Uttarakhand Forest Department Set for Major Overhaul: Senior IFS Officer B.P. Gupta Given New Charge as State Prepares Comprehensive Leadership Restructuring
The Uttarakhand Forest Department is preparing for one of its most significant leadership reorganisations in recent years, with the Civil Service Board initiating discussions on a substantial reshuffle of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers posted at the state headquarters. The proposed restructuring aims to streamline administrative efficiency, redistribute high-responsibility portfolios, and address the growing number of senior officers currently managing multiple roles.
Civil Service Board Reviews Leadership Distribution Amid Heavy Dual Charges
During the latest review, the Civil Service Board examined the allocation of several top positions that have, over the past few months, accumulated overlapping duties. Many of these posts—particularly those related to administration, wildlife oversight, Forest Panchayat operations, and CAMPA projects—are being handled by officers juggling dual or even triple charges due to recent promotions and transfers.
To resolve this imbalance and ensure optimal utilisation of senior expertise, the board is preparing a fresh deployment plan.
B.P. Gupta Assigned New Portfolio After Missing Out on Promotion
One of the key decisions under consideration involved Bhawani Prakash (B.P.) Gupta, a 1992-batch officer known for his administrative experience. Although he narrowly missed a promotion in the latest round of elevations, he has now been entrusted with a fresh assignment intended to strengthen leadership at a crucial juncture for the department.
Until recently, Gupta served as the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration). Following the elevation of Ranjan Kumar Mishra, a 1993-batch IFS officer, to the rank of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Gupta is being repositioned under the new hierarchy to ensure better distribution of responsibilities and continuity of senior management.
Gupta Takes Charge of Biodiversity; Other Portfolios Still Under Discussion
Sources familiar with the deliberations stated that the Civil Service Board has agreed to assign Biodiversity as Gupta’s primary new charge. However, two of his earlier portfolios—Forest Panchayat and Administration—remain vacant for the moment. The board is expected to address these gaps in the upcoming rounds of postings.
Gupta’s new assignment is viewed as part of a broader strategy to allocate critical environmental responsibilities to officers with extensive field and administrative experience. Biodiversity oversight is among the department’s top priorities, given Uttarakhand’s ecologically sensitive terrain and the increasing need for conservation-oriented policy interventions.
Key Posts Await Reassignment After Leadership Movements
With Gupta’s shift to Biodiversity, multiple senior positions at the headquarters have opened up and await new officers:
Forest Panchayat (vacant)
Administration (vacant)
PCCF Wildlife continues under Ranjan Kumar Mishra
CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management) responsibilities are yet to be allocated
The board is expected to meet again to finalise these postings, taking into account seniority norms, domain expertise, and operational demands across the state.
Forest Minister Confirms Structural Reforms Across Divisions
Beyond individual officer postings, Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal has confirmed that the department is also preparing large-scale structural reforms in forest divisions across the state. The objective is to bring greater uniformity, standardise operational frameworks, and modernise forest administration practices, particularly in ecologically fragile districts.
These reforms are expected to impact:
Division boundaries
Staff allocation
Inter-departmental coordination
Monitoring systems for forest protection and biodiversity management
The minister emphasized that the restructuring will ensure more effective governance and improved transparency in forest management.
Strategic Roadmap for a More Efficient Forest Administration
The ongoing reshuffle reflects the state’s broader intent to reinforce leadership, minimise workload imbalances, and ensure that critical portfolios related to wildlife, biodiversity, and community-based forest governance receive focused attention.
As the Civil Service Board prepares to finalise postings in the coming days, the Uttarakhand Forest Department is poised for a comprehensive administrative reset—one aimed at strengthening policy execution, enhancing ecological stewardship, and improving managerial effectiveness across all levels of the organisation.
