010), moves from Director of Employment to Vice Chairman of Bhubaneswar Development Authority, with additional charges as Managing Director of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited and Special Secretary in Housing & Urban Development.
Md. Sadique Alam, IAS (RR-2010), Director of Fisheries, becomes Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Public Enterprises, adding Managing Director of Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT).
Mansi Nimbhal, IAS (RR-2010), Managing Director of Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation, is appointed Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Mission Shakti.
Prem Chandra Chaudhary, IAS (RR-2010), Director of Textiles & Handlooms, takes Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Fisheries & Animal Resources Development.
Anupam Saha, IAS (RR-2012), Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister, adds Managing Director of Odisha Bridge & Construction Corporation. Finally,
Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, IAS (SCS-2012), Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Southern Division), adds in-charge roles for Northern Division and Chairman of Western Odisha Development Council.
This reshuffle comes amid efforts to enhance efficiency in key areas like disaster management, infrastructure, and social welfare.
