In a sweeping administrative reshuffle just before Diwali, the Uttarakhand government has transferred 44 officers, including 23 from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and 11 from the Provincial Civil Service (PCS). Several key district magistrate (DM) postings have also been changed as part of the major realignment.
Our correspondent reports that among the most notable changes is the replacement of Vandana, the outgoing DM of Nainital, who has now been appointed Director General of the Agriculture and Horticulture Department and Additional Secretary, Planning. Lalit Mohan Rayal of the 2011 batch has been chosen to take over as the new DM of Nainital.
In Chamoli, Sandeep Tiwari has been moved to head the Social Welfare Department as Director in Haldwani, while Gaurav Kumar has been posted as the DM of Chamoli in his stead. Ashish Kumar Bhatgai has been transferred from Bageshwar to Pithoragarh, replacing Vinod Giri Goswami, who has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Urban Development Department.
Other changes include Akanksha Konde being named DM of Bageshwar and Anshul Singh being assigned as DM of Almora. Alok Kumar Pandey has been relieved of his role as DM of Almora and given multiple charges including CEO of PMGSY, Additional Secretary in IT, and Managing Director of ITDA.
The cross-cadre transfers extend beyond district leadership roles. Secretaries and senior officials have also been reassigned across departments such as Rural Development, Urban Development, Planning, and Forest. The government stated that the reshuffle aims to bring fresh energy, specialization, and accountability to key administrative roles across the state.
In comments following the reshuffle, senior officials indicated that the timing was deliberate — placing the new team before the festive period to ensure stability and continuity in governance in the run-up to the new year. The state administration believes these new postings will help counter stagnation and encourage more dynamic administration at both district and secretariat levels.
Our correspondent adds that local reactions have been mixed. Some residents and political observers have welcomed the new leadership as an opportunity for more responsive governance, while others have expressed caution, noting that frequent transfers could undermine continuity in long-term development projects.
The newly appointed officers have been asked to assume their duties immediately. The government has instructed all departments to ensure a smooth transition and quick handovers so that public services remain unaffected during the festive season.
This major reshuffle ahead of Diwali underlines the state government’s focus on revitalising its administrative machinery. Whether these changes will translate into stronger governance and more effective public service delivery remains to be seen in the coming months.
