Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has carried out a major administrative reshuffle, changing the responsibilities of 10 senior IAS officers at the level of Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary. The changes, ordered on Sunday, September 20, affect several key departments, including health, higher education, energy, agriculture, Panchayati Raj, food and civil supplies, transport, labour, technical education, and environment. The reshuffle involves three Additional Chief Secretary-level officers and seven Principal Secretary-level officers.
One of the most significant changes concerns Amit Kumar Ghosh, who has been shifted from Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education, to Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education. Ghosh is due to retire in December this year, according to reports.
Another major change has been made in the Energy Department. Dr Ashish Kumar Goel, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Energy and Additional Energy Sources, has been moved to the Labour and Employment Department as Additional Chief Secretary. He was also holding chairmanship responsibilities in major state power-sector corporations, including UPPCL, UPPTCL and UPRVUNL.
Ranvir Prasad, who was Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and Food Commissioner, has been moved to the Energy Department as Principal Secretary, Energy and Additional Energy Sources. He will also head several major power-sector entities, including UPPCL, UPPTCL, UPRVUNL and UPSLDC.
Major Changes in Health and Medical Education
V Hekali Zhimomi, who was serving as Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, has been shifted to the health sector. She has been appointed Principal Secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare and Principal Secretary, Medical Education.
Following the move, Mahendra Prasad Agarwal, who was Principal Secretary, Higher Education, has been appointed Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change.
The changes therefore bring a new administrative arrangement for both health and medical education, while simultaneously shifting the leadership of the forest and environment portfolio.
Agriculture and Panchayati Raj Departments Reorganised
The reshuffle also changes the leadership of the Agriculture and Panchayati Raj departments.
Dr M.K.S. Sundaram, who was Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment and Principal Secretary, Technical Education, has been moved to the Agriculture Department. His new responsibilities cover Agriculture, Agriculture Education and Research, Agriculture Marketing, Agricultural Foreign Trade and Export Promotion.
Ravindra, who was handling Agriculture and its allied portfolios, has been appointed Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj. The move changes the senior administrative leadership of both departments.
Meanwhile, Anil Kumar, who was Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj, has been transferred to the Food and Civil Supplies Department. He will serve as Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and also hold the position of Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
Amrit Abhijat Gets Additional Transport Charge
Amrit Abhijat, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs, will retain his existing responsibilities while taking additional charge of the Transport Department.
The move comes as the government reorganises responsibilities across several major public-facing departments.
Amit Gupta Gets Technical Education Charge
Amit Gupta, Principal Secretary, Stamp and Registration, has been given additional charge of the Technical Education Department. He will continue to handle his existing portfolio alongside the new responsibility.
Ten Senior IAS Officers Affected
The latest reshuffle has resulted in the following key changes:
- Amit Kumar Ghosh — Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education
- Dr Ashish Kumar Goel — Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment
- Amrit Abhijat — Additional Chief Secretary, Transport, in addition to Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs
- V Hekali Zhimomi — Principal Secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education
- Mahendra Prasad Agarwal — Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change
- Anil Kumar — Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies; Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs
- Dr M.K.S. Sundaram — Principal Secretary, Agriculture and allied agriculture portfolios
- Ravindra — Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj
- Amit Gupta — Additional charge of Technical Education along with Stamp and Registration
- Ranvir Prasad — Principal Secretary, Energy and Additional Energy Sources, along with responsibilities for major state power corporations.
The reshuffle significantly alters the senior administrative structure of several departments that directly influence education, healthcare, agriculture, rural governance, food distribution, electricity, transport and labour administration.
Reports have also referred to speculation about differences between some ministers and officers as a backdrop to the changes. However, the formal transfer order establishes the new assignments and does not, in the sources reviewed, cite such differences as the stated reason for the reshuffle.
The newly assigned officers are expected to take charge of their respective departments as the state government begins implementing the revised administrative arrangement.
