Bhubaneswar: In a significant administrative overhaul, the State government has effected a major reshuffle of senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, reassigning over a dozen officials across key departments.
The changes, notified by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department, involve new postings, additional responsibilities, and the withdrawal of earlier charges.
The changes are aimed at improving governance in crucial sectors such as revenue, agriculture, mining, urban development, and social welfare.
Several senior officers from the 1993 to 2012 batches have been moved to strategic positions.
The reshuffle is part of the State government’s broader push to strengthen administrative efficiency, particularly in disaster management, infrastructure development, and social welfare delivery.
Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS (RR-1996), has moved from Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment to Revenue & Disaster Management as ACS, while continuing as Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri.
This ends Deoranjan Kumar Singh’s additional charge in Revenue & Disaster Management. Usha Padhee, IAS (RR-1996), ACS, Housing & Urban Development, has taken additional charge as Chairperson of IDCO, replacing Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra.
Girish S.N., IAS (RR-2002), Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, has been given additional charge as Chairman of Odisha Mining Corporation. Dr Mrinalini Darswal, IAS (RR-2002), has returned from New Delhi to take charge as Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Women & Child Development.
Deoranjan Kumar Singh, IAS (RR-1993), will continue as DC-cum-Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary, Planning & Convergence Department, while retaining additional charge as ACS, Steel & Mines. Surendra Kumar, IAS (RR-1993), has been appointed ACS, GA&PG Department, while continuing to hold charge of Parliamentary Affairs.
Bishnupada Sethi, IAS (RR-1995), has been named Chairman of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation with additional charge as Chief Administrator, KBK. Chithra Arumugam, IAS (RR-1995), ACS, Labour & ESI, has been given additional responsibility as Director General, Training Coordination, Gopabandhu Academy of Administration.
Suresh Kumar Vashishth, IAS (RR-1997), has been posted as Principal Secretary, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, while Shubha Sarma, IAS (RR-1999), is now Principal Secretary, Water Resources. NBS Rajput, IAS (RR-1999), has been appointed Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport, retaining charge as CMD, OSRTC.
Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, IAS (RR-2005), will continue in Co-operation and disaster-related roles, though his additional charge in Housing & Urban Development has been withdrawn. Balwant Singh, IAS (RR-2007), has been given additional charge as Managing Director, Odisha State Highway Authority.
Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, IAS (RR-2007), has been posted as Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, while retaining Sports & Youth Services. Sudhansu Mohan Samal, IAS (RR-2010), MD, OMC, has been given additional charge as Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Central Division.
Rashmita Panda, IAS (RR-2010), has been appointed Vice Chairperson, Bhubaneswar Development Authority, with additional responsibilities in Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited and Housing & Urban Development. Md Sadique Alam, IAS (RR-2010), has taken charge as Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Public Enterprises, along with MD, CRUT.
Mansi Nimbhal, IAS (RR-2010), has been appointed Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Mission Shakti, while Prem Chandra Chaudhary, IAS (RR-2010), has taken over Fisheries & Animal Resources Development. Anupam Saha, IAS (RR-2012), Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been given additional charge as MD, Odisha Bridge & Construction Corporation.
Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, IAS (SCS-2012), RDC, Southern Division, has been entrusted with the in-charge responsibilities of the Northern Division and Chairmanship of the Western Odisha Development Council.
