New Delhi: The Government of India has approved the appointment of IAS Richa Prakash Choudhary, a 2014-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Commerce under the Central Staffing Scheme. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued an official order, directing the Chhattisgarh government to relieve her of her current responsibilities at the earliest.
Richa’s central deputation tenure has been approved for four years from the date she assumes charge. As per the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) guidelines, she must take up her new role within three weeks of the order’s issuance, failing which debarment proceedings under the Central Staffing Scheme may be initiated.
Previously, Richa served as the Collector of Janjgir and later Durg in Chhattisgarh, where she was recognized for her proactive governance and development efforts. Her selection for central deputation underscores her administrative capabilities and reflects the growing representation of Chhattisgarh-cadre officers in key roles at the Centre.
She is the second IAS officer from Chhattisgarh recently assigned a central role, following IAS Namrata Gandhi, former Collector of Dhamtari. With her transfer to Delhi, the Chhattisgarh government is expected to appoint a new officer to oversee Durg’s administration, potentially leading to further bureaucratic reshuffling.
The appointment order has been formally communicated to the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, and other relevant authorities. The DoPT has also requested the Department of Commerce to issue a formal notification confirming her appointment.
