IAS H. Rajesh Prasad Appointed as Chandigarh’s New Chief Secretary, Replaces Mandip Singh Brar Amid Bureaucratic Reshuffle
Union Home Ministry appoints reform-oriented IAS officer with strong track record in power sector governance
In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed H. Rajesh Prasad (IAS: 1995) as the new Chief Secretary of Chandigarh. A senior officer of the AGMUT cadre, Prasad succeeds Mandip Singh Brar, who was holding the position temporarily following the transfer of Rajeev Verma to the Government of NCT Delhi.
The appointment is part of the Centre’s cadre management framework and marks yet another key posting within the AGMUT cadre, which spans Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Delhi, and other Union Territories.
Appointment Notification and Context
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) formally issued the appointment order on September 30, 2025, just two days after Verma’s transfer to Delhi as Chief Secretary. Prasad’s elevation comes at a crucial juncture when administrative continuity and effective governance are considered vital for Chandigarh, especially in the wake of ongoing structural changes in Union Territory administration.
Profile of H. Rajesh Prasad
H. Rajesh Prasad, a 1995-batch IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre, has been serving as Principal Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD), Jammu & Kashmir since September 2022. Known for his reform-driven, proactive leadership style, he has earned wide respect for his ability to deliver governance outcomes under challenging conditions.
Key details:
Born: June 1, 1967, Karnataka
Education: B.Com, LL.B., dual MBAs in Finance (IGNOU) and Public Management (Pondicherry University)
Alumni: Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore; Pondicherry University
Career Milestones & Leadership Roles
Over nearly three decades, Prasad has held several high-impact administrative positions across states and UTs, including:
District Collector, South Delhi and Arunachal Pradesh
Commissioner, Trade & Taxes and Urban Development, Delhi
Principal Secretary, Education and Urban Development, Delhi
Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, J&K
Additional Charge, Agriculture Production Department, J&K (till Aug 2024)
Transformative Work in Jammu & Kashmir’s Power Sector
During his tenure in Jammu & Kashmir, Prasad spearheaded far-reaching reforms in the power sector, with a special focus on preparing for the region’s harsh winters:
Enforced grid discipline and strict curtailment schedules
Pioneered smart metering, feeder audits, and transformer monitoring
Led winter preparedness drives to curb outages in Kashmir
Strengthened financial governance through strict budget discipline and loss reduction
Oversaw reduction of peak power deficit from 22% to 12% between FY21 and FY24
Took strong measures against power theft, expedited billing, and tightened AT&C loss control
Served on the Board of Directors, KPDCL, contributing to distribution reforms
Chandigarh’s Administrative Transition – A Quick Recap
January 2025: Rajeev Verma (IAS: 1992) became Chandigarh’s first Chief Secretary, after MHA replaced the post of Adviser to the Administrator.
October 1, 2025: Senior IAS officer Mandip Singh Brar assumed interim charge following Verma’s transfer to Delhi.
Now: With the appointment of H. Rajesh Prasad, Chandigarh regains stable bureaucratic leadership amid restructuring.
Significance of the Appointment
Prasad’s expertise in infrastructure development, urban governance, power sector reforms, and cross-departmental coordination is expected to accelerate Chandigarh’s policy priorities. His leadership is likely to emphasize:
Strengthening urban infrastructure and public utilities
Driving tech-enabled governance and transparency
Ensuring efficiency and accountability in administration
Promoting a citizen-centric, performance-driven governance model
With his reputation for zero tolerance toward inefficiency and his people-first approach, Chandigarh is poised to witness a phase of stable, reform-focused, and results-oriented administration under his stewardship.
