Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has appointed senior IAS officer Pankaj Joshi as the state’s next Chief Secretary, following the impending retirement of the current Chief Secretary, Raj Kumar, on January 31, 2025. The General Administration Department has issued an official notification confirming the appointment.
Joshi, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), a position he has held since September 15, 2021. Over his distinguished career, he has held key administrative roles, including Municipal Commissioner, Secretary, and Principal Secretary.
Born on October 19, 1965, in Nainital, Uttarakhand, Joshi holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering and M.Tech in Water Resource Engineering from IIT Delhi, along with an M.Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies. He is currently the second senior-most IAS officer in Gujarat, following Raj Kumar. If his tenure is not extended, he will retire in October 2025. Officers Srinivas Katikithala, Sunaina Tomar, Kamal Dayani, and Manoj Kumar Das follow him in seniority. Speculation suggests that Manoj Kumar Das could succeed Joshi, depending on his tenure extension.
Having served as collector and commissioner in Surat, Joshi has played a crucial role in Gujarat’s administrative framework. His appointment as Chief Secretary reinforces his influence in shaping the state’s governance and policies.
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