Ahmedabad (24.12.2025): In a major bureaucratic overhaul just ahead of the new year, the Gujarat government on Tuesday transferred and posted 26 senior IAS officers including restructuring the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and key departments such as Finance, Energy and Agriculture.
The reshuffle is seen as a strategic realignment to bolster the state's project implementation capabilities and refine the top-tier governance structure within the Chief Minister's secretariat.
Strengthening the CMO:
Sanjeev Kumar (IAS: 1998: GJ) has been appointed as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Previously, Kumar was Principal Secretary (Forests & Environment).
In a move that consolidates administrative oversight as Sanjeev Kumar will also hold the additional charge of the Home Department, relieving Manoj Kumar Das (IAS: 1990: GJ) who is now Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat.
The CMO further sees the elevation of Dr Vikrant Pandey (IAS: 2005: GJ), whose post has been re-designated as Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Dr Pandey will also oversee the Information & Broadcasting Department as an additional charge. Additionally, Ajay Kumar (IAS: 2006: GJ), upon his repatriation to the state cadre, has been posted as Secretary to the Chief Minister with the additional charge of Vice Chairman and CEO of the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB).
Key Postings in Energy and PSUs:
Placing a strong emphasis on the state’s energy and petroleum sectors, the reshuffle drafts Avantika Singh Aulakh (IAS: 2003: GJ) as the Managing Director of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC). She will hold additional charges of MD of GSPC LNG Ltd and Gujarat Gas Ltd. Prior to this she was in the CMO.
Further, Ashwani Kumar (IAS: 1997: GJ) has replaced S J Haider as Principal Secretary, Energy & Petrochemicals Department. Haider is set to superannuate on December 31, 2025.
In addition, Rajkumar Beniwal (IAS: 2004: GJ) has been appointed as the MD of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. (GNFC) vice Dr T Natarajan (IAS). Earlier, Beniwal worked as Vice Chairman & CEO, Gujarat Maritime Board.
Finance and Taxation Realignments:
Major changes were also announced in the Finance department to streamline economic affairs. Accordingly, Arti Kanwar (IAS: 2001: GJ), formerly Secretary (Economic Affairs), has been posted as the new Chief Commissioner of State Tax in Ahmedabad.
Sandeep Kumar (IAS: 2002: GJ) takes over as Secretary, Finance Department (Economic Affairs) vice Arti Kanwar.
Jenu Devan (IAS: 2006: GJ) has been posted as Secretary, Finance Department (Expenditure), while continuing his additional charge as MD of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL).
Social Sector and Infrastructure:
In other significant moves, Milind Shivaram Torawane moves to Education (Primary & Secondary), and Hareet Shukla, the Chief Electoral Officer, will now hold the additional charge of Principal Secretary (Ports & Transport). Dr Sandhya Bhullar returns from central deputation to take over as Commissioner of Health (Urban).
Further,
- Arunkumar M Solanki (lAS: 1990: GJ), currently MD, Gujarat State Warehousing Corporation (GSWC), has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare & Co-operation, Animal Husbandry, Cow Breeding & Fisheries. Further, the additional charge of GSWC has been assigned to Arunkumar M Solanki (lAS: 1990: GJ).
- Dr Anju Sharma (lAS: 1991: GJ) has been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department (Personnel) relieving Dhananjay Dwivedi.
- Mukesh Kumar (IAS: 1996: GJ) has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary, Department of Education (Higher & Technical Education).
- Rajeev Topno (IAS: 1996: GJ) has been appointed as Principal Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare vice Dhananjay Dwivedi. Previously, Topno worked as Chief Commissioner of State Tax.
- Ramesh Chand Meena (IAS: 1997: GJ) has been posted as Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Co-operation vice Dr Anju Sharma. Prior to this Meena worked as Principal Secretary, Department of Ports and Transport.
- Dhananjay Dwivedi (IAS: 1998: GJ) has been posted as Principal Secretary, Department of Panchayats, Rural Housing & Rural Development. Earlier, Dwivedi was Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare. He would hold additional charge as Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Rural Development.
- Mohammad Shahid (IAS: 1998: GJ) has been placed as Principal Secretary, Tribal Development Department vice Shahmeena Husain who held the additional charge of that post. Prior to this Md Shahid was Principal Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment.
- Dr Vinod Ramachandra Rao (lAS: 2000: GJ) has been appointed as Principal Secretary to Government, Forests & Environment Department.
- On repatriation from the Centre, Lochan Sehra (lAS: 2002: GJ) has been placed as Secretary, Department of Labour, Skill Development and Employment.
- Dr Rahul Babulal Gupta (IAS: 2004: GJ) has been placed as Secretary, Department of Sports, Youth & Cultural Activities Department. He would also hold additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Climate Change.
- Dr Rajender Kumar (IAS: 2004: GJ) has been replaced with Anupam Anand (IAS) as Transport Commissioner. Previously, he worked as Secretary, Department of Industries and Mines (Tourism, Devsthanam Management, Civil Aviation & Pilgrimage).
- Rajesh Manjhu (lAS: 2004: GJ), Revenue Inspection Commissioner & Ex-officio Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, has also been given the additional charge of the post of Superintendent of Stamps & Inspector General of Registration.
- Harshadkumar Ratilal Patel (IAS: 2005: GJ) replaced Mohammad Shahid as Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment. Prior to this Patel was Commissioner of Health (Urban).
- Dr Kuldeep Arya (IAS: 2009: GJ) has been transferred and appointed as Secretary, Department of Industries and Mines Department (Tourism, Devsthanam Management, Civil Aviation & Pilgrimage) vice Dr Rajender Kumar. Arya would also hold additional charge of the post of CEO for Special Project (Dholera SIR & Mandal-Bechraji SIR).
