Major reshuffle covers key portfolios including Education, Tourism, Panchayati Raj, and Commerce to boost administrative performance.
In a sweeping bureaucratic overhaul, the Odisha Government has reassigned several senior IAS officers across critical departments in an effort to strengthen governance and improve departmental coordination. The General Administration and Public Grievance Department issued an official notification on Friday, confirming the large-scale reshuffle.
Key Highlights of the Transfer Orders
The latest postings affect officers working in pivotal domains such as School and Mass Education, Panchayati Raj, Tourism, Home, and Commerce & Transport, among others. The changes take effect in phases over the next few days.
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Thirumala Naik N. (IAS, 2009 batch) has been named Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department, taking over after the tenure of Shalini Pandit, IAS, ends on October 13, 2025.
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Girish S.N. (IAS, 2002) has been given additional charge of the Mission Shakti Department, while continuing to head the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department.
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Mansi Nimbhal (IAS, 2010) will now serve as Managing Director of the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation in addition to her current assignment as Additional Secretary in the Water Resources Department.
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Surendra Kumar Meena (IAS, 2012) has been posted as Additional Secretary, ST & SC Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Department.
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Subhashree Nanda (IAS, 2013) will move to the Planning and Convergence Department as Additional Secretary.
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Chanchal Rana (IAS, 2014) will continue as Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, while retaining his dual roles as Vice-Chairman, BDA, and MD, Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited.
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Premjit Nayak (IAS, 2014) takes over as Director, Scheduled Tribes.
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Deepankar Mohapatra (IAS, 2014) has been appointed Director, Tourism, and will continue to serve as MD, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation.
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Pranati Chhotray (IAS, 2014) has been shifted to the Home Department as Additional Secretary.
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Nivedita Prusty (IAS, 2015) will assume the role of Managing Director, Boyanika, while continuing as Director, Handicrafts.
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Madhusmita Samal (IAS, 2015) becomes Additional Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, and will also act as Director, State Institute of Rural Development.
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Sanjay Kumar Biswal (IAS, 2015) has been promoted as Additional Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department.
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Kanhu Charan Dhir (OAS), presently serving as Private Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister, will take charge as Director, Minor Minerals, starting October 13, following Samarth Verma’s departure.
Government’s Objective Behind the Reshuffle
Officials familiar with the development said the reshuffle is part of a broader strategy to inject new energy into the administrative framework and align leadership with evolving policy priorities. By combining senior expertise with mid-career dynamism, the state aims to quicken decision-making processes and improve implementation across flagship programmes.
The move also signals the government’s focus on education reform, rural governance, and infrastructure expansion, especially as Odisha prepares for major developmental projects in the upcoming fiscal year.
More changes in the state bureaucracy are expected soon, as the administration continues its efforts to optimize performance and accountability across departments.
