The Central Government has approved the premature repatriation of Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Abhishek Kumar (2013 batch, Gujarat cadre) from his central deputation in the Ministry of Cooperation, marking another key movement in the country’s senior bureaucratic framework.
According to an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on October 10, 2025, the repatriation was cleared following a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Cooperation and subsequently approved by the competent authority. The order states that Kumar will be relieved of his duties in Delhi and instructed to report back to his parent cadre in Gujarat with immediate effect.
Tenure Cut Short Before Scheduled Completion
Abhishek Kumar had joined the Ministry of Cooperation in March 2025 under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS) and was originally expected to serve until April 2, 2027. However, his tenure has been curtailed well ahead of schedule, with the government citing personal grounds for the early repatriation.
Sources in the administrative circles indicate that Kumar’s exit will be accompanied by an extended cooling-off period, a standard protocol that temporarily restricts officers from taking up another central deputation immediately after returning to their parent cadre.
Part of Broader Administrative Movements
The decision is among several recent bureaucratic reshuffles approved under the Central Staffing Scheme, which regulates the deputation of IAS, IPS, IFoS, and other All India Service officers to various central ministries and departments. While such repatriations are generally routine, the near-simultaneous return of multiple officers from different ministries has drawn attention to an ongoing reorganization within the senior administrative setup of the Union Government.
These adjustments are often made to streamline leadership structures, accommodate personal requests, and pave the way for new postings or appointments. Officials suggest that such movements can influence the continuity of policy execution and coordination within departments—particularly in ministries handling sensitive or large-scale policy initiatives, such as Cooperation, Finance, and Rural Development.
About the Central Staffing Scheme
The Central Staffing Scheme (CSS) allows officers from All India Services and Group A Central Services to serve on deputation in the Central Government for fixed periods, usually ranging from three to five years. These postings are designed to provide officers with diverse administrative exposure while enabling the Centre to utilize experienced officers from the states for critical policymaking roles.
Abhishek Kumar’s return to the Gujarat cadre is expected to be followed by the appointment of a new Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation, ensuring continuity in key cooperative policy initiatives and project implementation under the ministry’s current mandate.
