Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle: Centre Repositions Key IAS Officers in Finance and Other Ministries

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the major decision of the Civil Service reshuffle. This includes important amendments in the Ministry of Finance, where new officials will take charge of key roles, marking a shift in leadership at the main offices in North Block.

Anuradha Thakur, an IAS of Himachal Pradesh cadre (HP:94) from the 1994 batch, has been placed as Officer on Special Duty in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance. She will then be appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) after the current officer, Ajay Seth, who is currently an IAS of Karnataka cadre, 1987 batch, retires on June 30, 2025. Thakur is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and has strong experience in handling economic matters.

In another key amendment, K Moses Chalai, who is the IAS officer of a 1990 batch of the Manipur cadre, has been placed at the role of Secretary in the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance. He is currently serving in the position of Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ashish Srivastava, IAS (MP:92), who is initially serving at the position of Advisor in the Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs, will then be placed at K Moses Chalai’s position as the new Secretary of the Inter-State Council Secretariat.

The reshuffle is part of a larger group of appointments approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). One of the key amendments is: Meeta R. Lochan, a 1990-batch IAS officer from Maharashtra, who is currently employed as Secretary of Youth Affairs, will now be placed at the position of Secretary of the National Commission for Backward Classes.

Manoj Govil, a 1991-batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh, who is currently employed in the role of Secretary at the Department of Expenditure, will now be placed at the position of Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat.

Vumlunmang Vualnam, a 1992-batch IAS officer from Manipur and currently the Civil Aviation Secretary, will take over Govil’s role in the Department of Expenditure.

Vandana Gurnani (KN:91) has been moved from the Cabinet Secretariat and will now lead the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

This major reshuffle shows that the central government wants to place experienced officers in important economic ministries. These officers have worked in different areas like corporate affairs, managing government spending, and coordinating between departments.

These amendments will take place slowly over the next few months, in line with upcoming retirements and other staff movements.