In a significant administrative overhaul, the Gujarat government on Tuesday announced the transfer of 26 senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, marking one of the most extensive bureaucratic reshuffles in recent times. The restructuring notably brings a fresh team to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and impacts key departments steering the state's governance.
New Leadership at the Chief Minister's Office
The most prominent changes have taken place within the CMO. Sanjeev Kumar, a 1998-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. He will also shoulder the additional responsibility of Principal Secretary for the Home Department until further orders, relieving Chief Secretary M K Das of this charge.
Simultaneously, Dr. Vikrant Pandey, a 2005-batch officer and an MBBS doctor-turned-bureaucrat, has been promoted from Secretary to the Chief Minister to the post of Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Dr. Pandey, who was repatriated to the state in May 2025 after serving as Gujarat's Resident Commissioner in Delhi, will also hold additional charge as Secretary of the Information and Broadcasting Department.
Another key appointment is that of 2006-batch IAS officer Ajay Kumar as Secretary to the Chief Minister. Repatriated from central deputation, he will also serve as the Vice Chairman and CEO of the Gujarat Maritime Board in Gandhinagar.
Key Transfers and New Postings Across Departments
The reshuffle has led to a domino effect of changes across several vital state departments. One of the most notable moves is the transfer of Avantika Singh Aulakh, a 2003-batch IAS officer who was the Additional Principal Secretary to the CM. She has been moved to the Energy and Petrochemicals Department as the Managing Director of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (GSPC). Aulakh has also been given additional charge as MD of GSPC LNG Limited and Gujarat Gas Limited.
In the Finance Department, 2002-batch officer Sandeep Kumar has been transferred from Agriculture to take charge of the Economic Affairs division, replacing Arti Kanwar. Ms. Kanwar has been appointed as the Chief Commissioner of State Tax in Ahmedabad.
The Education Department sees significant changes. Milind Torawane has been appointed as the Principal Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education. Meanwhile, Mukesh Kumar (1995 batch) moves to become the Principal Secretary for Higher and Technical Education.
With Ahmedabad set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the Sports Department has a new head. Rahul Gupta, a 2004-batch officer, has been transferred from the Climate Change Department to lead the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, succeeding Ashwini Kumar. Gupta will continue to hold the Climate Change portfolio as an additional charge.
Other Notable Appointments and Implications
The reshuffle, coming just two months after a Cabinet rejig in October, aims to bring in fresh perspectives and streamline administration. Other important transfers include:
- Ashwini Kumar (1997 batch) moves from Sports to become Principal Secretary of the Energy and Petrochemicals Department.
- Ramesh Chand Meena shifts from Ports and Transport to the Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Co-operation Department.
- Vinod Rao (2000 batch) is transferred from Labour to the Forests and Environment Department.
- Rajkumar Beniwal moves from the Gujarat Maritime Board to become MD of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. in Bharuch.
- Dhananjay Dwivedi (1998 batch) is transferred from Health to Panchayats, Rural Housing and Rural Development.
This large-scale reassignment of senior bureaucrats is expected to have a lasting impact on policy implementation and administrative efficiency in Gujarat, as the new appointees take charge of their respective domains.
