In a fresh bureaucratic reshuffle, the Odisha Government has appointed senior IAS officer Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma as the new Principal Secretary to the Government in the Forests, Environment and Climate Change Department.
According to an official notification issued by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department on Tuesday, Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, IAS (RR-1999), who is currently serving as Principal Secretary to the Government in the Excise Department with additional charge of CMD, Odisha State Beverages Corporation Ltd. and Principal Secretary to OPTCL, has been given the additional responsibility of Principal Secretary, Forests, Environment and Climate Change.
The notification explicitly states that he will continue to hold the additional charge of CMD, OPTCL.
In a related development, R. Santhanagopalan, IAS (RR-2001), Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha and Ex-officio Principal Secretary to Government, Home (Elections) Department, has been allowed to remain in additional charge of Principal Secretary to Government, Excise Department and Chairman, Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited.
Consequently, the additional charge of Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma as Chairman of the Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited stands terminated from the date Santhanagopalan takes over.
Additionally, Balwant Singh, IAS (RR-2007), Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department, has been permitted to continue in additional charge of Chairperson, Odisha State Highway Authority. The earlier notification dated 05.02.2026 allowing him additional charge as Managing Director of the same authority has been cancelled.
