Maharashtra Government Appoints IAS Officer Manisha Patankar Mhaiskar as Additional Chief Secretary (Home); Four Key IAS Postings Reshuffled
Mumbai, January 2026: In a major administrative reshuffle, the Government of Maharashtra has announced the transfer and posting of four senior IAS officers, including the appointment of Ms. Manisha Patankar Mhaiskar (IAS: 1992: Maharashtra) as the new Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home Department. This decision places her in charge of one of the most sensitive and influential portfolios in the state administration.
Ms. Mhaiskar succeeds Iqbal Singh Chahal (IAS: 1989: Maharashtra), who is scheduled to retire from service on January 31, 2026. The Home Department is responsible for overseeing the state police force, internal security, intelligence coordination, and law-and-order machinery, making her appointment both politically and administratively significant.
Leadership Transition in the Home Department
Prior to her elevation, Ms. Mhaiskar was serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD) at Mantralaya, Mumbai. Following her reassignment:
Milind Mhaiskar (IAS: 1992: Maharashtra), her spouse and a senior IAS officer, has been appointed as ACS, Public Works Department.
He previously held the position of ACS (Forests), Revenue and Forest Department.
This reshuffle ensures continuity in leadership across critical infrastructure and security-related departments of the state.
Other IAS Postings Announced
Alongside the top-level changes, the Maharashtra government also announced additional postings:
Uveneswari S. (IAS: RR: 2015), Managing Director, Maharashtra State Seeds Corporation, Akola, has been appointed Director, Information Technology, Mumbai.
Dr. H.S. Vasekar (IAS: Non-SCS: 2015) has been posted as Director, Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (MSCERT), Pune.
Who Is Manisha Patankar Mhaiskar?
Manisha Patankar Mhaiskar is a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre with over three decades of administrative experience. As of January 2026, she serves as the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) for the Government of Maharashtra.
She is widely respected within bureaucratic circles as a strong administrator and crisis manager, with expertise spanning infrastructure, urban governance, environment, protocol, and public communication.
Native Place and Family Background
Hometown: Nagpur, Maharashtra
She is remembered locally as the daughter of the well-known “Patankar Madam” family.
Family Influence:
Father: Arun Patankar, retired IAS officer (1973 batch) and former Chairman of the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT).
Mother: Vijaya Patankar, a distinguished professor who taught at the Institute of Science, Nagpur, for nearly 40 years.
Growing up in an academic and administrative household significantly shaped her career path and values.
Education and Entry into IAS
Completed her schooling in Nagpur.
Cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1992 at the age of 23.
Her early success reflected a strong academic foundation and inspiration drawn from her parents’ careers in public service and education.
Career Highlights and Key Roles
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) – Current Role
Appointed in January 2026.
Oversees police administration, internal security, intelligence coordination, and law-and-order.
She is the first woman from Nagpur to hold this high-profile Home Department position.
Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD)
Led the department to achieve top rankings in e-governance evaluations.
Oversaw major infrastructure projects, including progress on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway “Missing Link” project.
COVID-19 Crisis Management
Played a pivotal role in Maharashtra’s response to the pandemic.
Coordinated inter-departmental crisis response and administrative logistics.
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC)
Served as Additional Municipal Commissioner.
Managed complex urban infrastructure and governance challenges in India’s largest civic body.
Environment, Protocol, and Public Communication
Principal Secretary (Environment & Protocol): Focused on sustainability and ceremonial functions.
Chief Protocol Officer (CPO): Represented Maharashtra during G20 events and high-level diplomatic engagements.
Director General, Information & Public Relations: Served as Editor-in-Chief of Lokrajya, the state’s official magazine.
Pioneering and Early Career Milestones
First woman to serve as Municipal Commissioner of Amravati in Vidarbha.
As District Collector, Sangli (2003), successfully navigated early-career gender bias and earned recognition for firm district governance.
Personal Profile and Public Presence
Spouse: Milind Mhaiskar (IAS: 1992: Maharashtra), currently ACS, PWD.
Social Media: Actively shares motivational messages and professional insights on Instagram and Facebook.
