Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar revokes suspension of IAS officer M Devendra Singh, Member-Secretary of MPCB, amid Chandrapur pollution debate. Singh, a 2011-batch officer, has held key administrative roles and won multiple awards for governance.
In a notable development during the Maharashtra Assembly’s Budget Session, Speaker Rahul Narwekar directed the state government to revoke the suspension of IAS officer M Devendra Singh, who serves as Member-Secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
The directive, issued on March 10, 2026, came ten days after Singh was suspended over allegations that he failed to brief Environment Minister Pankaja Munde during Assembly proceedings on rising pollution levels in Chandrapur district, located in the Vidarbha region. The decision followed high-level discussions involving senior ministers and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Suspension Triggered by Pollution Debate
The controversy originated during a debate in the Assembly on February 26, 2026, when Environment Minister Pankaja Munde informed the House that despite summoning senior MPCB officials to provide updates on Chandrapur’s worsening pollution, the concerned officials did not appear to brief her.
Subsequently, the government suspended M Devendra Singh, citing dereliction of duty. However, after deliberations in the Assembly and consultations at higher levels, Speaker Rahul Narwekar ordered the revocation of the suspension, effectively reinstating Singh.
Career Background of IAS Officer M Devendra Singh
Batch & Cadre: 2011-batch IAS officer, Maharashtra cadre
Current Role: Member-Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (since October 8, 2025)
Experience: Nearly two decades spanning both private and public sectors
Singh has been responsible for overseeing regulatory measures related to environmental protection and pollution control in Maharashtra.
Education and Early Professional Career
Date of Birth: February 9, 1983
Education: Alumnus of IIT Roorkee
Private Sector Experience: Worked as a Senior Business Analyst for two multinational banks before joining the civil services.
Collaborated with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on pilot rollouts of key banking reforms such as the Cheque Truncation System (CTS) and Core Banking Solutions (CBS).
This early exposure to technology-driven reforms provided him with expertise in large-scale operational management.
Key Administrative Roles in Maharashtra
District Administration:
Served as Collector and District Magistrate in Ratnagiri and Beed for nearly six years.
Worked as Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad in two districts for three years, implementing rural development programmes and strengthening local governance.
Urban Development:
Briefly served as Metropolitan Commissioner of Nashik Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) in October 2025 before moving to MPCB.
Awards and Recognitions
Singh has received several honors for his contributions to governance:
Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration
Commendation by the Chief Justice of India for leadership as Collector of Ratnagiri
Top ranking for the “Seva Karmi” initiative in Maharashtra
Fifth rank in the state for E-Governance and Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) under the Chief Minister’s reform programme
These accolades highlight his role in administrative innovation and digital governance.
Recent Developments
Singh’s suspension in February 2026 was a result of alleged failure to brief the environment minister during a crucial Assembly debate. However, the revocation of his suspension on March 10, 2026, underscores the importance of coordination between government departments and legislative authorities during policy discussions.
