Odisha Government Orders Major IAS Reshuffle: 15 Officers Transferred, Manish Agarwal Appointed Registrar of Cooperative Societies
Odisha government has transferred 15 IAS officers in a major reshuffle. Senior officer Manish Agarwal is appointed Registrar of Cooperative Societies, while several 2022-batch officers receive key district postings to strengthen governance and administrative efficiency.
In a sweeping administrative overhaul, the Government of Odisha has announced the transfer and posting of 15 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, marking one of the most significant reshuffles in recent months.
The move, aimed at strengthening governance and improving efficiency across departments and districts, was formalized through orders issued by the General Administration and Public Grievance Department.
This reshuffle involves senior officers as well as members of the 2022 IAS batch, reflecting the state’s intent to provide young administrators with greater responsibilities while optimizing leadership in key sectors.
Manish Agarwal Appointed Registrar of Cooperative Societies
Senior IAS officer Manish Agarwal (IAS:2012) has been appointed as the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Odisha. Prior to this posting, Agarwal was serving as Additional Special Relief Commissioner with additional charge as Additional Secretary in the Planning and Convergence Department. His new role places him at the helm of cooperative governance, a crucial sector for rural development and community-based economic initiatives.
Smruti Ranjan Pradhan Gets Key Industrial Role
IAS officer Smruti Ranjan Pradhan, earlier Additional Secretary in the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, has been appointed Managing Director of the Odisha Small Industries Corporation. He will also continue to hold the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer of Startup Odisha. With this change, the additional charge of CEO, Startup Odisha, previously held by IAS officer Rashmita Panda, has been withdrawn.
Siddhartha Das Posted as Director of Fisheries
IAS officer Siddhartha Das, who was serving as Registrar of Cooperative Societies, has now been appointed Director of Fisheries. His new assignment places him in a sector vital to Odisha’s economy, given the state’s extensive coastline and reliance on fisheries for livelihood and exports.
Madhusmita Sahoo Gets Education Sector Responsibility
IAS officer Madhusmita Sahoo, previously Additional Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department with additional charge as Director of the Revenue Officers’ Training Institute, has been appointed Director of Teachers’ Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (TE & SCERT). She will continue to serve as Additional Secretary in the School and Mass Education Department, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping teacher training and educational reforms in the state.
Other Administrative Changes
Several other officers have been reassigned to strengthen governance at the secretariat level:
Upama Kalo, Additional Commissioner (Settlement and Consolidation) in the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Sambalpur, will continue to hold additional charge as Secretary to the RDC (Northern Division).
Lily Kumari Kullu, earlier Additional Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Public Enterprises Department.
District-Level Transfers
The reshuffle also extends to district administrations:
Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, Collector and District Magistrate of Malkangiri, has been appointed Director of Textiles and Handlooms.
Prathamesh Arvind Rajeshirke, Commissioner of Berhampur Municipal Corporation with additional charge as Vice Chairman of the Berhampur Development Authority, has been posted as Collector and District Magistrate of Malkangiri.
2022-Batch IAS Officers Get Key Postings
The reshuffle prominently features officers from the 2022 IAS batch, who have been entrusted with important field responsibilities:
Akavaram Sasya Reddy, Sub-Collector of Jeypore, has been appointed Commissioner of Berhampur Municipal Corporation, with additional charge as Vice Chairman of the Berhampur Development Authority.
Akshay Pillay, Sub-Collector of Bonei, has been posted as Additional District Magistrate of Paradeep in Jagatsinghpur district.
Arugula Sneha, Sub-Collector of Padampur, has been appointed Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer (CDO-cum-EO) of Zilla Parishad in Mayurbhanj.
Samir Kumar Jena, Sub-Collector of Talcher, has been appointed CDO-cum-EO of Zilla Parishad in Ganjam.
Soumyaranjan Pradhan, Sub-Collector of Rairangpur, has been posted as CDO-cum-EO of Zilla Parishad in Kalahandi.
Objective Behind the Reshuffle
According to the Odisha government, the reshuffle has been undertaken with the following objectives:
To strengthen governance across departments and ensure effective leadership. To improve administrative efficiency at the district level, particularly in development-focused regions.
To enhance coordination in implementing state and central development programmes. To provide young IAS officers with greater field responsibilities, thereby preparing them for higher leadership roles in the future.
Such periodic reshuffles are part of Odisha’s broader administrative reforms, designed to optimize governance and service delivery across the state.
The latest reshuffle of IAS officers in Odisha underscores the state government’s commitment to dynamic governance and efficient administration. By balancing senior leadership with opportunities for younger officers, Odisha aims to strengthen institutional capacity, accelerate development programmes, and ensure responsive governance across both urban and rural areas.
