Bihar Promotes 11 IAS Officers: Santosh Kumar Mall, Pankaj Kumar Elevated to Additional Chief Secretary Rank
The Bihar government has approved promotions for 11 IAS officers to higher administrative grades, including the elevation of two senior bureaucrats to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS). The General Administration Department issued the promotion notifications on November 10, 2026, with the revised grades scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2027, or the date of assumption of charge, wherever applicable.
The two officers elevated to the ACS rank are Santosh Kumar Mall, currently serving as Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, and Pankaj Kumar, who holds the position of Principal Secretary in the Home Department.
The latest promotion exercise also includes the elevation of one IAS officer to the Principal Secretary grade and eight officers to Secretary rank, marking a significant strengthening of Bihar’s senior administrative establishment.
Two IAS Officers Elevated to Additional Chief Secretary Rank
The state government has accorded the Additional Chief Secretary-level administrative grade to two 1997-batch IAS officers of the Bihar cadre.
The officers are:
Santosh Kumar Mall (IAS: 1997: BH): Currently serving as Principal Secretary, Disaster Management Department.
Pankaj Kumar (IAS: 1997: BH): Currently serving as Principal Secretary, Home Department.
Their elevation places them in the higher administrative pay grade corresponding to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary.
Pankaj Kumar Pal Promoted to Principal Secretary Grade
Pankaj Kumar Pal, a 2002-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, has been promoted to the Principal Secretary grade. He is currently serving as Secretary of the Road Construction Department. His elevation to the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) will take effect from January 1, 2027.
Eight IAS Officers Elevated to Secretary Rank
In another significant component of the promotion exercise, eight IAS officers belonging to the 2011 batch of the Bihar cadre have been promoted to the Secretary grade.
Their names and present assignments are as follows:
Himanshu Kumar Sharma: Special Secretary, Science, Technology and Technical Education Department.
Shirsat Kapil Ashok: Managing Director, COMFED.
Nilesh Ramchandra Deore: Special Secretary.
Ujjwal Kumar: Special Secretary, Rural Development Department.
Naresh Jha: Settlement Officer, Katihar.
Brajesh Kumar: Settlement Officer, Madhepura.
Navin Kumar: Special Secretary, Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department.
Udyan Mishra: Special Secretary, Tourism Department.
The promotions recognise the eligibility of these officers for advancement to the next administrative grade in the state cadre.
Revised Pay Grades to Take Effect From January 2027
According to the promotion notifications, the upgraded pay grades will generally become effective from January 1, 2027. In cases where the applicable provisions so require, the effective date will be linked to the officers’ assumption of charge.
The latest round of promotions follows another major career-advancement exercise involving 34 IAS officers of the 2014 batch, who were promoted to the Selection Grade with corresponding Special Secretary-level pay benefits. That development was notified separately.
The latest decisions are expected to further strengthen the administrative hierarchy across key departments, including disaster management, home affairs, road construction, rural development, tourism, and science and technology.
With two senior officers moving to the Additional Chief Secretary grade, one entering the Principal Secretary grade and eight others advancing to Secretary rank, the Bihar government has undertaken a substantial round of senior-level cadre promotions.
