When former Chief Secretary of Rajasthan Sudhansh Pant headed for Delhi amid rumours of conflict with chief minister office (CMO), Rajasthan bureaucracy was due for major shake up in CMO. Shikhar Agrawal, who was calling shot at the CMO has been transferred as Additional Chief Secretary Industries. His batch mate and another dynamic officer Akhil Arora has been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary CM along with his existing responsibility as Additional Chief Secretary PHED and Ground Water department.
“There have been talks in the power corridor for quite some time that Arora may replace Shikhar Agrawal. And the sudden exit of Pant has probably become reason for this to happen,” said a senior IAS officer.
Now Shikhar Agrawal's immediate task would be to organise Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas, scheduled on December 10, 2025. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is betting big on Rajasthani diaspora for bringing investment in state.
Apart from that, two officers – Praveen Gupta and Gayatri Rathore have emerged stronger in the transfer list. Gupta, who is additional chief secretary in Public Works Department, has been entrusted with responsibility of another important department – tourism. Incidentally, minister of both the departments is Diya Kumari, who is also the deputy chief minister. Gupta has performed well in PWD. He has replaced Rajesh Kumar Yadav, who has been appointed as Director General, Harish Chandra Mathur Rajasthan Institute of Public Administration.
Gayatri Rathore, who is serving as Principal Secretary Medical and Health, has been entrusted with responsibility of medical education also. She has been successful in implementing the policies of state government in district hospitals and health care centres. With tight monitoring, health facilities in district and primary health centres has improved over last few months.
Recent fire accident at the trauma centre of SMS Hospital, which claimed at least 8 lives, may bet he reason behind exit of Ambrish Kumar, who was serving as secretary medical education. He has been transferred as Secretary, food, public supply and consumer affairs. Iqbal Khan, who was serving as Commissioner medical education has also been changed. He has been replaced by Naresh Kumar Goyal.
Three Officers on APO get posting
Archana Singh, who was ‘unfortunately' sent on APO after a technical glitch at PM Modi's event has been given appointment as Secretary, Personnel – the post which fell vacant after KK Pathak went on central deputation as Joint Secretary, Fertiliser. Shuchi Tyagi, Secretary Transport, was serving as Secretary Personnel as an additional charge. She will continue to serve as Secretary Devasthan as well.
Himanshu Gupta, who had returned from study leave, has been appointed as Commissioner and Special Secretary, Information Technology and Communication.
Nidhi Patel, who is in inter state deputation from Himachal Pradesh and was serving as Commissioner Jaipur Nagar Nigam (Heritage) before dissolution of the Nigam, has been appointed as Additional CEO, State Health Assurance Agency.
Alok Gupta, who was serving as Principal Secretary Industries, has been transferred as Chairman, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board. His batchmate Dinesh Kumar, who was serving as Principal Secretary, Revenue and Colonisation, has been transferred as Principal Secretary Administrative Reforms. Dr. Joga Ram, who was serving as Secretary General Administration, has replaced Kumar as Secretary Revenue. He will also serve as Secretary Panchayatiraj.
Dr Ravi Kumar Surpur, who was serving as Chairman Pollution Control Board with additional charge of Secretary Information Technology and Communication, has been entrusted with complete charge of Secretary Information Technology.
Manju Rajpal, who is serving as Secretary and Registrar Cooperative, has been entrusted with the responsibility of Secretary Agriculture and Horticulture and Chairman Rajasthan State Seeds Corporation also.
Naveen Jain, who was serving as Secretary Finance (Expenditure), has been transferred as Secretary General Administration. Dr Tina Soni, who was serving as Divisional Commissioner Bharatpur, has replaced Jain in the finance department. There is one more change in the finance department. Rajan Vishal, who was serving as Secretary Agriculture, has been transferred as Secretary Finance (Budget).
Rohit Gupta, who was serving as Commissioner Industries with additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (RREC), has been asked to take complete charge of the additional charge and Suresh Ola who is serving as Commissioner, Bureau of Investment Promotion ( BIP) has been given the responsibility of Commissioner Industries as well.
Apart from that, officers promoted from state services have also been given appointment on posts designated for IAS cadre.
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