Ankur Gupta, Haryana Addl CS (Agri) Transferred in a Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle

In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Haryana government has transferred and reassigned 12 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers to new positions, aiming to streamline operations across various departments. Ankur Gupta, previously serving as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, has been appointed as the Additional Chief Secretary in both the Cooperation Department and the Personnel Department (Appointments). This shift marks a notable change in leadership within the agriculture sector, a critical area for the state known for its substantial agricultural output.

Taking over Gupta's previous role, Raja Sekhar Vundru, the erstwhile Additional Chief Secretary of the Cooperation Department, will now serve as the Additional Chief Secretary for both the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department and the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department. Vundru's new responsibilities are expected to bring fresh perspectives to these vital departments, potentially influencing policy and operational strategies.

Among the other significant appointments, Anurag Rastogi, a 1990-batch officer, has been named the new Home Secretary. According to the government order, Rastogi will now hold the positions of Additional Chief Secretary of the Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation, and Administration of Justice Departments. Remarkably, he will retain his existing responsibilities in the Finance and Planning Departments, indicating his broad scope of influence within the state administration.

Anurag Agarwal, who previously held the dual roles of Chief Electoral Officer and Additional Chief Secretary of the Elections Department, has been reassigned as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Irrigation and Water Resources Department. This move is anticipated to bolster the management of Haryana’s critical water resources, an area of increasing importance due to climate change and regional water disputes.

Phool Chand Meena, managing director of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, will now also serve as the Hisar Division Commissioner, while Geeta Bharti, the current Hisar Division Commissioner, will transition to the role of Commissioner of Ambala Division. Bharti also holds the position of Managing Director of the Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, highlighting her extensive administrative duties.

In the realm of environmental and educational administration, Anand Mohan Sharan, previously Additional Chief Secretary in the Environment, Forests, and Wildlife Department, has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary in the Labour Department. Vineet Garg, previously overseeing the Higher Education Department, will now head the School Education Department as its Additional Chief Secretary. Additionally, Rajiv Rattan, Director General of Higher Education and Secretary of the Higher Education Department, will assume the role of Commissioner of Karnal Division while continuing his current duties.