Imphal: The Central government has appointed IAS Puneet Kumar Goel as the new Chief Secretary of Manipur, replacing IAS Prashant Kumar Singh, who held the top bureaucratic post during a turbulent phase in Manipur’s recent history.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the appointment of IAS Puneet Kumar Goel on 16 July through a notification, with the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approving his selection.
IAS Goel, an officer of the 1991 batch from the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, has previously held the position of Chief Secretary of Goa.
His extensive administrative experience across multiple Union Territories and the Northeast is being viewed as a key asset for Manipur during a particularly sensitive period.
According to officials, Goel’s posting has been facilitated through an inter-cadre deputation from AGMUT to the Manipur cadre, as per the MHA order. His arrival in the state comes at a time when Manipur continues to witness ethnic tensions and ongoing efforts to rehabilitate thousands of displaced residents due to regional violence.
With his proven record of policy execution and crisis management, IAS Goel is expected to play a vital role in addressing governance challenges and accelerating development and humanitarian initiatives in conflict-affected regions.
