The Gujarat government has carried out a large-scale administrative reshuffle, transferring and reassigning 26 senior IAS officers across key departments, including the Chief Minister&rsquo;s Office, Finance, Education, Health, Energy, Agriculture and Social Justice.
A major change has been made in the Chief Minister&rsquo;s Office with Sanjeev Kumar, a 1998-batch Gujarat cadre officer, being appointed Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Kumar, who was serving as Principal Secretary of the Forests and Environment Department, has also been given additional charge as Principal Secretary of the Home Department until further orders, relieving Chief Secretary M K Das of the additional responsibility.
Dr Vikrant Pandey, a 2005-batch officer currently posted in the Chief Minister&rsquo;s Office, has been elevated from Secretary to the Chief Minister to Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. He has also been given additional charge of Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Department, replacing Avantika Singh Aulakh.
Ajay Kumar, a 2006-batch IAS officer returning from central deputation, has been appointed Secretary to the Chief Minister. He will also serve as Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Gujarat Maritime Board, replacing Rajkumar Beniwal.
Several senior officers have been reassigned across major departments. Rajeev Topno, a 1996-batch officer, has been transferred from Chief Commissioner of State Tax, Ahmedabad, and appointed Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. Mukesh Kumar, also from the 1996 batch, has moved from Primary and Secondary Education to take charge as Principal Secretary of Higher and Technical Education. Milind Shivaram Torawane, a 2000-batch officer, has been shifted from Panchayats and Rural Development to head Primary and Secondary Education.
Ashwani Kumar, a 1997-batch officer, has been appointed Principal Secretary, Energy and Petrochemicals Department, replacing S J Haider, who is set to retire on December 31, 2025. Dr Vinod Ramachandra Rao, a 2000-batch officer, has been moved from Labour, Skill Development and Employment to the Forests and Environment Department.
At the Additional Chief Secretary level, Dr Anju Sharma, a 1991-batch officer, has been transferred from Agriculture to the General Administration Department as Additional Chief Secretary (Personnel). Arunkumar M Solanki, a 1990-batch officer, has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Co-operation, while retaining additional charge as Managing Director of the Gujarat State Warehousing Corporation.
In public sector appointments, Avantika Singh Aulakh, a 2003-batch officer, has been transferred from the Chief Minister&rsquo;s Office and appointed Managing Director of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, Gandhinagar, with additional charge of Gujarat Gas Limited and GSPC LNG Limited. Rajkumar Beniwal, a 2004-batch officer, has been posted as head of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited, Bharuch.
Other key changes include Sandeep Kumar&rsquo;s appointment as Secretary, Finance Department (Economic Affairs); Jenu Devan&rsquo;s posting as Secretary, Finance Department (Expenditure) while retaining charge of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited; Lochan Sehra&rsquo;s return from deputation as Secretary, Labour and Employment; and Mohammad Shahid&rsquo;s transfer to Principal Secretary, Tribal Development Department.
The reshuffle, one of the most extensive under the Bhupendra Patel-led government, is aimed at realigning administrative leadership across departments and public sector undertakings ahead of the new year.

Major IAS Reshuffle in Gujarat, 26 Transferred

CMO postings revised as senior bureaucrats moved across major state departments

Major IAS Reshuffle in Gujarat, 26 Transferred

CMO postings revised as senior bureaucrats moved across major state departments

December 23, 2025 | 20:18 IST