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Thiruvananthapuram: In a major bureaucratic reshuffle aimed at improving governance and focusing on key sectors, the Kerala government has reassigned roles to 11 senior IAS officers, including those of the Additional Chief Secretary rank. IAS K.R. Jyothilal (1993 batch), formerly heading the General Administration Department, has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department. He will also handle Taxes, Public Procurement Advisory, Planning, and Economic Affairs (RKI) while continuing as CEO of the Rebuild Kerala Initiative.
Other key appointments and changes are as follows:
- IAS Bishwanath Sinha (1992 batch), who currently manages the Home and Vigilance Department, will additionally oversee the Forest and Wildlife Department.
- IAS Puneet Kumar (1993 batch), previously in charge of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, has been posted to the Local Self Government Department. He will also handle SC/ST Development, Backward Classes Development, and the Power Department.
- IAS Dr. Rajan N. Khobragade (1993 batch), serving as Additional Chief Secretary for Health and Family Welfare, has been given additional charge of the Personnel and Administrative Reforms and Official Language departments.
- IAS K. Biju (2006 batch), Secretary, Public Works, will now also manage the General Administration and Transport Departments, which include Aviation, Metro, and Railway.
- IAS Keshvendra Kumar (2008 batch), previously with the Local Self Government Department, has been posted as Secretary, Finance (Expenditure).
- IAS Dr. A. Kowsigan (2009 batch), Commissioner for Land Revenue, will now also head the Sainik Welfare Department and act as Commissioner for the Guruvayur and Koodalmanikyam Devaswoms.
- IAS Mir Mohammed Ali (2011 batch), Managing Director of KSIDC, will take on the role of Chairman & Managing Director of Kerala State Electricity Board Limited. He will also serve as Special Secretary, Power Department.
- IAS Jeevan Babu (2011 batch), Managing Director of Kerala Water Authority, has been assigned the additional role of Mission Director, Resilient Kerala (Additional Finance Programme for Coastal Protection) and the new ADB-supported Coastal Conservation Project.
- IAS Dr. Adeela Abdulla (2012 batch), Special Secretary, Social Justice Department, will now also serve in the Local Self Government Department while being relieved from the Women and Child Development Department.
- IAS Dr. Chithra S. (2014 batch), previously Additional Secretary in Finance (Expenditure), has been appointed Officer on Special Duty and Additional Secretary in the Local Self Government Department. She will also serve as Principal Director for waste management.
The reshuffle underscores the government’s intent to bring a sharper focus to vital areas such as finance, infrastructure, power, and local governance.
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