Bhubaneswar — In a sweeping bureaucratic reshuffle, the Government of Odisha has issued a major transfer and appointment order involving senior IAS and OAS officers across various departments and districts. The notification, released by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department on Tuesday, marks one of the most extensive overhauls in recent times, affecting the state’s administrative, developmental, and service delivery apparatus.
Key Appointments at Senior Levels
Among the most notable changes, Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department and Chairman of IPICOL, has been entrusted with additional responsibility as the Additional Chief Secretary of the Information & Public Relations Department. This change ends the additional charge previously held by Sanjay Kumar Singh.
Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra has been appointed as the new Principal Secretary of the Finance Department. He will retain his role as Chairman of IDCO but relinquishes the ST & SC Development portfolio.
N.B.S. Rajput now becomes the full-time Principal Secretary to the Government’s Public Enterprises Department while continuing as CMD, OSRTC.
Former Sports Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma has moved to the Excise Department, replacing Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, and will retain his position as CMD, OPTCL.
Roopa Roshan Sahoo, the former RDC (Southern Division), has taken over as Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Hon’ble Governor of Odisha.
Major Reshuffling Among Collectors
The reshuffle has also led to widespread changes among the state’s Collectors and District Magistrates:
- Dibya Jyoti Parida has been transferred from Ganjam to Puri.
- Keerthi Vasan V will move from Koraput to Ganjam.
- Subhankar Mohapatra has been appointed as the new Collector of Sundargarh.
- Amrit Ruturaj shifts from Kandhamal to Khordha.
- Vedbhushan, formerly Commissioner of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation, now heads to Kandhamal as Collector.
- Parul Patawari, previously Collector of Rayagada, is now Director, SSEPD.
Other key appointments include Madhumita Rath as Additional Secretary in the School & Mass Education Department, and Chanchal Rana, now the new Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. Meanwhile, P. Anvesha Reddy has been posted as the new Excise Commissioner.
Administrative Promotions and Departmental Changes
Several officers have been elevated or moved laterally with added responsibilities:
- Bhupendra Singh Poonia now takes over as Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Skill Development & Technical Education Department, while retaining charge of MD, IPICOL.
- D. Prasanth Kumar Reddy assumes charge of the MSME Department, taking over MD, IDCO as well, ending dual roles previously held by Sharma and Poonia.
- Yeddula Vijay has been appointed as Director, Sports, while Niyati Pattnaik will now serve as Director, Higher Secondary Education.
- Aboli Sunil Naravane, formerly Jharsuguda Collector, becomes Director, Industries.
- Maheswar Swain has been posted as Collector of Nabarangpur.
Significance of the Reshuffle
The changes come at a critical juncture as the state gears up for implementation of several central and state-sponsored schemes, along with navigating the complexities of post-pandemic governance, digital service delivery, and economic revival. Several of the new appointments are aligned with strengthening administrative focus in priority sectors such as education, industry, infrastructure, and tribal welfare.
The government has also ensured administrative continuity by placing experienced officers in key positions and rationalizing overlapping responsibilities. Notably, many posts have been upgraded in terms of status and responsibility, including Municipal Commissioners and Directors of core departments.
Looking Ahead
This reshuffle, impacting over 60 officers, is expected to realign Odisha’s governance machinery with evolving development goals and public service mandates. With experienced officers now strategically positioned, the state administration looks poised for greater coordination, efficiency, and responsiveness.
The full notification detailing all transfers and appointments was issued by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department and is available on the official Odisha government portal.
For official updates, follow: odisha.gov.in