Arabinda Padhee Appointed as New Agriculture Secretary of Odisha

The Odisha government reshuffled the state's IAS cadre on Wednesday. In this major reshuffle, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, has been appointed as the new Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department. 

Padhee, a 1996 batch IAS officer, has been given the responsibility of the agriculture department on his return from the central deputation amid the drop in paddy cultivation in Odisha by 20% due to scanty rainfall.

He will also hold additional charge of principal secretary of the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department.

Meanwhile, Sanjeev Chopra's additional appointment as Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment Department will be terminated as soon as Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee takes over.

Senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi has been appointed as Higher Education Secretary with the additional charge of Principal Secretary to Government, Commerce & Transport Department.

Saswata Mishra's additional appointment as Principal Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department, will be terminated as of the date Bishnupada Sethi takes over.

Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary to the Government, Information and Public Relations Department, with additional responsibilities as Vice-Chairman of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority and M.D. of the Bhubaneswar Smart City Ltd., has been appointed as Principal Secretary to the Government, Rural Development Department.

He is allowed to continue serving as Principal Secretary to the Government, Information and Public Relations Department, Vice-Chairman of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority, and M.D. of the Bhubaneswar Smart City Ltd.

Pradeep Kumar Jena's additional appointment as Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Rural Development Department, will be terminated as of the date Sanjay Kumar Singh takes over. Aswathy S, who recently returned from a Central deputation, has been appointed Secretary of School and Mass Education.