In a significant administrative overhaul, the West Bengal government on Wednesday transferred 18 IAS officers across key departments, signalling a push to streamline governance and align the bureaucracy with its policy priorities.
According to an official notification, several senior officers have been reassigned to crucial positions. Anup Kumar Agarwal, a 1993-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary of the Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department as well as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Textiles Department. He was previously serving as the Commissioner of the Jalpaiguri Division.
Nandini Chakraborty, a 1994-batch officer and former Principal Coordinator for developmental work in the Chief Minister’s Office, has been named Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology and Biotechnology. She will also hold an additional charge of the Housing Department.
Presidency Division Commissioner Surendra Gupta has been appointed Principal Secretary of the Departments of Land and Land Reforms, and Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation.
Parvez Ahmed Siddiqui has been shifted from his role as Principal Secretary of the Food and Supplies Department to the State Gazetteers, while Jagdish Prasad Meena, a 2004-batch officer, takes over as Secretary of the Food and Supplies Department.
Ravi Inder Singh, previously heading the Self-Help Group and Self-Employment Department, has been appointed Principal Secretary of the Transport Department. Rajesh Kumar Sinha will now serve as Principal Secretary of the Irrigation and Waterways Department.
Senior bureaucrat Soumitra Mohan has been given additional charge as Secretary of the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, alongside his current role as Secretary to the Governor.
Among other key changes, Rajeev Kumar has been posted as Principal Secretary of the Department of Technical Education and Skill Development, while Moumita Godara Basu has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare.
Rachna Bhagat has been elevated as Secretary of the Labour Department, and Chief Electoral Officer Neelam Meena has been assigned additional charge as Principal Secretary of the Environment Department.
Officials at Nabanna said that the reshuffle was carried out in the public interest to enhance administrative efficiency and improve governance delivery. However, sections within the bureaucracy view the move as an effort to position key officials in line with the new government’s priorities and vision.
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