Chandigarh: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Punjab government has transferred 36 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and seven PCS officers with immediate effect.
The state government stated that the changes were made on administrative grounds to streamline governance and enhance efficiency. According to an official notification, key changes include the transfer of IAS Jaspreet Talwar (1995 batch), who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training, to the post of Additional Chief Secretary, Planning. He replaces IAS Amit Dhaka (2006 batch).
IAS Amit Dhaka will continue as the Director of Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration and will additionally hold the positions of Administrative Secretary, Printing and Stationery, and Chief Executive Officer of Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion.
Additionally, Talwar will also take over as Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner, Taxation, relieving IAS Krishan Kumar (1997 batch) of the additional charge.
Other notable IAS transfers include:
IAS Krishan Kumar (1997 batch) – Transferred from Principal Secretary, Water Resources & Financial Commissioner, Taxation, to Principal Secretary, Water Resources & Principal Secretary, Finance, replacing IAS Ajoy Kumar Sinha (1992 batch).
IAS Veerendra Kumar Meena (1997 batch) – Assigned as Principal Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities, relieving IAS Alok Shekhar (1995 batch) of the additional charge.
IAS Vikas Garg (1998 batch) – Moved from Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, to Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, replacing IAS Rahul Tiwari (2000 batch).
IAS Rahul Tiwari (2000 batch) – Reassigned as Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, replacing IAS Vikas Garg.
IAS Alaknanda Dayal (2000 batch) – Appointed as Principal Secretary, Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training, replacing IAS Jaspreet Talwar.
IAS Ajit Balaji Joshi (2003 batch) – Shifted from Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, to Administrative Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayats, replacing IAS Dilraj Singh (2005 batch).
IAS Shruti Singh (2004 batch) – Continues as Resident Commissioner, Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi, with an additional charge as Administrative Secretary, Technical Education & Industrial Training, relieving IAS Kamal Kishor Yadav (2003 batch).
IAS Dilraj Singh (2005 batch) – Reassigned as Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs, and additionally designated as Secretary, Health & Family Welfare & Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration, replacing IAS Abhinav (2006 batch).
IAS Abhinav (2006 batch) – Appointed as Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Cultural Affairs, relieving IAS Malwinder Singh Jaggi (1998 batch) of the additional charge.
IAS Anindita Mitra (2007 batch) – Transferred from Secretary, Cooperation & Managing Director, The Punjab State Cooperative Bank Limited, to Administrative Secretary, Higher Education & Languages, and additionally, Administrative Secretary, School Education, replacing IAS Kamal Kishor Yadav.
The list of notable PCS transfers includes:
Rupinder Pal Singh (PCS, 2011 batch) – Previously Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Bathinda, now appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development), Ludhiana, relieving PCS Amarjit of additional charge.
Rajat Oberoi (PCS, 2012 batch) – Moved from Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Patiala, to Joint Secretary, Revenue & Rehabilitation.
Amit Mahajan (PCS, 2012 batch) – Transferred from Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Jalandhar, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Jalandhar, to Officer on Special Duty to Chief Secretary of Punjab.
This reshuffle is seen as a strategic move by the Punjab government to enhance administrative efficiency and governance across key departments. Further appointments and realignments are expected in the coming weeks as the state continues its administrative restructuring.
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